News

I woke up again this morning to see the tragic devastation of another hurricane making landfall in the southeast. Like with Hurricane Helene, our Care Team Services is reaching out to Baylor students from Florida, checking in to see how they are doing, letting them know we are praying for them, their families and hometowns and that we are here to walk alongside them in any way we can. 

It’s been quite a year for Forrest Frank (BBA ’17):

• Hit No. 1 on iTunes worldwide chart (for all genres)
• Five of iTunes’ top 100 Christian songs for 2024
• Chosen as the soundtrack for Baylor’s 2024-25 commercial (our favorite honor, obviously)

Now, the Baylor grad has been recognized yet again, having won the 2024 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year!

Baylor University’s Corey P. Carbonara, Ph.D., professor of film and digital media, Master Teacher and an innovator in advancing new frontiers in media production technology, has been selected to receive the 2024 Presidential Proclamation from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).

An internship in Washington, D.C., offers incredible experience for students seeking careers in a wide variety of fields — but exponentially so during an election year.

The Baylor in Washington program has students in just such a position — earning college credits while interning with U.S. senators and representatives, government offices, think tanks, law firms, lobbyists, and other power players in our nation’s capital.

One of the priority capital projects during the Give Light campaign was a major update to Memorial and Alexander residence halls, home to Baylor’s Honors Residential College. The goal: A complete renovation of both dorms, plus an new addition in between that would connect the two buildings and offer additional academic and community space for the Honors College and its students.

After closing throughout 2023-24 for a year of renovation and construction, the completed project was unveiled at the start of the semester, with Memorial and Alexander reopening to welcome a new class of Bears.

Centered by a call to be salt of the earth and light of the world at the center, Baylor University launched a year-long series of campus-wide conversations, trainings and presentations in January focused on civil discourse, an important topic as Baylor strives to be a marketplace of ideas and extend the love of Christ toward others.

Between tests, Homecoming preparations and the overall busyness of the semester, it sounds like many students are looking forward to a short week and a much-needed fall break next week. 

This year’s pop princess-driven BearAware cybersecurity campaign marks October’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and reminds students, faculty, and staff to make smart and safe choices online. 

Looking for a great undergraduate experience? You can’t do much better than Baylor.

Once again, BU is among the nation’s top-10 undergraduate experiences, according to U.S. News’ 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings.

Baylor film historian lists the perfect films for thrill seekers and scaredy cats 

The fall semester is off to a great start, and our official fall enrollment certainly bears that out. As we welcomed an overall student body of 20,626 students, including a high-achieving and diverse freshman class, we also celebrated this number – 90.9% – Baylor’s highest-ever one-year retention rate for first-time freshmen. 

Student Opportunity and Achievement Resources addresses the unique challenges of college food insecurity

Did you know that one of the oldest continuously published collegiate literary magazines in the country is run by Baylor undergraduate students? The Phoenix is annually edited, published, and produced by Baylor undergrads from its home in Carroll Science, and has been running since the 1950s.

The Phoenix “represents a unique opportunity for Baylor students both to have their creative work published and to gain experience producing, all on their own, a significant literary review,” says Baylor English professor Arna Hemenway, one of the magazine’s faculty advisors.

Baylor University today is celebrating National Research Administrator Day to highlight top-tier research throughout the University. 

Baylor's Missions, Service & Public Life will host its annual Missions Week from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, featuring a variety of tabling events, socials and dinner. 

Throughout October, Baylor will host a series of events celebrating the sustainability efforts around campus in honor of Campus Sustainability Month.

Baylor University’s transformational undergraduate academic programs and experiences were Top 10 national highlights in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, released today by U.S. News & World Report.

Baylor is known (ranked top-5 nationally last year!) for creating an atmosphere in which our students grow and flourish. The atmosphere at BU includes a small student-to-faculty ratio, a strong faith-based environment — and plenty of opportunities for students to find their place among the 400+ student organizations offered on campus.

Baylor Student Activities provides practically limitless opportunities for students to get involved. More than 10,000 events are held on campus each year, hosted by the hundreds of student orgs. These groups offer students a stronger sense of belonging and connection, leadership and service opportunities, academic support, friendship, and spiritual growth.

