News

I have enjoyed reading about the summer plans of many of you, whether it’s studying abroad, serving on a mission trip, getting ahead academically through our Summer of Discovery program or an internship or simply catching up with friends and family. 

How did a Baylor professor play a role in adjusting what scientists thought they knew about Africa’s historic timeline — by 10 million years?!?

It all comes down to a lot of digging, a decade’s worth of research, and the definitive presence of warm-weather grasses.

WACO, Texas (May 31, 2023) – For the second year in a row, Baylor University has been named among the nation’s top 10 Most Trusted Universities, according to global research firm Morning Consult as part of its Most Trusted Brands project, the definitive measure of consumer brand trust across industries, including higher education.

Every year, U.S. News unveils its annual ranking of American colleges and universities to the world. Last fall, Baylor came in at No. 77 in the nation — again among the top 20% of national universities — and was one of just eight schools to make the outlet’s top 25  for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research opportunities. (Baylor was also named among the nation’s top 10 for first-year student experiences and top 20 most innovative schools.)

Based on the volume of responses and comments I have heard over the past few days, I know many of you have already seen and shared in my excitement over two of the newest additions to the Baylor Family: Judge Belle and Judge Indy!

The big news of the summer: Baylor has new bear cubs coming to campus!

Judge Indy and Judge Belle will make the transition to the AZA-accredited Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat on campus this summer. The rescue cubs are cousins, born just five days apart earlier this year, and come to Waco from a wildlife park in Idaho.

WACO, Texas (May 19, 2023) – During its regular May meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents elected new leadership and approved the 2023-2024 operating budget, three renovation projects and two new degree programs – a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and a Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degree in Biology of Global Health.

Campus sure is a little quieter this week! We’re in the midst of Baylor’s quarterly Board of Regents meeting, so I will get right to a few updates:

Growing up in the Metroplex, Dalton Capps’ circumstances didn’t exactly suggest college was in his future. No one in his family had gone to college, his family faced significant financial hardships, and not many friends and classmates were considering a four-year university, if they were considering college at all.

But Capps had one advantage: His parents.

It seems like just yesterday we began the spring semester, yet here we are – at Commencement! Tomorrow and Saturday, we will celebrate more than 4,000 graduates, which is the largest graduating class in Baylor history.

WACO, Texas (May 9, 2023) – Twelve Baylor University professors have been honored with Outstanding Faculty Awards for teaching, scholarship and contributions to the academic community for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Every spring, the Baylor Family bids happy retirement to professors and staff who have dedicated their professional lives to the university and its students. It’s always a bittersweet mix — sadness in seeing them go, happiness for a well-deserved next step — but we wish them all well in the next phase of their lives.

Here, we honor some of the longest-serving and most recognizable professors who are retiring this year — men and women whose faces will be missed, but whose impact will not be forgotten:

I hope you will join me tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the Paul Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary for “Lift Up Your Hearts,” a semester-ending service of prayer and worship not only for faculty and staff, but also for students and friends of the University.

Last year, Baylor set a school record when 13 Bears earned prestigious Fulbright scholarships — almost twice the previous BU record! — as part of the nation’s flagship program for international graduate student and education. The year also included a Truman Scholar (BU’s first in 15 years), a Goldwater Scholar, a Churchill Scholar, and two Critical Language Scholars.

And yet — 2023’s student honors may be even more impressive.

WACO, Texas (May 3, 2023) – Noted Baylor University smartphone researchers Meredith E. David, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, and James A. Roberts, Ph.D., The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing in the Hankamer School of Business, have investigated the correlation between the “flow states” – or happiness experienced by individuals – while using Instagram and TikTok and psychological well-being.

On Saturday, Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling won its eighth — EIGHTH!!!!!!!! — straight national title. At some point, a run of success like this becomes hard to even comprehend.

As you are making plans for the summer, I encourage you to consider Baylor’s Summer of Discovery. This program offers tuition-discounted courses for students across multiple summer sessions. 

WACO, Texas (April 25, 2023) – Highlighted by the graduate entrepreneurship program breaking into the Top 10 nationally, several Baylor University graduate and professional programs were among those ranked in the 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings, released today by U.S. News & World Report.

I hope you had a chance to see the news about an exciting addition to our Spring Commencement roster – our very own Lady is graduating! 

WACO, Texas (April 19, 2023) – Baylor University is inviting students, alumni and all associated with the Baylor Family to join in celebrating the graduation of the University’s beloved American black bear, Lady, as she moves from the campus habitat to a private, auxiliary facility fully maintained by her Baylor Bear Habitat caregivers, staff and veterinary team.

Greetings from a warm Washington, D.C., as I am beginning my first meetings today as the new chair of the American Council on Education.

As we approach the promise of Easter Sunday, our hearts anticipate its glory with great eagerness. 

WACO, Texas (April 4, 2023) – Before a celebratory crowd in front of the iconic Tidwell Bible Building, Baylor University today unveiled and dedicated statues honoring the University’s first Black graduates, the late Rev. Robert L. Gilbert, B.A. ’67, and Barbara A. Walker, B.A. ’67.

This Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. will be a historic moment in the life of Baylor as we unveil and dedicate the statues honoring the first Black students to earn their undergraduate degrees from the University – the late Rev. Robert L. Gilbert, B.A. ’67, and Mrs. Barbara A. Walker, B.A. ’67. 

WACO, Texas (March 29, 2023) – Baylor University is again joining universities and communities around the country to increase public awareness and prevention education about sexual assault and interpersonal violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April.

WACO, Texas (March 30, 2023) – Baylor University announced today that its Dunn Center for Christian Music Studies (CCMS) in the School of Music has been awarded a four-year, $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative.

In the spring of 1945, a group of Baylor students prayed for spiritual renewal for 90 straight days. Their prayers led to a movement that helped inspire ministries on campus and around the world, from the Journeyman mission program to the Passion Conferences.

There are a lot of ways to know how students are feeling on campus – from formal means (like our campus climate surveys) to more informal methods.

From music to literature to television and more, Baylor women have elevated the game for more than a century.

The Baylor women's basketball team begins its 19th-consecutive NCAA Tournament run on Saturday when it faces Alabama in the opening round at Gampel Pavilion.

The Baylor women's tennis team hits the road and continues Big 12 play this weekend with matches against No. 19 Kansas and Kansas State.

It’s March Madness time at Baylor University! Did you know that Baylor is among only 26 universities that have BOTH their men’s and women’s basketball teams competing in the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships? That is some pretty select company.

Coming off easily its most complete game of the season, Baylor baseball (6-11) will open Big 12 Conference play with a three-game series against Kansas State (12-5) that starts with Friday's 6:30 p.m. game at Baylor Ballpark.

WACO, Texas – Baylor men's tennis opens the Hurd Tennis Center again for the final time before conference play begins next month to No. 19 Illinois, No. 16 Wake Forest and Prairie View A&M on Friday and Sunday.

Champions' TriBUne is a special feature through Baylor Athletics that gives you the student-athlete's perspective and the chance for them to share their own story. Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi, who goes by Juampi, is a fifth-year senior from Mar del Plata, Argentina, who is in his second season at Baylor after three years at UCF. Part of the Bears' 2022 Big 12 Tournament championship squad, Juampi paired with Finn Bass to reach the doubles semifinals at the ITA Fall National Championships in San Diego. Baylor (8-9) hosts a pair of ranked teams this weekend, facing No. 22 Illinois at 6 p.m. Friday and No. 14 Wake Forest at 1 p.m. Sunday.

WACO, Texas – No. 21 Baylor softball split its Wednesday night doubleheader against South Dakota State at Getterman Stadium, falling to the Jackrabbits, 5-2, in game one and shutting them out, 3-0, in game two.

Baylor acrobatics & tumbling earned two of the three possible weekly awards from the NCATA, the organization announced Wednesday.

WACO, Texas – Baylor equestrian Jumping Seat senior Maddie Vorhies has been named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Flat Rider of the Month for March, as announced by the organization Wednesday afternoon.

IRVING Texas – No. 9 Baylor equestrian has been tabbed as the No. 4 seed for the upcoming 2023 Big 12 Equestrian Championship, as previously announced by the league office.

Bears Spring Game to Kickoff at 12 p.m. on April 22

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (6-11) shut out Rice (8-9) 6-0 on Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark in Waco behind a strong performance on the mound and production from the top of the lineup offensively.

WACO, Texas – Baylor men's tennis added Devin Badenhorst to the 2023 signing class, head coach Michael Woodson announced on Tuesday. Badenhorst comes to American from Pretoria, South Africa.

WACO, Texas – Baylor men's tennis added Devin Badenhorst to the 2023 signing class, head coach Michael Woodson announced on Tuesday. Badenhorst comes to American from Pretoria, South Africa.

AJ Steward sees coaching as a ministry and each stop on his journey as an assignment, not just another job.

WACO, Texas - Baylor men's basketball was well represented on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District team with Adam Flagler and Keyonte George honored by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.

WACO, Texas (March 13, 2023) – Saint Patrick (A.D. 385-461) is probably one of the Catholic Church’s best-known saints, at least in countries influenced by Irish emigration. He is even more popular due to a rise in Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations and revelry. But, despite his popularity, how much do most people truly know about Saint Patrick?