Presidential Perspective - July 3, 2025

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

Happy Independence Day from Australia! It’s already July 4 over here in the “Land Down Under,” and the First Gent and I are a little sad that we’ll miss out on the Fourth on the Brazos concert and fireworks at Touchdown Alley next to McLane Stadium, as well as some Texas barbecue and homemade ice cream.

As a faith-based institution, Baylor is afforded many religious freedoms in our country for which we are extremely thankful. We also have a long legacy of recognizing and appreciating the men and women who dedicated their lives to preserve these freedoms. Next year we’ll join the entire country in celebrating “America 250,” marking the 250th anniversary since the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.

Following a visit with students studying abroad as part of Baylor Business in Sydney – as well as a little sightseeing – Brad and I will be on our way to Brisbane for the Baptist World Alliance’s 23rd Baptist World Congress. This will be Baylor’s first year as a full member at the BWA conference. Pro Mundo, indeed!

A few updates for you:

• AGREEMENT WITH BWA ANNOUNCED: Earlier this week Baylor announced a new agreement with the Baptist World Alliance to house at Truett Seminary the first-ever university-based, graduate-level study center devoted specifically to the study of the life, history and ongoing mission of the BWA. The BWA Program is an important moment for Baylor as we give action to our new membership in the organization. The program also is a natural extension of a common global vision, and it aligns with Baylor’s expanded motto, Pro Ecclesia (For the Church), For Texana (For Texas), Pro Mundo (For the World). I am looking forward to ceremonially signing the agreement next week in Brisbane.
• TSA PRECHECK NEXT WEEK: With only 100 appointment slots remaining, I encourage travelers interested in TSA PreCheck to book a spot soon for Baylor’s second pop-up enrollment event. Hosted July 7-11 at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center, this pop-up enrollment for the TSA PreCheck program is the quickest and most convenient opportunity for the Waco community to experience more efficient and smoother passage through airport security. Appointments can be booked at tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov/programs/precheck. After the enrollment form is completed online, travelers will be able to select from the available dates/times for their in-person appointment. With no permanent enrollment centers easily accessible in our area, this pop-up helps to strengthen Baylor as a hub for global connection and a tremendous service provider to our community.
• YOUNG FESTIVAL STAGE: If you and your family are looking for dynamic, family-friendly summer fun, the Young Festival Stage musical, “Androcles and the Lion,” will be performed through July 14 in the Mabee Theatre in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center. “Androcles and the Lion” is a timeless tale of courage, kindness and unlikely friendship and has been brought to the stage as a joyful musical full of heart, humor and song. Young Festival Stage is Waco’s first professional theater for young audiences, and Baylor faculty, staff and students are all involved, thanks to a generous grant from the Rea Charitable Trust in 2021. For tickets and performance information, visit the Young Festival Stage website.
• CAMPUS LOCKDOWN FOLLOW-UP: A big THANK YOU to the Baylor University Department of Public Safety, Baylor Police, and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies who quickly protected our campus community last Thursday. As a follow-up to this incident, there will be a test of the emergency door lock functions for buildings across campus between 2-3 p.m. During the test, all exterior campus doors will be locked for 30 minutes to an hour. Card swipe building access for authorized individuals will continue to be available, and interior doors will not be affected.

Reports from campus indicate that Orientation and Line Camp for #BU29 is going extremely well, the southbound lanes of I-35 have transitioned down to two lanes, and the Texas summer temperatures are starting to rise. We can’t wait to be back home!

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Happy Birthday, America!