One of the great joys of this exciting time at Baylor is to see the incredible ways our faculty and students demonstrate God-given gifts and passions through research. Their work and its impact exemplify the Baylor mission in action, and they truly are “Baylor in Deeds” to a world in need of solutions to so many great challenges.

A year ago this time, Baylor was celebrating the opening of the brand-new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center. Since then, the Hurd has become exactly what university leaders hoped it would become: the new “front door to campus,” and an important part of campus life for both current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

A quick look back at the Hurd’s first 12 months:

From the “Meet the Faculty” Welcome Hour on Friday through the last note of “That Good Old Baylor Line” after football’s victory Saturday night, Family Weekend 2024 was a whirlwind of green and gold.

For those who couldn’t make it (or those who just want to relive it), here’s a look back at some of the highlights:

The Baylor Symphonic Band and Baylor Wind Ensemble are proud to welcome prolific guest composer and conductor Frank Ticheli, D.M.A., as a special guest, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in Jones Concert Hall.

Baylor University will host a variety of vibrant events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

During September’s National Preparedness Month, the Baylor University Department of Public Safety (BUDPS) encourages the Baylor Family to enhance their readiness for emergencies by understanding the University’s multi-tiered approach to safety and security. 

Earlier this week we kicked off the fall Baylor Conversation Series on civil discourse with a day-long slate of activities with David Brooks – a New York Times best-selling author, columnist and commentator. 

Baylor’s unofficial Scriptural foundation in recent years has been Matthew 5:14-16, especially: “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Both the terminology and meaning have shaped recent major endeavors, from the “Where Lights Shine Bright” and “Give Light” campaigns through the Illuminate strategic plan. Baylor’s next major efforts will continue the focus on those verses, this time on the reason we let our light shine — “so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Baylor's 10th annual Boundary Breaking Women’s Panel to take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, on the fifth floor of the Cashion Academic Center. The event features 10 Baylor faculty and staff members in campus leadership roles of leadership to highlighting showcase 10 women boundary-breakers.

Lots of events bring people to Waco in the fall: Move2BU, football games, Family Weekend, Premiere, Homecoming, Commencement… You get the idea. And the one thing all those visitors have in common? They’ll all need to eat while here.

For years, we’ve been writing up various guides for visitors to Waco. At last, here they all are, in one place — just for you.

This fall, Baylor University is joining universities and communities around the country to increase public awareness and prevention education about sexual assault and interpersonal violence as the Equity, Civil Rights, & Title IX Office brings awareness to The Red Zone.

Children spend much of their days in school, so it makes sense that a researcher looking to help them thrive might focus on that time in the classroom. Dr. Tonya Davis (BS ’02, MS ’04), a professor of educational psychology in Baylor’s School of Education, does just that.

This fall, Baylor University continues its Conversation Series on Civil Discourse with a visit from David Brooks, one of the nation’s leading writers and commentators and author of How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, who will speak to Baylor students, faculty and staff at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Waco Hall.

The fall semester is certainly off and running at a brisk pace! I hope everyone is settling into new routines and becoming acclimated academically, physically and spiritually. 

It’s now been more than 100 years since the first Baylor alum appeared in an NFL game. That would be Russ Blailock, an offensive lineman who made his debut with the Milwaukee Badgers in 1923 — just three years after the league was founded, and only a year after it changed its name to the National Football League.

This year, there are 14 Bears in the league to start the season: nine on active rosters, one on the injured list, and four more on practice squads. Here are the Bears we’ll be cheering on Sundays (plus the occasional Monday, Thursday and December Saturday):

Waco’s conspicuous growth over the past decade has seen options for fine dining grow and multiply. White linen tablecloths, impeccable service and haute cuisine are no longer an entire day’s investment, but can be found (with free parking and no need to valet) right here in Waco. Take your pick:

***Required Test of the Baylor Alert Emergency Notification System Completed Successfully*** Baylor University will join City of Waco and McLennan County partners – in cooperation with the Waco/McLennan County Office of Emergency Management – to conduct a regular test of its Outdoor Warning System (tornado sirens) at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6. Along with the siren test, Baylor University will conduct a required test of the multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system

The start of the fall semester is filled with so many signature events, from Move2BU and Welcome Week to the first day of class and #BU28 running across the field at McLane Stadium as part of the Baylor Line this Saturday evening. 

A new school year and a new football season present a new opportunity to share what Baylor is all about. Baylor’s 2024-25 university commercial will debut on television during Baylor football’s season opener Saturday, but BU social media shared the spot earlier today.

The 30-second spot features breakout Christian music singer/songwriter (and 2017 Baylor graduate) Forrest Frank, whose music you’ve likely heard on Christian radio and/or TikTok. The commercial pairs one of Frank’s original songs, “Never Get Used To This,” with shots featuring the vibrancy and joy of the Baylor student experience.

The “best hour of the week” – Baylor University’s Dr Pepper Hour – is kicking off year four of its highly lauded Dr Pepper Hour Tour, delivering sweet treats and a VIP Baylor experience this fall to high school students and Baylor Alumni families across the country.

There’s a lot of new for Baylor Football in 2024: a new (but familiar) offensive system, a new starting quarterback, newly redesigned uniforms, and a sparkling new football development center for the Bears to call home. As the Bears look to climb after a challenging 2023 season, signs abound that much has changed since last year.

What a week! From Move2BU to Welcome Week and then the first day of classes, Baylor’s campus is once again buzzing with activity!

While a general link between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease is well known, Baylor University researchers are digging into the “why” behind this detrimental association – especially after a night of binge drinking – in a study published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension journal.

What a Move2BU! It’s hard to believe, but this was move-in No. 8 for the First Gent and me. Even with the excessive August heat, I never tire of this beautiful expression of who we are as Baylor Family. 

It’s hard to believe, but the 2024 season will be head coach Ryan McGuyre’s 10th at the helm of the program he has built into a national powerhouse. In that time, the Bears have reached eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments (and counting), five Sweet 16s and a Final Four. Last year, he became the program’s all-time winningest coach and guided a young squad back to the tournament.

This year, the Bears look to build on that experience and add to the program’s resume of success. The 2024 Bears will look to two Preseason All-Big 12 selections for leadership when the season begins. Lauren Briseño, a senior libero, and Elise McGhee, a senior outside hitter, bring experience and a league-wide reputation for outstanding play on the defensive and offensive ends, respectively. They’re two of the six returning starters from last year’s postseason matches at the University of Kentucky.

When Baylor announced a new campus dining contract with Chartwells Higher Education last fall, the nationally known university food service provider made a commitment to delivering innovation and best-in-class service to the campus community. Nine months of partnership and planning have led to a revamped dining experience –  Baylor Eats, which is powered by Chartwells. This new partnership combines Baylor’s dedication to providing a top-tier campus experience that supports the well-being and satisfaction of the entire University community with Chartwells’s dining and catering expertise.

On Monday afternoon, the Baylor network experienced a disruption focused on Microsoft and Google-based resources. As of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20, all network services were restored.

Baylor faculty experts share practical strategies for fostering stronger holistic well-being for National Wellness Month in August.

Since 2008, each incoming class of new Baylor students has been welcomed with its own unique hymn, capturing an aspect of this moment of excitement, possibility and transition in each new Bear’s life.

This year’s hymn, “In This Day,” was written expressly for the Class of 2028, with lyrics and music by University Chaplain Burt Burleson (BA ’80) and Kathy Johnson (BM ’76). The lyrics are both a welcome and an invitation to our newest Bears as they move through these moments of excitement, transition and possibility. The accompanying music video features snapshot images of this special time (especially Line Camp, when students get to know Baylor and one another):

Allow me to be among the first to congratulate our 979 Summer graduates, which include 350 undergraduate degrees, 395 master’s degrees, 98 professional doctorates and 136 research doctorates. I am proud to welcome you into your new status as Baylor Alumni this Friday and Saturday!

Earlier this year, Pamela Tremont (BA ’90, MA ’92) was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Zimbabwe — the culmination of a road to foreign service that began at Baylor three decades ago.

At Baylor, Tremont earned her bachelor’s in political science and her master’s in international relations, during which time she was also a part of Baylor Ambassadors, the Foreign Affairs Association, and the Golden Key International Honor Society. Upon graduating from Baylor, she embarked on a career that has included stops at U.S. embassies in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Zambia, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Sweden, most recently as deputy chief of mission in Stockholm.

Baylor University will confer degrees on more than 970 graduates during August Commencement, which includes the traditional Saturday ceremony for undergraduate and master’s students and the debut of a new commencement tradition – an exclusive Friday ceremony honoring Baylor’s growing number of research doctoral graduates.

With the 2024 Summer Olympics complete, Baylor Bears are coming home from Paris with a school-record four medals (earned by four different Olympians) — continuing BU’s long history of Olympic excellence.

As the world gears up for the 2024 Paralympic Games starting Aug. 28 in Paris, it is a reminder of the profound impact this global event has on athletes and communities around the world. And it's more than just athletic prowess, says the director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities.

The Waco community is waiting with open arms and prayerful hearts to welcome our new and returning students to campus! 

Over the summer, aerospace teams from top national universities converged on the New Mexico desert for a competition that literally involves rocket science. Among them? Baylor’s Aerospace Engineering Club.

It’s been a rapid rise for Aero at Baylor, a student organization that, after lying dormant for many years, reorganized in 2021. Featuring dozens of students from engineering and other STEM fields (such as physics and data science), Aero at Baylor introduces students to aerospace engineering through hands-on projects, real-world experience and friendly competition.

FirstGen Forward, formerly the Center for First-generation Student Success, has announced Baylor University as one of 14 higher education institutions selected to its inaugural class of FirstGen Forward Network Champions.

You might recognize Forrest Frank (BBA ’17) from his hit band Surfaces, which has dropped several iconic pop songs over the last few years. Their songs charted on Billboard’s “Hot 100” in the U.S. and nine other countries.

Or, you might recognize Frank from your favorite Christian radio station. His debut Christian album, Child of God, hit No. 1 worldwide on the iTunes charts last week — not just for worship, but across all genres.

Last week, the Big 12 Conference officially welcomed four new members — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah — settling into the league’s new format of 16 teams.

Each school offers its own unique traditions — a big part of the fun of college athletics. Before Baylor heads to Tucson, Tempe, Boulder, and Salt Lake City, get to know some of our new partners’ traditions:

Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo. The addition of those last two words to Baylor’s longstanding motto mirrors the university’s mission statement (“for worldwide leadership and service”), and highlights Baylor’s global impact as a Christian research university.

Baylor faculty have long conducted groundbreaking research with a worldwide bent, and that continues today. For a few examples, let’s take a trip across campus and around the globe:

Baylor University today announced a $1.5 million gift from B. Todd and Amy Patterson of Richmond, Texas, establishing The Todd and Amy Patterson Endowed Chair in Cybersecurity to advance the School of Engineering and Computer Science’s research within the field of cybersecurity. 

Today is August 1, which means the countdown to the start of the fall semester has officially begun. 

Baylor University will join City of Waco and McLennan County partners – in cooperation with the Waco/McLennan County Office of Emergency Management – to conduct a regular test of its Outdoor Warning System (tornado sirens) at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2. The University’s testing period will be 10 to 11 a.m. 

As we shift our attention to the start of another academic year, we want to share a brief update with you from last week’s annual July retreat of the Baylor Board of Regents. 

Baylor School of Education expert offers ideas to help make the start of the new school year less stressful for everyone.

The quarterly meeting of Baylor’s Board of Regents is happening this week outside of Austin. Because this gathering also serves as an annual retreat for strategic discussions about the University and higher education, the Regents are focusing on topics of importance such as value, affordability, governance and artificial intelligence.

Beginning in August, Student Parking Permits will be available online. In order to park in a campus parking facility, students must purchase a parking permit annually. Groups of students will be able to select permits on a staggered basis – beginning with On-Campus Residential Students – according to the dates outlined below.

The 2024 Summer Olympics will take place July 26 through Aug. 11 in Paris, so what can we expect to see from the world’s best athletes as they compete on the world’s biggest stage? Baylor experts weigh on Olympic topics from faith to fashion statements, brand moments to American unity, athletes' mental health to self-worth.

For many athletes, sports provide a place to develop their values, express their identities and share their faith with others. The Olympics have long been an important platform for Christians to do this work, said sports historian and author Paul Putz, Ph.D., director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor University and author of the forthcoming book, The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports.

At least one Baylor Bear has brought home the gold in seven of the last eight Summer Olympics. Seven different Bears will look to extend that run this summer in Paris.

Those Bears will be representing four different nations: Brittney Griner (BSED ’19, basketball) and Avery Skinner (volleyball) for Team USA; current Baylor student-athletes Nathaniel Ezekiel (400m hurdles) and Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi (javelin) in track & field for Nigeria; John Peers (men’s tennis – doubles) and Kristy Wallace (BSED ’18, basketball) for Australia; and Nuni Omot (BSED ’18, basketball) for South Sudan. Baylor track and field head coach Michael Ford (BBA ’97) will also be in Paris as men’s sprints/hurdles coach for Team USA.

As the world eagerly anticipates the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the fashion scene is buzzing with excitement over the latest team fashion trends set to make a statement to the world.

As students head back to class, they may feel challenged by the adjustment of waking up early to make it to class on time. This is especially true of adolescents, whose natural sleep pattern tends to be late to bed and late to wake, said Michael K. Scullin, Ph.D., director of Baylor University’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience. 

Elite athletes, including Olympic athletes at the top of their sport, often drop to their knees in prayer before competition and after, whether following the thrill of victory… or the agony of defeat. A Baylor study has found that an athlete’s relationship with God affect their mental well-being, as well as their self-worth based on others’ approval.

A security update deployed to client systems by the cybersecurity company Crowdstrike has not significantly affected Baylor University operations or systems, but some of the university's third-party vendors have been impacted.

We talk often about Baylor’s distinctive place in American higher education — one at the crossroads of faith and learning, of research and impact. 

Smiley faces, hearts, thumbs up and folded hands – those are just a few of the thousands of emojis that are available for internet users to communicate with. World Emoji Day is a day to consider how these symbols can perfectly emphasize ideas and convey emotions quickly and creatively when words alone often cannot.

In just a few weeks, Baylor’s Class of 2028 will arrive on campus for Move2BU, Welcome Week and the start of classes. But we can’t wait; here’s your first look at some of the members of #BU28:

Yes, it’s true — no victories, let alone titles, are earned in college basketball in the month of July. That may be what teams are building toward as they go about their offseason workouts and recruiting, but it’s way too early to think about rankings. Right? Okay, maybe not.

With the caveat in the very title, ESPN’s annual “Way-Too-Early” rankings are out — and both Baylor’s men and women are ranked in the Top 10. Head coach Scott Drew’s team came in at No. 6, while Nicki Collen’s squad is ranked No. 9 nationally.

Nathan Shelburne, Ph.D., and student leader like Kaleigh Wiffler join the Baylor Connections podcast to discuss Baylor’s New Student Programs, which are essential to helping new students feel at home and ready to embark on their Baylor journey.

MLB’s All-Star game is considered one of best all-star contests among professional sports, but Baylor sports marketing expert Kirk Wakefield says the game faces continued headwinds.

It’s so good to be back in Waco – even with this summer heat – after spending the past several weeks with groups of Baylor Study Abroad students in Europe and then a little vacation time with the First Gent in Greece. 

In the world of sports cards, a “Future Star” or “Rated Rookie” means you’ve got a card of someone who merits paying attention to — someone whose career looks like it’s about to take off.

In the world of higher education, early career awards function in a very similar fashion — recognizing up-and-coming faculty who have already shown indications of excellent research and scholarship, with the potential to be future leaders in their fields.

July is Family Reunion Month, and as families prepare to gather with extended family, we often are regaled with tales about an older relative’s fascinating life story or firsthand experience as an eyewitness to history. So how do you capture and preserve those precious memories?

Among research universities, Baylor is distinct — a Christian R1 university. Faculty are engaged in high-level research that addresses challenges in health, engineering, and other fields. Solving these problems is the ultimate goal, but along the way, Baylor researchers are competing for — and winning — competitive grants that other top institutions strive to attain.

Here are just a few recent examples of significant projects where you’ll find Baylor faculty and students hard at work:

What a wonderful opportunity we have today to reflect upon the liberties we enjoy as Americans and to contemplate the ongoing promise of our nation as we come together to celebrate Independence Day!

Baylor is regularly named among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States — but sometimes, you just want to get off campus and into more natural settings.

Thankfully, Waco has plenty to offer those looking for a serene getaway. From hiking trails near the Brazos River to sunsets in Woodway Park, here are six of our favorite places to escape the daily grind and enjoy the beauty of Central Texas!

It’s become commonplace to hear Baylor names called in the first round of the NBA Draft. But to hear two of them called in a three-pick span? That’s raising the bar even further.

Ja’Kobe Walter and Yves Missi became Baylor men’s basketball’s first pair of teammates ever drafted in the first round of the same draft. Walter was selected with the 19th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors, while Missi went two picks later, at No. 21, to the New Orleans Pelicans.

As Independence Day approaches, a Baylor management professor - and longtime Ben Franklin scholar - shares his thoughts on a four aspects of the Founding Father's legacy.

Baylor University’s Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center is hard to miss as the campus’s spectacular front door right off Interstate 35 in Waco. Throughout July, the Hurd Welcome Center will serve an additional purpose for road-weary travelers: a convenient daytime Travel Stop offering a cool place indoors to take a break.

The beginning of this summer has been an amazing chance for the First Gent and me to see the unmistakable Baylor spirit in action – this time across Europe. We are taking time to rejuvenate, but the best part of our trip has been seeing Baylor Study Abroad programs up close and personal.

Once again this summer, Baylor students can be found around the globe, ministering and serving in 10 countries across four continents on Baylor Missions trips.

What makes Baylor’s mission trips distinct is the blending of service and calling. These trips are discipline-specific: students with similar career goals or interests come together for trips that allow them to further develop in areas like healthcare, business or music as they meet significant needs wherever they travel.

Earlier this month, the Baylor Facebook page asked its nearly 250,000 followers a simple question: “What’s the most random place you’ve met another Bear?”

More than 500 answers later, a couple of things became clear:

Something special happened in April when the Texas Rangers hosted the Oakland Athletics. Former Baylor standout Davis Wendzel had just been called up, joining a Baylor teammate, Cody Bradford, on the Rangers. In the opposite dugout, another of their former teammates, Shea Langeliers, was preparing to play for the Athletics. This is believed to be the first time three Baylor alums were all on active rosters in the same game.

That series highlighted just how special of a time this is for Baylor baseball fans, as five Bears have played in the big leagues this year, tying the single year high-water mark for Baylor alums.

Almost six years ago — Nov. 2, 2018 — we wrote about the public launch of “Give Light,” Baylor’s new fundraising plan aimed at helping the university reach some of its strategic, long-term goals.

The goal: $1.1 billion to support increased student scholarship support, more endowed faculty positions, area-specific funds for research and other projects, and capital projects such as renovating Tidwell Bible Building, expanding Memorial and Allen halls to grow the Honors Residential College, a new welcome center, a new basketball arena, and a new football operations center.

Earlier this month, the university announced the successful conclusion of Give Light. So, how did the campaign do?

Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) is getting a new space on Baylor’s campus!

This spring, Baylor deeded over land for a new BSM center to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which is working to complete fundraising for the new facility. The new center (see the rendering above) will be built at the corner of South Fourth Street and Daughtrey Avenue — near East Village and the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation.

Baylor University will join with the Greater Waco community in celebration of Juneteenth, a national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

I trust your summer is off to a fantastic start! The First Gent and I are flying “across the pond” this week for some much-needed rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. We look forward to some time away from campus to reflect on an incredible academic year with the Baylor Family and to explore new areas of God’s creation. The highlight of the trip will be Baylor-related, of course, as we will be connecting with several groups of Study Abroad students across Europe. We can’t wait to fling our green and gold afar!

For two decades now, Baylor’s Mayborn Museum has been a beacon of curiosity and discovery, illuminating the path to knowledge for Bears and Wacoans alike with its unique blend of history, science and education.

It was 20 years ago this summer — May 14, 2004 — that the Mayborn was officially dedicated in its new home along University Parks Drive. But the museum’s history dates much further back — almost to the university’s very beginning.

Baylor University’s Give Light comprehensive philanthropic campaign has raised a historic $1.5 billion, an achievement that shattered its initial $1.1 billion goal and concluded Give Light as the most successful comprehensive fundraising campaign in Baylor’s 179-year history, the University announced today. 

More than 5,200 Baylor University students have been named to the Spring 2024 Dean’s Academic Honor List, which recognizes Baylor undergraduates for their outstanding academic work during each semester.

I know Baylor has a beautiful campus. You know Baylor has an incredible campus. But it’s always fun when others recognize the allure of Baylor’s campus, as well.

This spring, two notable sources — Architectural Digest and U.S. News — each included Baylor on their lists of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses.