News

Our hope is in God who raised our Lord from the dead, and who promises to raise us.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!

Wishing you God's peace and abundant blessing this Christmas season and throughout the New Year.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has been working with Baylor University to better understand the findings and implications of the Pepper Hamilton review on the status of overall safety and support for students on our campus. We have received verbal notice that the University has been given a one-year "warning" sanction for noncompliance in three areas.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Surely, we can find three things to give thanks for each day.

The “Walk with Tasha” this morning was an amazing experience for me. A large crowd of Baylor students, staff, faculty, administration, and members from the Waco community represented the core values of Baylor University under the Lordship of Christ.

Today the Board announced a new Governance Review Task Force that will review and recommend improvements in the Board’s practices, procedures and selection process.

Nothing is more important at Baylor University than providing a safe and caring community for our students. We have a renewed focus on our Christian mission and made a number of personnel and policy changes to help ensure this is the case.

We are working diligently to ensure that Baylor University fulfills its mission to be a caring, Christian community where our students thrive. As part of this commitment, I have directed the University to be more transparent wherever possible about the sexual assault crisis that has severely impacted our campus, our alumni and the entire Baylor family.

You have likely heard the news that Title IX Coordinator Patty Crawford has resigned from Baylor University. Our efforts – and our clear commitment – have been focused on ensuring the University has the processes, policies, personnel, organization and training in place to provide education to prevent acts of sexual violence and to respond appropriately and with compassion to those who suffer from such acts.

As we begin another academic year at Baylor University, I want to extend my deep appreciation for your support of this remarkable institution of higher education.

The greatness of this university comes from those graduates who have followed him faithfully, come what may, who have trusted in his greatness and who have sought to bring glory to him and not to themselves.

WACO, Texas (Aug. 23, 2016) – Baylor University Interim President David E. Garland today provided a progress report on the implementation of recommendations for improving the University’s response to sexual violence. The recommendations resulted from the University’s external investigation launched last fall.

WACO, Texas (Aug. 18, 2016) – Baylor University Interim President David E. Garland has announced the appointment of Christopher W. Holmes as the University’s General Counsel, effective immediately.

Our work to improve prevention, response and care for students is well underway and we endeavor to demonstrate a system that is supportive, responsive, fair and thorough in upholding students’ access to an education. We are committed to doing the right things for the well-being of our students.

WACO, Texas (July 25, 2016) – For the sixth consecutive year, Baylor University has attained elite Honor Roll status as a “2016 Great College to Work For,” according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, a top trade publication for colleges and universities.

WACO, Texas (July 22, 2016) – Baylor University’s Board of Regents has approved a new joint master’s degree program that links the faculties, resources and classes of two of Baylor’s premier schools, George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the School of Education. The board also heard reports on Title IX and diversity, approved the lowest percentage tuition increase in more than 20 years and focused its retreat on best practices in board governance.

WACO, Texas (July 7, 2016) – Baylor University Executive Vice President and Provost L. Gregory Jones has announced the members of the Spiritual Life and Character Formation Task Force, a group formed after the release of the Pepper Hamilton Findings of Fact and Recommendations to re-energize a focus around the University’s Christian mission. The Task Force has received its charge and held its initial meeting to begin work.

President David Garland updates the Baylor family on the University's efforts to move forward as an institution, and discusses the incoming class that were welcomed to campus as Baylor students at Orientation this month.

Last week I shared with you information concerning the high priority we have placed on implementing improvements across campus to increase the safety of students at Baylor University. We have committed to doing all we can to implement change based on the recommendations of Pepper Hamilton, LLP following their independent review of the University’s response to reports of sexual violence.

WACO, Texas (June 10, 2016) — Robyn L. Driskell, Ph.D., Divisional Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences, has been named Executive Director and President’s Chief of Staff by Baylor University Interim President David Garland, Ph.D. In this role, Driskell will be responsible for strategic communications from the President’s Office, collaboration on leadership initiatives, coordination of Board relations and representing the President in a variety of official capacities.

WACO, Texas (June 10, 2016) – Baylor University has actively launched groups to lead the implementation of recommendations made by Pepper Hamilton, LLP following its independent investigation into the University’s handling of sexual assault. Two complementary executive-level task forces have been named to efficiently implement change that leads to improved processes, communication, training and response and that cultivates a culture of respect and character that reflects Baylor’s mission.

We have entered a new season in the life of Baylor University. It is a season that calls for clarity, compassion and collective action as a Christian academic community and as a body of Baylor alumni that spans multiple generations, often within individual families. It is a season that calls for Baylor to stand together and speak as one voice, resolute in our shared commitment to student welfare and safety and to our institutional values.

As we begin a new summer academic term and a challenging journey together, I am honored and humbled that the Regents have asked me again to serve as interim president of Baylor University. Our work to pursue collectively Baylor’s distinctive mission requires our fervent prayers and a trust in God as the ultimate source of mercy, strength and guidance.

WACO, Texas (May 13, 2016) – At its regular spring meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents attended to a variety of matters related to the business of the University. The Board received a comprehensive briefing from Pepper Hamilton LLP, whose services were retained by the Board in September 2015 to conduct an independent and external investigation of the University’s response to reports of sexual and interpersonal violence. Over the coming weeks, the Board will carefully consider the information provided in the briefing and determine how to decisively act upon Pepper Hamilton’s findings and recommendations. The members of the Board will be guided by their faith as they make significant decisions for the welfare of Baylor students, the direction of the institution and the good of Baylor Nation.

WACO, Texas (April 27, 2016) – Baylor University and Tarrant County College today announced the creation of a formal Baylor Bound transfer agreement that will help students transfer more easily between the two institutions and continue to expand educational opportunities for young people all across Texas.

WACO, Texas (April 20, 2016) – Following a unanimous recommendation from the university search committee, Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr today announced the appointment of L. Gregory Jones, Ph.D., senior strategist for leadership education at Duke Divinity School and the Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry, as executive vice president and provost, effective May 16, 2016. His wife, the Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones, associate dean for ministerial formation at Duke Divinity School, also will join Baylor as senior fellow in the Institute for Faith and Learning.

WACO, Texas (April 11, 2016) – Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Palacios, Ph.D., dean for student development in the Division of Student Life and a Baylor faculty member, to the post of special assistant to the President on diversity. With 35 years in higher education, Dr. Palacios has been instrumental in collaborating with students, faculty, staff and the community on a variety of diversity-related advancements. While she will continue her responsibilities as dean, she will begin immediately to devote a portion of her time to this additional role and will work closely with the President and the President's Advisory Council on Diversity (PACD) as progress continues in this important area.

WACO, Texas (April 5, 2016) - Baylor University today announced a gift of $1 million from David and Amy Hunt of McLean, Virginia, to create the David and Amy Hunt Christian Missions Endowed Fund. The gift will support mission experiences led by the Honors College, enabling Baylor students to integrate the Christian faith with discipline-specific learning and hands-on service.

WACO, Texas (March 30, 2016) – The President’s Advisory Council on Diversity (PACD) has announced its timeline for facilitating an active campus-wide conversation regarding the University’s Christian commitment to diversity and communicating progress as it works over the coming months.

WACO, Texas (March 22, 2016) – Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr today announced the most recent actions the University will take to continue improvements in the prevention of and response to interpersonal violence in our campus community. These include improvements focused on increasing Title IX Office resources; progress toward expansion of Baylor’s Counseling Center; and enhancements to Baylor’s public safety efforts.

WACO, Texas (March 23, 2016) – Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr has announced the members of the University’s Provost Search Committee. The Committee is charged with leading the search to identify the University’s next Executive Vice President and Provost.

WACO, Texas (March 8, 2016) – Baylor University and Baylor Alumni Association (BAA) today announced the settlement of all claims in their pending lawsuit. The University and the BAA have come together, motivated by a unity of purpose and a deep and abiding love for Baylor University, to advance a bold, forward-looking agreement that aligns support for Baylor students and engagement with all alumni.

WACO, Texas (Feb. 16, 2016) — Baylor University’s Board of Regents has approved two new degree plans — one for a doctoral degree program in computer science that is expected to nearly double research output, and the other for a joint graduate degree program in athletic training that will allow students to enter the workforce sooner. The board took the action on Friday at its regular February meeting.

WACO, Texas (Feb. 12, 2016) -- Baylor University’s Board of Regents today received and approved an administrative action plan to prevent acts of sexual violence on campus and to improve treatment and services for all those impacted by interpersonal violence.

“Last evening, our students came together as a family. They displayed great poise and maturity during the vigil at Allbritton House and in the prayer service that followed at our beloved Truett Seminary.

We hear your voices loud and clear. You want us to continue to improve. And you want definitive, responsible actions after we receive the insights and recommendations from Pepper Hamilton. You have my word on both.”

Greetings from Baylor University, where the spring semester is in full swing. The month of February is a special time in the life of our University. Each year, we celebrate the founding of Baylor University on February 1, 1845 — 171 years ago. Today, in this Anno Domini 2016, we continue to carry forward our Founders’ vision to address the needs of the broken world around us.

With a new semester underway and a year of promise and opportunity before us as a caring and dynamic Baylor community, I write to provide you with an update about Title IX, Baylor’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence and the ongoing external review we commissioned in the fall. Many of you have participated in our Title IX training activities and “It’s on Us” awareness campaign, and I am deeply grateful for your willingness to help ensure that Baylor is a safe campus, free from harassment, discrimination and interpersonal violence. Together we are developing a campus culture that is educated about interpersonal violence and responsive to those who have experienced sexual violence.

WACO, Texas (Jan. 15, 2016) – Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr has announced the appointment of 13 faculty, staff and students to the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity (PACD).

Late last week, the Provost shared with the Office of the President a copy of the report from the Provost’s Committee on Diversity. The Committee, chaired by Professor Heidi Bostic, worked with dedication over the course of the autumn. We are grateful for the Committee’s efforts.

The recent criminal conviction of former student-athlete Sam Ukwuachu has brought deep anguish to our campus. As we have said unequivocally, acts of sexual violence contradict every value Baylor University upholds as a caring Christian community.

Learn your rights, options, and resources under Title IX.

President and Chancellor Ken Starr updates Baylor Nation on internal inquiry.

By God’s grace, we are living in a golden era at Baylor University. However, today we are filled with profound sadness. Yesterday, a former student-athlete was convicted for the sexual assault of another former student-athlete. Our hearts are broken for the victim who has been terribly harmed by this unspeakable tragedy. We also grieve for all those who have been touched by this human calamity, and for our beloved University, whose essential purpose and distinctive mission are to be guarded as the treasured legacy of our founders.

Judge Ken Starr: It is with a heavy heart that I write to you concerning the tragic death of Mr. Jeffrey Thaemert, an electrician and resident of our beloved Waco, who died yesterday morning working on the construction of our new business school building.

Baylor University is committed to ensuring the safety of all individuals on Baylor's campuses and involved in Baylor's programs, especially minor children (under 18 years of age).

This is a terrible tragedy that saddens us all. It is at difficult times like these that we are encouraged to remember that we serve a loving God who cares for the brokenhearted and is near to the downcast.

The University is moving forward expeditiously to implement - on its own - a number of the changes that were contemplated by the Transition Agreement.

Dear Baylor Nation, I am happy to report that the litigation over the removal of the Hughes-Dillard Alumni Center has come to an end. The judge has removed the temporary restraining order that prevented us from moving ahead with our construction schedule which is so vital to the timely completion of our new Stadium. We are grateful that Baylor can now move forward.