Presidential Perspective - Aug. 6, 2026

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

Today is the first Thursday in August, which means I’m back to my regular weekly emails to you, and the countdown to the start of the new academic year is underway. Here are some key dates I’m personally tracking:

• Aug. 11: Community Prayer Breakfast where local leaders, pastors and members of the Baylor community gather to pray for students, educators and institutions across Waco as the school year begins.
• Aug. 15: Commencement ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Ferrell Center, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with the next class of Baylor graduates.
• Aug. 16: Soccer’s first home match of the season against Texas A&M at Betty Lou Mays Field. And volleyball’s season debut in an exhibition, also against Texas A&M, at the Ferrell Center.
• Aug. 19-20: Move2BU as we welcome #BU30 to campus, and today is the last day to volunteer to support this unique and important Baylor tradition.
• Aug. 20-23: Welcome Week continues to grow, and I heard this year’s “A Waco Welcome” will likely top 2,000 guests, not including students.
• Aug. 24: First Day of Classes (Don’t forget this one!)
• Sept. 5: Football kicks off against Auburn at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the Aflac Kickoff Game. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
• Sept. 8 and Sept. 9: For faculty and staff, I encourage you to make plans now to attend both the Fall Faculty and Fall Staff meetings. These gatherings provide important information about the University that you don’t want to miss.
• Sept. 18-19: Family Weekend features new “Wake Up! It’s Family Weekend” activities across downtown Waco on Friday, Sept. 18, including a coffee crawl at several local bakeries and cafés.

I am looking forward to so many more memorable moments and learning opportunities throughout the Fall 2026 semester!

Here are a few updates:

• TRUETT IN DALLAS: I am pleased to report that Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary has announced plans to open an additional location at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas in fall 2027, joining the main campus here in Waco and satellite locations in Houston and San Antonio. Truett Dallas expects to offer three master’s degrees through in-person instruction, along with Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) cohorts. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, Truett has remained focused on training thoughtful, faithful Christian ministers for a 21st century Church and world.
• CONCERTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: If you love live music, Baylor University and Waco, Texas, should be on your radar! In less than two years, the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion on campus has become a premier entertainment destination. And the lineup for this academic year is already making headlines. It begins with Old Dominion, one of country music’s top live bands, during Family Weekend, and we just announced Christian music icons Third Day will be here in April 2027. You can keep up with all the artists headed to our city and university at baylor.edu/concerts.
• MOVE2BU SIGN-UP: Today is your last chance to sign up to join Baylor in welcoming the newest Bears to campus during Move2BU. Faculty and staff can assist students by moving their belongings, directing traffic, assisting with trash/recycling efforts, distributing snacks and water or simply holding a door. Official Move2BU hours are 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Thursday, Aug. 20 – which has the greatest need for volunteers – across campus. Sign up as an individual or department here!
• AI AND FAITH CONSORTIUM: Earlier this spring, Baylor joined researchers from Brigham Young, Notre Dame and Yeshiva to form the Consortium for Evaluation of Faith and Ethics in AI. Identifying the need to portray faith traditions accurately, honestly and respectfully in AI and other technologies, the consortium has already released several papers, finding that leading AI models frequently omit religious perspectives when responding to questions about ethics, grief, love and morality. Baylor’s participation in the consortium reflects the University’s distinct Christian research mission and aligns with the Human-Technology Interface imperative woven throughout Baylor in Deeds.
• CHANGING HOW STUDENTS LEARN: In a recently published article in Frontiers in Education, researchers from Baylor’s Moody School of Education found that artificial intelligence can help reshape teaching, learning and leadership in K-12 schools by personalizing instruction and making learning more immersive. Led by Dr. William Sterrett, professor and chair of educational leadership, researchers interviewed award-winning, tech-savvy principals from across the country who emphasized technology should strengthen – not replace – student thinking, human judgment and meaningful relationships.
• PIPER FOUNDATION HONORS BAYLOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Stephen Sloan, professor of history, director of the Institute for Oral History and executive director of the national Oral History Association housed at Baylor, has been honored as a 2026 Piper Professor for the state of Texas by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. The Foundation recognizes only 10 professors each year across Texas for their dedication to the profession and their outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievement. A native Texan and first-generation college student, Dr. Sloan has built a distinguished career preserving and sharing the stories that shape Texas and the nation through oral histories, further strengthening the connection between academic research and public service. Join me in congratulating him on this tremendous honor!
• I-35 CLOSURES AHEAD: Please be aware that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to close the I-35 mainlanes between New Road and 12th Street for about 24 hours beginning at midnight tomorrow so crews can safely remove the South Valley Mills Drive flyover. Traffic will be very congested, so plan ahead if you must be out and about in the area. TxDOT is encouraging drivers passing through Waco to take alternate routes like Loop 340, Hwy 6 and US-77 BUS. Law enforcement also will be at key intersections to direct traffic. You can always follow TxDOT Waco on social media (Facebook or X @TxDOTWaco) for the most up to date information.

Don’t forget all eligible Baylor faculty and staff have until Aug. 31 to take Spiritual Wellbeing Leave.

Linda A. Livingstone,
Ph.D. President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK