Presidential Perspective - July 11, 2024

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

It’s so good to be back in Waco – even with this summer heat – after spending the past several weeks with groups of Baylor Study Abroad students in Europe and then a little vacation time with the First Gent in Greece. And, of course, no one was more excited to see us back at Allbritton House than First Pup BU!

While Waco sure could have used some rain from Hurricane Beryl, our hearts are heavy as we continue to learn of the devastation left in the storm’s wake along the Texas Gulf Coast and especially the Houston area, which is home to more than 3,000 of our students and so many Baylor alumni. Our Care Team has reached out to each of these students as a wellness check and to offer University resources – they are in our thoughts and prayers!

Some updates for this week:

• BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE: Earlier this week Baylor University was officially accepted into the Baptist World Alliance as a full Member Partner – only the third educational institution to join the 260-plus member organization. This new relationship will expand our connection to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which is also a member, and will provide exciting opportunities for the Baylor Family to impact the world for Christ. I believe when the Baylor Board of Regents approved expanding our university motto to add Pro Mundo to Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana last May, they envisioned these types of partnerships with like-minded believers that will help us continue to fulfill our mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service.
• NEW DOCTORAL COMMENCEMENT: I am excited to share the news of a new Commencement ceremony on Friday, Aug. 16, at 4:30 p.m. specifically for our growing number of research doctoral graduates (PhD, EdD, PsyD and DSc). This special, exclusive ceremony at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center will celebrate the significant accomplishments of our doctoral graduates as a Christian Research 1 university and will include a reception for the graduates, their families and mentors. For more information, visit the Baylor Commencement website.
• MOVE2BU VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: In just six weeks students will begin moving into our residence halls to kick-off the fall semester. Move2BU, our annual collective move-in effort that demonstrates hospitality toward incoming students and families, will take place Wednesday, Aug. 21, and Thursday, Aug. 22. The First Gent and I make it an annual tradition to help with Move2BU, and it’s one of our favorite ways to meet new students and encounter all that we love about the Baylor Family in action. I encourage all faculty and staff to sign up to help with this special, campus-wide effort. There are a variety of roles for all abilities serving on one or both days in the morning for 2.5-hour shifts. You can learn more about what’s involved and sign up as an individual or as a department online here. We hope you will join us!
• TRUETT’S 30th ANNIVERSARY: Throughout the rest of this year Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary will celebrate its 30th anniversary. To commemorate this important milestone, Truett will host a special celebration on Aug. 27, and the Baylor Family, Truett supporters and friends are invited. In just three short decades Truett has grown from its first home on the second floor of First Baptist Church, Waco, to today’s vibrant campuses at Baylor, in San Antonio at Trinity Baptist Church and a new home in Houston at the Lanier Theological Library and Learning Center. Regardless of the location, the Truett vision is the same, to be a leader in the training of thoughtful, faithful Christian ministers for a 21st century church and world.
• NEW INTERIM ASSOCIATE VICE PROVOSTS: On Monday the Office of the Provost announced Eric Robinson and Dr. Rishi Sriram have been appointed as Interim Associate Vice Provosts for Academic Affairs for the 2024-2025 school year, effective Aug. 1. Dr. Robinson will oversee student accommodations and academic support while Dr. Sriram will manage academic engagement and student success. Both leaders are longtime members of the Baylor faculty. They will work closely with Dr. Wes Null, our Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs, and we anticipate a long-term solution for oversight of these areas by the end of the fall semester. On behalf of the University, I give our sincere thanks to Dr. Chad Eggleston, who served as Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Operations and Advising and will be transitioning to the role of Vice President of Instruction and Student Engagement at McLennan Community College (MCC) in Waco at the end of July.

We are back to our weekly schedule on Thursdays with Presidential Perspective. Be sure to check out Baylor News Digest on Wednesdays for a host of summer activities on the Baylor campus and throughout the Greater Waco area.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Another benefit of being back in Waco is to see all the excitement and smiling faces of incoming students and families who are on campus for Orientation and Line Camp. Officially joining the Baylor Line down at our original campus in Independence is such a special Baylor tradition. Welcome, #BU28!