eNews: Baylor Board of Regents Update

Dear Baylor Family:

As we turn the calendar to August and our attention to the start of another school year, we want to pause and share an update with you from last week’s annual July retreat of the Baylor Board of Regents.

During the retreat, which ended on Friday afternoon, we welcomed seven new Regents and honored these men and women who have committed to give of their time and talents in support of Baylor University. Additionally, the Board transitioned its leadership under a new chair and single vice chair structure.

The Board retreat featured a Strategic Planning Group (SPG) listening session with Dr. Tod Bolsinger, a friend of Baylor, noted author, senior congregational strategist and associate professor of leadership formation at Fuller Seminary. You may recall the SPG began its work this spring and will collaborate with Dr. Bolsinger and his team to conduct a series of listening sessions throughout the fall – more than 75 have already been scheduled. The entire Baylor Family will have an opportunity to participate in the process either through one of the listening sessions or by providing feedback through an online survey form. The SPG is charged with presenting Baylor’s new strategic plan to the President’s Council for consideration and Board affirmation in May 2024. 

The Regents also heard from GenZ researcher and strategist Jason Dorsey, author of the bestselling book Zconomy, as we look to better understand and serve our students from this most recent generation. The retreat portion of the meeting concluded with a financial modeling exercise as we proactively evaluate and prepare the University for the upcoming five-year strategic plan and into the future. 

Although the retreat was meant to be a time for strategic discussions, renewal and reflection, there was business to address as well. The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Baylor and the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) to convey property near campus at South 4th Street and Daughtrey Avenue for the BGCT to build a Baptist Student Center. The BGCT will be responsible for building and maintaining the facility, and we are pleased to be a part of creating a new opportunity for Baylor students, faculty and staff to develop greater community and further their spiritual development. 

As part of the President’s Report, we updated the Regents on three exciting events planned for the next few weeks, and we want to close this note by sharing them with you:

• On August 16-17 we will welcome the newest Baylor Bears to campus during Move2BU and Welcome Week. We know this is an important time for these students to acclimate to Baylor and Waco, and we are thrilled to help them during this time of transition.
• Then, on August 26 we will have the first Meet the Cubs – Indy and Belle – event from 10 a.m.-noon, in partnership with Athletics’ traditional Meet the Bears at McLane Stadium from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. We hope you will mark your calendar for this fun day.
• And finally, on September 8 we will formally dedicate the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center, ushering in a new era of hospitality and tradition on campus. Beginning tomorrow, doors will be open and we invite you to stop by and take a look around this beautiful facility as we continue to prepare for the Hurd Center’s daily operations.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and Sic ’Em, Bears!

Bill Mearse, B.B.A., ’78 
Chair of the Board

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President