Presidential Perspective - Oct. 8, 2026

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

Tomorrow is Baylor’s Fall Break, and it is always a much-needed pause in the semester for students as the focus turns to midterms, which are right around the corner. Students, I pray you get the rest you need for your mind, body and spirit over the next few days. Remember that our Student Health and Wellness programs and services – including the Counseling Center, Health Services and Care Team Services, and our Pastoral Care staff in Spiritual Life – are always available to support you. The Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office, which is one of the largest and best resourced in the country, engages on issues of harassment and discrimination with care and integrity, and they are prepared to support you now or when you return.

In addition to these and many other resources, Baylor also has a range of tools available to keep our campus community safe. I encourage everyone to watch the video, Awareness, Curiosity, Response, about the role each of us plays in safety – wherever we are on or off campus – by staying aware of our environment, being curious and responding if we see something that seems out of place, including the behavior of a friend or colleague who might need help.

Please be safe over this long weekend and be sure to look out for one another as a reflection of our caring Christian community.

Here are a few updates:

• CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH: During this National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Baylor Information Technology Services reminds us that a few everyday habits, like using strong passphrases, enabling multifactor authentication and pausing before clicking a link or sharing personal information, can help protect the entire Baylor community. Although an unexpected email or a familiar-sounding voice on the phone may be harmless, artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks increasingly convincing and more dangerous. I am encouraging all faculty and staff to complete their required annual cybersecurity training assignment in Ignite by the deadline. Please join in helping keep Baylor’s information secure.
• FREE FARMERS MARKET: For 10 years, the Baylor Free Farmers Market has offered fresh food to students with the support of local farmers and businesses. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fountain Mall, our students can again pick up fruits and vegetables and learn about organizations promoting food access and healthy living. There will also be activities like creating your own spice blend. The market is exclusively for Baylor students, so bring your Baylor ID and tote bag. If you don’t have a tote, you can get one when you arrive after completing a short survey. The Free Farmers Market is held each semester and is hosted by The Store, Baylor’s on-campus food pantry.
• TOPGOLF LIVE: We’re always looking for new ways to bring the Baylor Family together and showcase our amazing campus, which is why I’m excited that Baylor will host the first-ever Topgolf Live Stadium Series event in the Big 12! From Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, McLane Stadium will be transformed into an interactive golf venue with hitting bays, family-friendly entertainment and an exclusive Friday night watch party for our road game at UCF. It promises to be a fun and unique way to experience our iconic stadium while supporting our student-athletes. Additional information will be announced soon, but mark your calendar today!
• NIL RESEARCH GRANT: Supported by the John Templeton Foundation, Baylor researchers, in partnership with Baylor Athletics and Truett Seminary’s Faith & Sports Institute, are launching an interdisciplinary study to examine how Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) is shaping the character development, well-being and experiences of student-athletes. The study will explore how Baylor student-athletes balance competition, academics, entrepreneurship and personal branding, and how pressure influences virtues such as courage, humility, empathy and accountability. Baylor scholars hope to provide new insights that help coaches, administrators and policymakers better support student-athlete flourishing and character formation. As a Christian Research 1 university with national championship-caliber athletic programs, Baylor is uniquely positioned for this research, and I look forward to reading the findings.
• BAYLOR WACO PERKS: If you live in Waco or are staying around campus during the long weekend, it is a great time to use the Baylor Waco Perks program to explore the many eateries and activities our hometown has to offer. A host of Baylor-specific discounts are available to students, faculty and staff, ranging from food and fitness to fun. Many of Waco’s top dining options are owned by your fellow Baylor Bears, and our program was recently featured in the Wacoan!

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night is here, and families are invited to all the festivities at Touchdown Alley on Saturday, Oct. 10, starting with food trucks at 4 p.m. and Toy Story 5 at 7:15 p.m. You don’t want to miss it.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK