Presidential Perspective - September 26, 2024
Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:
The fall semester is off to a great start, and our official fall enrollment certainly bears that out. As we welcomed an overall student body of 20,626 students, including a high-achieving and diverse freshman class, we also celebrated this number – 90.9% – Baylor’s highest-ever one-year retention rate for first-time freshmen.
Retention is a key indicator of undergraduate students’ successful adjustment to University life, and I’m deeply grateful for the tireless work of our faculty and staff who support the success of our students and are keeping us on track to reach the important retention – and graduation – goals in our Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan.
A few headlines on this fall’s enrollment:
- Our overall student body reflects more than one-third students of color at 36.3%, and students from out-of-state at nearly 41%.
- Our freshman class of 3,427 students includes:
- Students from 48 U.S. states and 41 foreign countries;
- The highest percentage (31.7%) of underrepresented minority students ever in a first-year class;
- 40.6% students of color;
- 41.6% male, a 1.7% jump from last fall; and
- An increase in high-ability students, whose combinations of test scores and grades correlate to a higher likelihood of success at Baylor.
- Steady undergraduate enrollment at 14,915 students, aligning with our SEM range to ensure we preserve the full Baylor educational experience; and
- A growing population of 5,711 students in graduate and graduate professional programs, including online programs, reflecting Baylor’s distinctiveness as a Christian R1 university.
Some updates for this week:
U.S. NEWS RANKINGS: On Tuesday U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings of “Best Colleges,” which once again recognized Baylor’s commitment to a transformational undergraduate education, as we ranked:
- #6 for Learning Communities
- #7 for First-Year Experience
- #11 for Undergraduate Entrepreneurship
- #23 for Undergraduate Research
- #26 for Undergraduate Teaching
- #26 for Most Innovative Schools
Overall, Baylor remains both a Top 50 private university (No. 47) and a Top 100 university by moving up to No. 91, tied with SMU and five other universities. While various rankings provide an understanding of strengths and areas in which you can be better, our continued focus remains on improving our retention and graduation rates, as well as access and affordability for students. We also know that national rankings like U.S. News don’t capture the “Baylor Distinctives” that we know drive a student’s choice to attend Baylor, such as faith and character development and faculty who take a personal interest in our students by providing mentorship both within and beyond the classroom.
- GREAT COLLEGE TO WORK FOR: For the 13th time, Baylor has attained the highest recognition possible by the “The Great Colleges to Work For” program – as one of only 42 institutions with elite Honor Roll status as a 2024 Great College to Work For. Baylor was recognized in eight categories, including the first-ever recognition in the Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging category, which is reserved for organizations that demonstrate an institutionalized commitment to belonging, as reported through the experiences of faculty and staff in the Great Colleges Survey. Baylor is, indeed, a Great College to Work For with a vibrant campus community, professional and personal development, outstanding benefits and more, but it’s our people – our faculty and staff – who make the difference, giving generously of their time and talents to create Baylor’s caring community dedicated to leadership, service, academic excellence and Christian commitment.
- SERVING WACO & THE WORLD: A transformational part of the Baylor experience is the opportunity for students to use their faith, academic discipline or passion to love and serve our neighbors, whether on a local or global scale. Next week Baylor Missions, Service & Public Life will host Missions Week 2024, which includes a variety of daily events and activities that connect students with more than 30 local and global service partners and opportunities to serve. I encourage you to learn more about the many experiences offered by Baylor Missions and how you can serve in Waco and around the world.
- RECOGNIZING RESEARCH ADMINS: Yesterday we celebrated National Research Administrator Day, and I hope you enjoyed the many stories and social media posts about the great research taking place here at Baylor. Many of you may have seen billboards highlighting Baylor research in Waco, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston, on the Texas Tribune website and, of course, on our own social media channels. This annual day of celebration may be over, but our appreciation continues throughout the year. There aren't enough days on the calendar to highlight all the great work taking place here, and we'll continue to share these stories of research impact with you. I'm constantly inspired by the ways Baylor faculty and students are “Baylor in Deed” to our neighbors close to home and around the globe through high-level research. On National Research Administrator Day and throughout the year, we're grateful for everyone who makes it possible.
- FALL FACULTY AND STAFF CHAPEL: Launched two years ago as an outcome from the Spiritual Wellbeing Task Force, Faculty and Staff Chapel brings a guest pastor and/or congregation to our campus to lead us in a time of worship – complementing both our personal spiritual growth and Baylor’s Christian mission. This fall's service will provide a unique opportunity to hear from Rector Aaron Zimmerman and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Waco. Chapel will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, in Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary, and I hope all faculty and staff make plans to participate.
- BAYLOR 101 ON DEMAND: The latest Baylor 101 webinar – Campus Preparedness and Communication Strategy – is now available for on-demand viewing. This session featured a conversation with Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications and chief marketing officer; Dr. Robyn Driskell, vice president and chief compliance and risk officer; and Dr. Kevin Jackson, vice president for student life, about how we prepare and communicate for times of crisis. The trio covered expressive activities and invited speakers during the one-hour conversation, and I hope you will watch and learn as we continue to navigate this challenging political season.
- HOWDY, STUDENTS!: Have a great time this Friday at 7 p.m. at the 68th Annual All University Howdy! on Fountain Mall. Pi Beta Phi, Baylor Activities Council and Baylor Student Government have joined to welcome more than 25 vendors – from food trucks to fun activities – and host an outdoor concert by acclaimed country artist RaeLynn.
Don't forget to wear your GOLD to McLane Stadium as our Bears take on BYU at 11 a.m. Saturday!
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Our students certainly exhibited their good deeds at the Dean’s Reception at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center as we honored our Dean’s List students from the spring semester.