IMPORTANT UPDATE: Aug. 29 classes/operations

August 21, 2025

Faculty, Staff and Students,

Earlier this week, we shared an update about the impact on our campus when Baylor Football kicks off the season vs. Auburn in a nationally televised game on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at McLane Stadium. As we transition to gameday operations on Friday, Aug. 29, it will be challenging to navigate around campus due to the closure of some parking garages, parking lots and streets, as well as the increased traffic.

Below is the detailed information you need to know to plan ahead for Friday, Aug. 29, including parking lot and garage closures, campus operations and more.

Friday Classes as Scheduled

Baylor University will not cancel classes or close the University on Friday, Aug. 29.

Faculty

If faculty want to discuss options for Friday classes, they can discuss possibilities with their chairs.
For those faculty members who teach Friday classes that start after 2 p.m., the Provost’s Office already followed up with you by email with additional details.
Students should remain in communication with their instructors about any potential changes.

Staff

Since Friday, Aug. 29, falls within the first week of classes, the need for employees to be present on campus will vary from department to department.

Employees should discuss with their managers whether on-campus work will be required or if work can be performed from home for all or part of the day.
Managers will make these decisions based on departmental needs, job responsibilities and operational requirements.
If you are a manager and have questions about your team's ability to work from home, please reach out to your assigned HR Consultant for guidance.

Friday, Aug. 29 Gameday Parking Garage, Parking Lot, Street Closures

Several campus parking garages, parking lots and streets will transition to the football gameday schedule, including the Dutton Avenue and Speight Avenue Parking Garages, the parking lots of the Ferrell Center, Baylor Law School and Mayborn Museum, and University Parks Drive. Please follow the directions of personnel on site and posted signs. Avoid I-35 on Friday, Aug. 29, and seek alternate routes to and from campus.

Students: After 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, all interior campus surface lot parking, including Faculty/Staff areas, is available for student parking.

Dutton Avenue Parking Garage

The Dutton Avenue Parking Garage will close at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, to prepare the garage for reserved event parking.

To avoid ticketing and towing, all vehicles must be moved by 6 p.m.
Students can park in Faculty/Staff areas outside of Dutton Garage starting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.
Do not park at the Hurd Welcome Center, which will be closed for gameday.
Vehicles may be moved back into Dutton Garage student spaces after the game has concluded and the garage has been cleared.

Ferrell Center Parking Lot

The Ferrell Center Parking Lot will be closed all day on Friday, Aug. 29, for reserved event parking.

Since the Ferrell Center lot will be closed on this day, the BUS service Green and Gold routes to the Ferrell Center will not run.

Speight Avenue Parking Garage

The Speight Avenue Parking Garage will be open for parking until 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

To avoid ticketing and towing, all vehicles must be moved by 2 p.m.

Baylor Law School Parking Lot

The Baylor Law School parking lot will maintain normal operations until 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, with Athletics staff working in conjunction with the Law School to manage parking.

Mayborn Museum

The Mayborn Museum will close at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

Campus Dining, Mailroom and Bookstore

Campus Dining will operate its regular residential and retail dining schedule on Friday, Aug. 29, although some locations may have modified hours. Please check the Baylor Eats website for daily hours of operation.

The mailroom in the Bill Daniel Student Center will operate during regular hours on Friday, Aug. 29.

The Baylor Bookstore will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29.

McLane Student Life Center/Counseling Center

The McLane Student Life Center (SLC) will close at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29:

Counseling Center staff will be available at both locations in the McLane Student Life Center and Dutton Avenue Parking Garage until 4 p.m.
If students need counseling services after 4 p.m., Baylor offers Baylor Telehealth by Academic Live Care. Please visit Uwill sponsored by Academic Live Care or call 833-969-3998.

Baylor Libraries

Moody and Jones Libraries will be open during regular hours from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

Hurd Welcome Center/Campus Visits

The Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. Varsity Coffee and the Spirit Shop will be open until 6 p.m.

Campus Visits will offer tours for prospective students and their families in the morning and will continue to host/greet guests and walk-ins during the afternoon prior to gametime.

Increased Traffic

Due to I-35 construction underway south of the Baylor campus, traffic through Waco has increased, and with a Friday night football game, traffic will be extremely heavy. To get to other parts of Waco or to access the Interstate, please use other routes, such as La Salle Avenue or Loop 340.

It’s also wise to “Know Before You Go” anytime you plan to travel on I-35. Sign up for My35 email alerts on My35WacoSouth.com and follow TxDOT Waco District on Facebook and X (Twitter) @TxDOTWaco.

Game Information

Baylor vs. Auburn will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at McLane Stadium in a nationally televised game on FOX. Touchdown Alley opens at 4 p.m., with the traditional Bear Walk in the South Plaza beginning at 5:10 p.m. McLane Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m.

A Clear Bag Policy is in effect for all Baylor Football games.

For more information, visit baylorbears.com/gameday.

Sincerely,
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President
Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost