Presidential Perspective
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.
October is Christian Higher Education Month, and as a Research 1 university with nearly 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Baylor is distinct among our faith-based peers. However, like so many other institutions, our mission is built on preparing men and women to lead and serve.
This weekend is one of the reasons Baylor continues to be recognized as having one of the best first-year student experiences in the country. U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 rankings on Tuesday, and Baylor remains firmly in the Top 10 in this category. U.S. News voters are university presidents, provosts and admissions deans, and it is so gratifying to see that those leaders understand there is something special at Baylor when it comes to delivering on the promise of the quintessential student experience. You can read more about our rankings below, but in the meantime, here are a few reminders for this weekend.
A tradition at Baylor since 1960, Family Weekend strives to help families of Baylor students become better acquainted with the University and its beloved traditions. Baylor students, faculty and staff have been preparing for months for After Dark – our premier display of student talent – Meet the Faculty, Taste of Waco and the Family Weekend Tailgate.
The first home game of the 2026 Baylor football season is upon us, and I know the Baylor Family will fill the stands at McLane Stadium on Saturday night against defending SWAC Champion Prairie View A&M. It’s 254 Night, and I am looking forward to seeing and hearing you cheer on our team. Besides the game, I can’t wait to watch our freshmen run the Baylor Line for the first time, showcasing the “Best Walk-Out Tradition in College Sports.”
One of the hallmarks of Baylor University as a Research 1 institution is the ability to contribute to transformative research that addresses some of the world’s most significant challenges. That hallmark is amplified by a guiding conviction that “the world needs a Baylor” – a Christian research university dedicated to pursuing knowledge in service of humanity.
The beginning of the academic year is always rejuvenating. There are students everywhere, and each one is brimming with promise. Faculty and staff have a renewed energy and commitment to helping each student reach his or her full potential. As we all get settled into the semester, I am already looking forward to what September has in store for us.
It’s hard to believe, but this was move-in No. 10 for the First Gent and me. Even in the Texas heat, I never tire of this beautiful expression of who we are as a Baylor Family. We care deeply for each other, we bear one another’s burdens (in this case, boxes and belongings!) and we share in the joy of new beginnings.
Allow me to be among the first to congratulate the members of Baylor’s summer graduating class, which includes more than 700 students. This Saturday morning, 600 undergraduates, master’s and professional doctorate candidates will receive their diplomas, and in the afternoon, we will confer more than 100 research doctorates. Times and additional information for both ceremonies at the Ferrell Center can be found on the Commencement website.
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.
For those of us who have lived in Waco awhile, we know it’s a special place. When our city is featured in national publications like Southern Living Magazine and receives statewide recognition by Austin Travels, it’s clear others understand what makes the city unique, too. Waco has been Baylor’s hometown since 1886, and I believe we are in the middle of another exciting chapter in our story.
In the midst of challenging economic times and ongoing pressures on higher education, the Baylor Family continues to support the University in historic ways, particularly in contributions toward endowed funds. Today we are announcing the highest fundraising year in Baylor's history, with a significant amount of these gifts and pledges dedicated to support student scholarships, academic programs, research and other important initiatives for generations to come.
A tradition at Baylor since 1960, Family Weekend strives to help families of Baylor students become better acquainted with the University and its beloved traditions, and I hope you are planning to return to Waco for this special time of connection Sept. 18-19. Preparations are well underway for After Dark, Taste of Waco and the Family Weekend Tailgate, and you can purchase a ticket package to these events plus the Bears’ football game against Louisiana Tech until July 31 – before individual tickets go on sale.
The first session of New Student Orientation and Baylor Line Camp starts Monday, and over the next two months, Baylor will welcome thousands of students and their families to campus to prepare for the fall semester. Attendees get to meet other new Bears, learn about their major, meet with academic departments and take their first steps as part of the Baylor Line. All experiences are available to new first-year and transfer students. Parents or guests are encouraged to attend as well, with special programming for them woven throughout the day.
It seems like just yesterday we began the spring semester, yet here we are – at Commencement! Tomorrow and Saturday, we will celebrate more than 3,100 Baylor University graduates who will walk across the Ferrell Center stage during four ceremonies, including the first-ever graduates from the newly renamed Moody School of Education. While at Baylor you have worked hard, persevered through challenges, and although the end of this chapter in your story is near, there is an exciting next chapter to come.
Today is the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance designated by the U.S. Congress in 1952 in which people are asked to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.” Here are a few things I am praying for throughout the day, and I hope you will join me and millions of others across our country.
It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of another spring semester at Baylor. Commencement is right around the corner on May 15-16 for more than 3,000 Baylor students, and I know many of you are already working diligently on projects, papers and preparing for final exams.
Yesterday evening Baylor students organized two events on our campus that provided the opportunity for attendees to hear from speakers with differing viewpoints. Both gatherings were conducted safely and without incident, and I want to thank each of you for engaging respectfully as a demonstration of Baylor’s Christian mission, our commitment to academic freedom and to civil discourse.
This is the time of the year that we call the “Spring Sprint,” as we move quickly from Diadeloso to so many semester-ending events and activities – all the while finishing up the academic year in the classrooms, libraries and research labs.
Some of the most meaningful traditions at Baylor are those that tie directly to the University’s mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.