Presidential Perspective - March 5, 2026

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

The spring storm season in Texas is approaching, and it’s a good time for all of us to make sure we are “Weather Ready.” When we experience severe weather in Central Texas, which can include everything from snow and ice to thunderstorms and tornados, the Baylor Department of Public Safety alerts our campus community through the multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system.

Baylor Alert uses several methods to reach students, faculty and staff during weather and other emergencies. It includes an outdoor warning system, text and email messages, notices placed on the main Baylor website and posts to official University social media channels.

In the event of an emergency, we want to ensure you are notified and informed, so I strongly encourage all students, faculty and staff to make sure your Baylor Alert contact information is up to date. Students can check their information in BearWeb, while Baylor faculty and staff can use Ignite.

Baylor is blessed to have a dedicated, knowledgeable and professional staff who daily watch and prepare for inclement weather. Your health and safety are always our top priority, so I ask that if we find ourselves in an emergency, please pay attention to Baylor Alert and be ready to act quickly.

On to a few updates for this week:

• BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS RECOGNITION: With spring upon us, it was the perfect time to learn that Baylor has again been recognized as one of the nation’s 30 Most Beautiful College Campuses. U.S. News & World Report noted the Georgian-style architecture, “Baylor Red” brick and the live oak-lined pathways along our 1,000-acre home in Waco. This honor – alongside accolades from Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Traveler and Arbor Day Foundation – celebrates more than just our campus beauty. It reflects our Christian mission, our sense of stewardship of the natural world and the welcoming, peaceful spirit that defines the Baylor experience.
• WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Baylor is joining others across the nation in celebrating Women’s History Month throughout March with events that recognize the significant contributions women have made to our nation and our University. Activities began earlier this week with the annual Carillon Recital and will continue with the Women’s History Month Roundtable and a Lunch & Learn. There are so many women to celebrate at Baylor and in Waco, and I want to congratulate our women students, faculty and staff for their many accomplishments.
• SETTING THE STANDARD: Whether you are on a mission trip or vacationing, I encourage all students to take the spirit of Baylor’s caring community with you by looking out for your friends and peers next week. Typically, after Spring Break through the end of the semester, colleges and universities across the country experience an increase in Title IX reporting. Please know that there are many resources on campus should you need help, such as Baylor’s Office of Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX, the Baylor Counseling Center and the University Chaplain. Let us continue to “set the standard” at Baylor.
• FREE TAX ASSISTANCE: Accounting students from Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business are again partnering with students from local high schools to provide free tax preparation services to families in McLennan County. Nearly 140 undergraduate and graduate students are expected to offer no-cost assistance on approximately 1,500 tax returns. Led by Professor Don Carpenter, Dr. Rebecca Files and Dr. Jason MacGregor, the program gives students valuable real-world experience and an opportunity to engage compassionately with community members. Through April 9, residents can have their taxes prepared in person at University or La Vega high schools, and all returns are reviewed by experienced preparers.
• BEARATHON REGISTRATION: The Toughest Half in Texas is back and ready to take over the Waco streets! The Bearathon and Sic 'Em 6K are set for Saturday, March 28, and this student-led event not only welcomes thousands of runners to experience challenging and beautiful courses through our campus and city — it also directly supports the Baylor Student Foundation Scholarship Fund. The Bearathon half marathon has continued its tradition of early sellouts, but a limited number of spots remain for the Sic ’Em 6K. Registration will close at noon on Friday, March 27. For more information, visit baylor.edu/bearathon.

Although campus will be a little quieter next week while students are on Spring Break, remember the University will continue its normal operations.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Baylor public health students serving right in our own backyard during the health fair partnership with Church Under the Bridge.