Students: Four Things to Know When Returning to Campus

Students and Parents:

We are looking forward to the 2024 spring semester, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 16.

FOUR THINGS TO KNOW AS YOU RETURN TO THE BAYLOR WACO CAMPUS:

1. Anticipated winter weather: Please be aware that Waco, McLennan County and Central Texas will experience a deep freeze from Sunday through Wednesday morning with temperatures remaining below freezing with dangerous wind chills for around 72 hours.

Here’s what we know as of today: At this time, the University does not expect any disruption to the first day of class on Tuesday. Current National Weather Service models show our area could receive some winter precipitation (freezing rain, snow or sleet), but the amount is uncertain at this time. Please continue to monitor the weather as conditions can change over the weekend.

Campus preparations by Baylor Facilities are already underway, such as adjusting building temperatures and airflow, prepping sidewalks and parking garages, draining water reservoirs and dripping faucets. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has begun treating area roadways in anticipation of icy conditions.

If you are returning to the Waco campus, please take some important individual precautions:

• Plan your travel ahead of time and monitor weather conditions.
• Remember the Four P’s: Take care of people, pets, plants and pipes. If you live in an off-campus apartment, follow your apartment manager’s instructions (ex: drip faucets and open your kitchen and bathroom cabinets). If you live in an on-campus residence hall, please check your email for any actions you may need to take from Campus Living & Learning.
• Be very cautious on roadways, sidewalks and other surfaces.

Additional communication: As the University monitors the weather, any changes to University operations will be communicated on the Baylor website, Baylor Alert email/text messages and official Baylor social media, including Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).

2. BAYLOR DINING: Penland Crossroads is open and operating during regular hours. East Village will open Monday night with other dining halls beginning regular hours on Tuesday. REMINDER: Memorial Dining is closed for some exciting renovations and will reopen Feb. 16. Keep up with dining updates at Baylor Dining’s website, Facebook and Instagram.

3. NEW “TAP AND GO” BAYLOR DIGITAL ID: BaylorITS and the Baylor Department of Public Safety launched the new Baylor Digital ID that enables students living in Baylor’s on-campus residence halls to unlock their rooms, enter dining halls, make retail dining purchases, check out library materials and access other campus services with the tap of a personal mobile device. Students whose accounts are activated can add their Baylor Digital ID to the Wallet app on their iPhone and Android devices. Instructions are available on the ITS website.

4. ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: A reminder that Section 9 in Baylor’s Traffic, Transportation, and Parking Policy has been updated regarding electric scooters, which are no longer allowed to be parked, stored or left in any lobby, hallway or room of any campus building or to charge inside any campus building. This is due in part to fire concerns with the devices. (This does not include ADA devices designed for use by persons with physical disabilities.) Electric scooters can be parked on bicycle racks on campus.

Again, as we all monitor the weather, please keep an eye on your email, cellphone for text messages and Baylor social media for any weather-related changes to University operations.