Presidential Perspective - August 14, 2025

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

Allow me to be among the first to congratulate the members of Baylor’s summer graduating class, which includes more than 650 students. This Saturday morning, 562 undergraduates, masters and professional doctorate candidates will receive their diplomas, and in the afternoon, we will confer 102 research doctorates. Times and additional information for both ceremonies at the Ferrell Center can be found on the Commencement website.

I am proud to welcome all of you into your new status as Baylor Alumni in just a few days!

Here are a few more updates for this week:

• OPENING FOOTBALL GAME PLANNING: The kickoff to the 2025 Baylor football season is almost upon us, and it’s a good time to start planning for the home opener against Auburn on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at McLane Stadium. As we transition to game-day operations, it will be challenging to navigate around campus on Friday afternoon. We expect closures to some parking garages and streets, and there will also be increased traffic. Please be aware that we will not cancel classes or close the University, but there will be opportunities for flexibility in instruction and work. Specific information will be shared early next week, so be sure to keep an eye on your email and other official Baylor communication channels.
• ACCESSING STUDENT ATHLETICS TICKETS: With the start of the academic year also comes the start of the fall sports season. Baylor students may request free tickets to home football and basketball games through the Baylor Student Ticketing website. Tickets are distributed based on availability, and students receive an email if their request is successful. For home competitions in sports other than football and basketball, no ticket is needed – just present your Baylor ID at the venue for free admission. I can’t wait to see you filling the stands and cheering on our Bears this fall.
• FAITH AND CHARACTER STUDY: Since 2018, incoming Baylor freshmen have been asked to participate in the Faith and Character Study, a longitudinal survey that helps us better understand the long-term impact of a Baylor education on faith and character development. Incoming freshmen are able to complete the survey before they arrive on campus, and on next Friday afternoon you can stop by the Student Union Building (SUB) to select a “thank you” gift for participating. Findings from the survey have informed Baylor’s strong relationship with local churches and contributed to the ways we reimagined Chapel. We are proud of the impact this survey has had here and at other colleges and universities across the country.
• FACULTY IN THE NEW YORK TIMES – AGAIN: Last Saturday, The New York Times featured Michael Scullin’s widely recognized digital dementia research in a column on the front page of the newspaper’s website. Dr. Scullin’s investigation into the positive cognitive effects of older adults using digital devices continues to draw national and international interest, and this most recent article is the second in as many weeks for Baylor in the prominent publication. An earlier column cited research related to human flourishing and named our own Dr. Byron Johnson. This mention was also the latest in a long line of coverage about the Global Flourishing Study, which helped launch Baylor’s new Institute for Global Human Flourishing. Knowing how diligently Baylor faculty and staff research and teach, it is always gratifying to see their efforts and contributions recognized.
• TUCKER WETMORE AT FOSTER PAVILION: This fall’s A-list concert lineup at the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion is so exciting, and earlier this week we announced the latest performer,Tucker Wetmore. Tucker is a rising country music powerhouse with hit songs “3,2,1” and “Wind Up Missin’ You,” and he will headline his very first arena show at Baylor’s Foster Pavilion on Thursday, Oct. 23. A special student ticket presale is underway now through 8 p.m. CT tonight. (Check your Baylor email for the presale code!) General public tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT at baylor.edu/fosterevents, where you can also learn more about the rest of this fall’s performances.

I can’t wait to see all the new and familiar faces on campus and around Waco beginning this weekend. The First Gent and I have been stretching, working out and hydrating as we will be helping with Move2BU next week, alongside many of you. See you there!

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

What a blessing to be able to begin each academic year in prayer with Waco area pastors, school leaders and community officials.