Presidential Perspective - Oct. 22, 2026

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

This Saturday the entire Baylor campus will host more than 5,500 prospective students and families during Fall Premiere, likely surpassing our total from last fall as one of the largest turnouts to date. This is an incredibly important day for guests to explore our award-winning campus, understand our Christian mission, learn about our nationally ranked undergraduate student experience and interact with our outstanding Baylor faculty.

During Premiere, students and families are able to take a campus tour, meet with academic departments, learn about the admissions process, tour residence halls and enjoy exciting activities and live performances. We take care to ensure our guests understand the significance of Baylor’s Top 10 U.S. News & World Report rankings for both Learning Communities (No. 3) and First-Year Student Experience (No. 9). We also remind them that Premiere is a great time to explore Waco. The event is free but registration is required.

I hope you will join me in showing our guests a warm welcome as we all work together to continue to recruit #BU31!

Here are a few updates for this week:

• BANANA BALL AT MCLANE STADIUM: I was so excited about last week’s announcement that the Greatest Show in Sports – Banana Ball – is coming to McLane Stadium on May 7-8, 2027! I want to make sure everyone understands that the only way to get tickets is to sign up for the lottery at BananaBall.com/tickets by Saturday, Oct. 31, at 10:59 p.m. CT. The Livingstones are in (with fingers crossed we get a chance to purchase), and we hope all of you, your friends and families will do the same. It’s an incredible opportunity for Baylor and Waco to host Banana Ball, and I can’t wait to experience the fast-paced, fans-first version of baseball on our own home field!
• SAD NEWS: In the midst of the excitement of the fall, we are saddened on our campus today with the news of the passing of another member of the Baylor Family. Current Baylor Regent Tyler Cooper has passed away, and I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Angie, and their three children. Tyler was not only a Regent, but he was a Baylor parent, Baylor graduate and a former Baylor track and cross-country student-athlete. It is impossible to comprehend the number of broken hearts among our colleagues, friends and neighbors right now. Many of you are preparing to attend the campus memorial for Dr. Ricardo Álvarez-Pimentel this afternoon in Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary, and others will wait to learn how you can support the Coopers. My prayer continues to be that we will come together as a Baylor Family during these difficult seasons, standing on our faith and our hope in Jesus Christ.
• BEARAID RELIEF: Baylor’s BearAid Disaster Relief team will travel to Menard, Texas, this weekend to serve another community impacted by devastating summer floods. In partnership with Texans on Mission, Baylor students, faculty, staff and alumni will help with rebuilding efforts, including drywall installation, flooring work and painting. As a student-led ministry, BearAid exemplifies Baylor’s Christian mission by helping others through compassionate service, offering hope and hands-on relief to Texans during a time of great need.
• STEPPIN’ OUT SIGNUP: For more than 40 years, Steppin’ Out has brought thousands of Baylor students, faculty and staff together to serve organizations, neighborhoods and residents across Waco, putting the University’s commitment to leadership and service into action while also strengthening our connection to the community we call home. This fall’s day of service is on Saturday, Nov. 14, and space fills quickly, so sign up soon. Registration closes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
• MOST-CITED RESEARCHERS: Baylor University again is well-represented among the world’s leading scholars, with 50 current and retired faculty members named to a prestigious list of the top 2% most-cited researchers in the world. Compiled by Stanford University, this recognition reflects the significant impact of Baylor researchers across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields. As a Christian Research 1 university, Baylor celebrates these most-cited faculty whose work not only advances knowledge but also demonstrates the extended impact of Baylor research to serve others across the globe.
• FACULTY/STAFF OPEN ENROLLMENT: Benefits Open Enrollment for 2027 began Oct. 13 for faculty and staff and will end on Tuesday, Oct. 27. This is a once-a-year opportunity to review and update benefits elections, including health-related insurances. Please note this year is an active enrollment, and faculty and staff must log into Benefitfocus to change or keep their elections. Learn more at 2027 Benefits Open Enrollmentand see what new benefits are available to you and your family.

Don’t forget Indie rock band Mt. Joy takes the stage at Foster Pavilion tonight at 7:30 p.m. Fresh off sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Waco will be the group’s final performance of the year. Tickets are still available, and you don’t want to miss it!

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK