News

Research rooted in Baylor’s Christian mission is more than a catchphrase — it’s a commitment to global impact to serve neighbors around the world.

President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., was the “right leader at the right time” for Baylor. Now she’s elevated her leadership — and Baylor by extension — into the national sphere.

College traditions are beloved on college campuses across the country. At Baylor, traditions are rooted in connection and community, giving students a lifelong tie to the University.

Discover how Baylor leaders have helped widen access to higher education across Texas and beyond.

In 2023, Baylor introduced a new high honor for faculty — the title of “University Distinguished Professor,” an accolade to be given out only once or twice every two years, and even then only after an extensive review process. The honor recognizes faculty members for outstanding achievement in scholarship and/or creative activity, national and international recognition in their discipline, and mentorship of colleagues and students.

Earlier this month, Dr. John L. Wood, Baylor’s Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, became the second BU professor to receive this high honor. Wood joined Dr. Mikeal Parsons as Baylor’s second University Distinguished Professor, recognized for his groundbreaking research using natural products.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. the Baylor Libraries will host the next session of the Readers Meet the Author series with Dr. Elise Edwards to discuss her book, "Architecture, Theology, and Ethics: Making Architectural Design More Just” with Clinical Associate Professor of Interior Design, Ann Theriot. The event will take place in the Schumacher Flex Commons of Moody Memorial Library and via Zoom Webinar. Following the conversation, there will be a reception with refreshments and a book signing. The Readers Meet the Author Series is presented by the Office of the Provost and Office of the President of Baylor University.

Zero to 60? That’s kids’ stuff. Try 0 to 632 mph in five seconds — then decelerating back to zero in another 1.4 seconds. Such a ride puts the body through 40+ G’s of force. “My eyeballs pushed against the upper lids, pulling at their attachments with a searing pain like a dental extraction without anesthetic,” recalled the test pilot.

That was the last of 29 rocket sleds Dr. John Paul Stapp (BA ’31, MA ’32) would ride in the mid 1950s, part of U.S. Air Force safety testing that would lead to improved pilot helmets, better seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, improved escape mechanisms, and stronger cockpit frames.

I am thrilled to report we have been notified by the American Council on Education (ACE) that as expected, Baylor University has been reaffirmed as a R1 research university in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. 

Baylor University has again been recognized as a Research 1 (“R1”) university, a prestigious designation awarded to the nation’s top research universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

From John Hill Westbrook’s trailblazing impact through today’s character development program, Baylor Athletics prepares Champions for Life.

For more than 100 years, Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business has integrated ethics and innovation with strong business practices.

Raise your hand if this has happened to you: You’re walking through the grocery store (or the airport, or Disney World, or the Great Wall of China…), and you spot that unmistakable Baylor green and gold on a shirt or cap. Then comes the universal nod of acknowledgement, if not the all-out “SIC ‘EM!” and “You went to Baylor too?!”

Those don’t have to be the only times you meet fellow Bears. Baylor Alumni hosts hundreds of events across the country each year, where alumni (and others) meet old and new friends, network, discuss Baylor news, and of course, cheer on the Bears. Naturally, the more Baylor people live in an area, the more events like these that city is likely to host — and not surprisingly, the top five metropolitan areas for Baylor alumni are all in Texas:

Ruth Parker Graves is a shining example of Baylor’s mission in action — a Baylor grad who saw a need and applied her calling to make a difference.

Earning recognition as a Master Teacher at Baylor is a rare honor — the highest a BU professor can receive for his/her teaching. In January, President Linda Livingstone announced the lifetime designation for four Baylor professors, increasing the roll of Master Teachers to 33 since the honor was first bestowed more than 40 years ago.

Among the newest honorees is Dr. Kevin Dougherty, an award-winning Baylor sociology teacher and researcher. Since coming to BU in 2005, he has twice won Baylor’s Outstanding Professor Award (2010 & 2015), and he now serves as committee chair for the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, an award program designed to honor great teachers in higher ed.

For more than 175 years, Baylor Law School has prepared students for the practice of law while embracing innovation to meet the needs of an evolving profession.

A new study reveals a sobering paradox for the very platform designed to bring us together – the more time we spend interacting online, the lonelier we may feel.

I talk often about the fact that the Baylor Family is made up of many members with different backgrounds and experiences that enable a wide range of contributions to the world. I believe our ability to fulfill our mission – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community – is only possible when we embrace those contributions. 

Baylor’s mission has long been to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service” — and for the second straight year, a survey by TIME magazine confirms Baylor’s doing exactly that.

Baylor once again ranks among TIME‘s 2025 list of the 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders, coming in at No. 61 nationally (No. 3 in Texas, No. 4 in the Big 12). The publication studied the resumes of 4,000 U.S. leaders — pulling from business, government, sports and more — to find where today’s leaders got their start, with Baylor standing out among the nation’s best.

When Baylor Softball last took the field in the 2024 Super Regional, they were pushing the nation’s No. 4 seed, the Florida Gators, to the brink despite entering the postseason dramatically shorthanded due to injuries. Those challenges failed to break the 2024 Bears, and the program enters 2025 poised to build on that experience in the new season.

With a roster featuring two preseason All-Big 12 selections, lauded newcomers and a number of stars returning from that 2024 campaign, head coach Glenn Moore’s squad begins his 25th season at Baylor nationally ranked: No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll and No. 21 in the D1Softball preseason poll. In a stacked Big 12 Conference, they’re picked 4th in the preseason poll. Such recognition is a sign of what experts believe Baylor can do when healthy.

From pioneering medical professionals to groundbreaking research, Baylor continues to empower generations of healthcare specialists and shape the future of medicine

Baylor faculty continue to advance materials science solutions following in the footsteps of this Baylor Alum’s contributions to space science and modern computing

John L. Wood, Ph.D., has been designated as University Distinguished Professor, the highest honor bestowed on Baylor faculty. 

Heidi J. Hornik, Ph.D., has been selected as the 2025 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year for her superlative contribution to the learning environment at Baylor.

Dr. Vivienne Malone-Mayes exemplifies Baylor’s commitment to faculty-student engagement.

The U.S. Census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, as the data it collects is the basis for determining representation in the House of Representatives. Early efforts were understandably difficult, given 18th-century limitations on travel and what we now call data processing.

Those efforts took a big leap forward in 1941. With World War II on the horizon, President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 named James Clyde “J.C.” Capt director of the U.S. Census Bureau — making a Baylor Bear the leader of the largest fact-finding agency in the world. Under Capt’s leadership, the Census Bureau took significant steps toward modernization, including establishing a permanent field staff for better surveying and taking the first steps toward introducing computers into the process for better statistical analysis.

This Saturday Baylor University turns 180 – the oldest continuously operating university in the state after being chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1845. Baylor offers a distinct experience with deep, historic Christian roots, a tradition of innovation and firsts, and a tremendous track record of producing leaders who change the course of our state, country and the world. 

A passionate advocate for classical music "hidden figure" Florence Price, Baylor University pianist Michael Clark's new book is giving the world an opportunity to discover 20 of Price's previously unpublished piano pieces.

The upcoming Alumni-Elected Regent vote, scheduled for Feb. 10-18, will be the 10th since the position was added to Baylor’s Board — and it’s hard to remember a more impressive pool of candidates.

These are the three outstanding candidates on this year’s ballot:

Baylor Professors Kevin D. Dougherty, Andrew P. Hogue, Wiff Rudd and  J. Lenore Wright receive the lifetime designation of Master Teacher, the highest honor granted to Baylor faculty for sustained excellence in teaching.

Celebrating a tradition of community impact and service

Legendary Baylor football coach Grant Teaff has earned a lot of honors in his career. The 1974 AFCA Coach of the Year remains the winningest coach in Baylor football history, and is a member of eight halls of fame (including the College Football Hall of Fame).

Add one more honor to the list: Earlier this month, Teaff was recognized with the Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually by the American Heart Association in honor of a college football coach’s “outstanding achievements and extraordinary contributions.”

Despite frigid weather in Waco again this week, it’s been a great start to the spring semester. Seeing students on campus reconnecting with friends and faculty is always joyful, and I am so thankful for their safe return – never taking it for granted. 

The Buffalo Bills are playing this weekend for a spot in the Super Bowl — their first since 1994 — thanks in large part to a Baylor Bear.

Barely three years removed from winning Sugar Bowl MVP after Baylor beat Ole Miss, two-time Baylor graduate Terrel Bernard (BSED ’20, MSED ’21) is now the Bills’ starting middle linebacker. Before this season began, Bernard’s teammates voted him one of two team captains (alongside All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen) — a huge sign of respect for a young player.

Baylor University's Dr. Sara Jansen Perry outlines the challenges with Return-to-Office mandates and the important considerations that arise with remote/hybrid arrangements.

Baylor’s Moody and Jones libraries are among the university’s busiest buildings, with more than 3,500 students, faculty, staff and other visitors inside on any given day. That’s a lot of traffic, so Baylor Libraries sought out CPR training for staff in case there might one day be a need for such immediate life-saving measures.

Dozens of staff members took a basic CPR course, while 25 more — including John Lowe, associate director of learning systems — got fully certified through the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support CPR class, hosted by American Medical Response (AMR).

What John didn’t know was that he would employ those newly learned skills only a few months later — to help save his wife, Angie (BSED ’00).

As we return for the start of another semester, I would like to share with you the news that Kevin Jackson, Ph.D., our Vice President for Student Life, has informed me of his decision to retire from Baylor University, effective June 30. 

National Weather Service forecasts that Waco, McLennan County and Central Texas will experience freezing temperatures Monday night, Jan. 20 through Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Long-running jokes about college life center around living off ramen noodles and cheap food, and never passing up a free meal. Unfortunately, such jokes mask a hard truth — that college students are two to four times as likely as the average American to experience food insecurity. Students at universities nationwide — yes, even at Baylor — are experiencing these issues.

In response, Baylor Student Success Initiatives has taken steps to alleviate this stress for BU students. Here are 5 ways Baylor works to help students access nourishing food:

It’s become so commonplace that it must be a Baylor tradition – very cold weather to welcome students back to Waco for the spring semester! I’m a frequent checker of several apps on my iPhone, and the forecast for next Monday and Tuesday calls for freezing temperatures and another possible wintry mix of precipitation.

New York City is the financial capital of the United States (and arguably, the world) — so it makes sense that Baylor finance alums might be gathered in the Big Apple.

Last month, the Baylor University Office of Investments — the folks who have managed the university’s endowment so well their success garnered national attention — brought together Baylor finance alums in the region for a special dinner, with plans to make the gathering an annual event.

Baylor's AFROTC, Detachment 810 has been ranked as the No. 1 Medium Detachment in the country, outperforming 49 other detachments nationwide to claim the top honor. 

Each year on Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service, the Baylor University and Waco communities join others across the nation to participate in multiple events honoring Dr. King's life and legacy.

Children and families who deal with chronic health challenges — and the psychological challenges that can come with them — have a friend in Dr. Christine Limbers, a Baylor professor whose influential research in these areas has impacted her field as a whole.

Limbers, an associate professor of psychology at BU since 2010, leads Baylor’s Pediatric Psychology Lab. The main focus of the lab is in its name, but Limbers and her fellow researchers go deeper in areas like obesity, chronic health issues, and psychological treatments to support the mental health needs of children and teenagers who need them.

Baylor students living on campus have a wide variety of options. Some choose to live with other students their age; others, with students who have similar academic or extracurricular interests; still others, in faculty-led residential colleges.

Baylor takes these opportunities seriously, and it shows. Baylor’s learning communities once again rank among U.S. News‘ top 10 nationally — just behind schools like Yale and Vanderbilt, and ahead of, well, just about everyone else. (The honor ranked Baylor No. 1 in the Big 12, No. 1 in Texas, and No. 1 among large private universities.)

Baylor University has engaged Nashville-based entertainment and digital marketing agency Noise New Media LLC to elevate the University’s concert programming and live event experiences at the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion and other campus venues. 

If last year made clear that this is a golden era for NBA Bears, this season just runs up the score — with Baylor moving into the top 10 among universities with players currently in the NBA, right there with schools like Kansas and Texas.

No fewer than 11 Bears are currently on league rosters; a school-record 10 Baylor alumni have played this year, and one more just signed a contract that should allow him to soon make his debut. (Consider that from 1949 to 2010, a total of 10 Baylor alumni played in the NBA. In 2024-25, we’ve seen that many in just three months!)

Happy New Year, Baylor Family! I hope you had a wonderful (and restful) Christmas break and are ready for all 2025 has in store for Baylor University. 

Each December, Christianity Today announces the winners of its annual book awards, books CT deems “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” This year’s winners included a slew of Baylor alumni — especially in the “Culture, Poetry and the Arts” category.

Christianity Today recognized four books in this area — a winner, an award of merit, and two finalists — and three of the four honorees were written by a group of five Baylor English doctoral graduates.

Veterans of Baylor (VoB) has been honored among the 1,600 Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapters as the 2024 SVA Chapter of the Year for its “remarkable contributions in enhancing their campus community.” 

Baylor University has been awarded a $2.48 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative (RCII) to support a major expansion of the Black Gospel Archive (BGA) at Baylor University Libraries. 

Many student-athletes spend four (or more) years at Baylor; others are here for a shorter time — just a year, or occasionally even less.

Baylor Athletics wants to make sure that, while each student-athlete is at BU, they hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to grow in their faith. It’s a central part of Athletics’ goal and motto of “preparing champions for life.”

Here are just a few of the ways Baylor Athletics works to ensure every student-athlete’s time on campus is a time of spiritual growth:

Another year has flown by… As the calendar turns, let’s take one last look back at 2024, through the lens of our favorite photos from Baylor’s official Instagram account.

Here are our top 10 Baylor Instagram photos of 2024:

On New Year’s Eve, Baylor football will face LSU in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl (2:30 p.m., ESPN) — the reward for a stirring second-half surge that got the Bears to 8+ wins for the eighth time in 14 years.

Before the two teams kick off, here are six things you should know to get you ready for the game:

For more than 60 years, the combined choirs and orchestra of Baylor’s School of Music have heralded the arrival of Christmas with a joyful worship performance. This month, a newly produced version of the award-winning “A Baylor Christmas” will make its national broadcast premiere, airing on more than 100 stations across 37 states.

Last December, Gray Media Group and KWTX Television captured the brilliant sound of Baylor’s combined choirs and the Baylor Symphony Orchestra as they performed traditional Christmas favorites. All told, the production features the talent of more than 350 Baylor students and faculty, performing such favorites as “O Holy Night” and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) 

The holiday season is a time of joy, but for many – especially those grieving the death of a loved one or a deep loss – it can bring a complex mix of emotions, from sadness and sorrow to gratitude and joy.

Baylor’s campus is always beautiful — but it shines brightest at Christmas.

From Christmas on 5th’s classic archway, to the KOT Christmas tree, to the trees and garland that decorate practically every building this time of year — Baylor’s campus in December is a true winter wonderland of Christmas beauty.

This past weekend, Baylor welcomed more than 450 student competitors to the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center for the fall Texas Esports League Finals, an interscholastic video gaming competition.

The event featured competition between almost 100 teams, battling it out in such games as Fortnite, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, chess and more. Top middle and high school student teams from across Texas had been battling for 10 weeks to reach the finals, with a select few coming away as Texas State Champions.

Baylor University offices and most facilities will be closed during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays from Monday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

When Baylor and LSU meet on New Year’s Day in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, the accomplishments of both schools’ football and athletics programs will be on display for a national audience.

But before kickoff gets here… Let’s learn a little about the university behind the football team the Bears will be facing: LSU.

Each year, the NFL recognizes one player with its Walter Payton Man of the Year award — honoring those who excel not only on the field, but also in the community by demonstrating “a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.” It’s a big enough deal that winners get to wear a special patch on their uniforms for the rest of their careers.

This year, the league’s 32 nominees for the award (one per team) include not one, but two Baylor Bears: Andrew Billings (Chicago Bears) and Jalen Pitre (Houston Texans).

A new study examines the psychological factors driving parental investment in education, highlighting how a parent’s self-view shapes their spending patterns.

From tips on fostering stress-free gatherings and embracing sustainability to preserving family history and discovering timeless holiday entertainment, experts at Baylor University provide insights to make the season meaningful and magical. 

It’s hard to believe the fall semester is coming to an end, and this will be our last Presidential Perspective of 2024! What an exciting, memorable semester it has been, and I cannot wait to see what the New Year has in store for Baylor in 2025.

In 1995, John Morris (BA ’80) succeeded the legendary Frank Fallon (’53) handling radio play-by-play duties for BU football and other sports. Fallon had been the “Voice of the Bears” for more than 40 years, from 1953-95; Morris has now filled that same role for almost 30 years, calling everything from RG3’s Heisman run to the 2021 Baylor men’s basketball national title.

The two broadcasters now have something else in common. This month, Morris joined Fallon as a recipient of the NFF Chris Schenkel Award, awarded by the National Football Foundation to individuals for long, distinguished careers broadcasting college football with direct ties to a specific university or platform.

Baylor University has been named to TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders 2025, a ranking measuring universities that excel in nurturing some of the nation’s most highly influential leaders.

From timeless tales to unexpected favorites, film expert highlights the season’s best cinematic treasures

It’s that time of the year — students are flocking to all corners of campus (and beyond) to prepare for finals. While coffee shops may be full until the semester’s end, these hot spots on campus will also be filled with Bears:

For the 12th time in 15 years, Baylor football is going bowling! The Bears will face LSU in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl on Dec. 31 (2:30 p.m., ESPN) at NRG Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans.

Baylor enters the bowl with an 8-4 record and riding a six-game winning streak — the fifth-longest active streak in the country. The Bears’ offense ranks 21st nationally in points per game, led by junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson (third in the Big 12 in passing TDs and TD/INT ratio) and freshman running back Bryson Washington (sixth in the Big 12 in rushing TDs and rushing yards/game).

Baylor University will welcome the top middle- and high-school esports teams in Texas for the fall Texas Esports League Finals, an interscholastic video gaming competition presented in partnership with Baylor University, on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15, at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center.

The most wonderful time of the year is officially here!

Thursday night, Baylor kicked off the Christmas season with the beloved tradition Christmas on 5th Street. From pictures with Santa to musical performances to photo opps and, of course, the live nativity, the heart of campus was filled with Baylor students, faculty/staff, their families — and plenty of Christmas spirit.

Christmas is really the most wonderful time of the year at Baylor University. The unity and warmth of the holiday begins for me with the Baylor Family collectively reflecting on the coming of Christ in our traditional Preparing Our Hearts Advent series. 

Holiday gatherings often bring a mix of joy and challenges, especially when navigating complex family dynamics. Baylor University communication expert Allison M. Alford, Ph.D., says anticipating potential hurdles, such as sensitive topics or interpersonal tensions, can help family members approach these events with confidence and clarity.

From Line Camp to Welcome Week to the Baylor Line and the on-campus living experience, Baylor goes above and beyond to help new students feel like they are truly a part of the Baylor Family.

Eyes across the nation are taking notice — the most notable being U.S. News, which once again this year ranked Baylor in the top 10 nationally for “first-year experience.”

How do you determine a researcher’s impact? Measures of impact can be hard to quantify, but Stanford University has annually undertaken a method of doing so based on citations. This year, no fewer than 43 current or retired Baylor faculty appeared on this list.

Citations occur when, after a faculty member publishes his or her own researchers, other researchers around the world see that work as meaningful and cite it in their own work. Not surprisingly, Baylor researchers fare well by this standard. Stanford’s database has become a desirable destination for faculty, as it represents the top 2% of the most cited researchers in 22 disciplines — the best of the best.

As the holiday season approaches, there are multiple ways that individuals and families can employ mindful practices – both meaningful and eco-friendly – that reduce waste and support local communities. 

Gray Media Group and KWTX Television will present the nationwide debut of “A Baylor Christmas,” recorded in December 2023 from the performances of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra and combined choirs of the Baylor University School of Music. 

Art history course brings students outside of the classroom to discover art on the Baylor campus

Thanks to another stellar season for Baylor Volleyball, there are more matches yet to be played at the Ferrell Center this season (and hopefully more to come beyond that).

Head coach Ryan McGuyre’s Bears earned their ninth straight NCAA Tournament berth Sunday night, and will begin their postseason journey at home. As the No. 15 overall seed, Baylor will host the first and second rounds starting Thursday at the Ferrell Center. The Bears will play Wofford in the first round Thursday evening at 7 p.m.; the winner of that match will play the winner of South Carolina vs. No. 23 Dayton on Friday (7 p.m.).

Baylor experts offer practical advice for first-time donors and seasoned givers to align their resources, values and impact.

One thing we’re thankful for this week? Baylor football’s resurgence this year under head coach Dave Aranda. The Bears head into the final week of the season riding a five-game winning streak — the program’s longest since 2019, when BU finished 13th nationally after a Sugar Bowl appearance — and headed toward their third bowl game in Aranda’s five seasons.

Baylor closes out the 2024 regular season at home Saturday against a surging Kansas team (11 a.m., ESPN2). Here are 10 reasons you should be at McLane to see it:

It’s that time of year again, when the entire Baylor campus slows down to give students, faculty and staff some much-needed time with family — and much-needed time to thank God for all the ways He has blessed us this year.

From academics to alumni to athletics, we’ve got so much to be thankful for at Baylor over the past year:

Toby Brooks, Ph.D., director of Baylor’s Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL), joined the Baylor Connections podcast for a conversation about his journey in higher education that brought him to Baylor. 

Greetings from Baylor University! With students pulling on warmer clothes and the leaves on trees changing color (as best they can in Central Texas), we find ourselves rapidly approaching the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Baylor University is making positive changes on campus and in local communities, including an expansion of composting efforts at all six campus dining facilities.

This holiday season, Baylor School of Music Christmas concerts are open to the Baylor and Waco communities to enjoy a range of offerings. 

Anyone who uses a cell phone relies on the spectrum for communication. Dr. Charles Baylis, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Baylor, calls the spectrum the “real estate” of wireless transmission.

Overcrowding is one of the many challenges that present opportunities for experts like Baylis, who has established himself as a nationally sought-after researcher in the field. Leading organizations like the National Science Foundation have supported his work, and more recently, it’s been the United States government coming to him and his team.

November is National Adoption Month, and Baylor University supports families who adopt through Baylor Law School's annual Adoption Day, faculty research that focuses on various aspects of adoption and robust adoption assistance benefits for faculty and staff adoptive families.

Baylor University’s student chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) has been honored by the national organization with an Outstanding Chapter award in the category of Celebrating Culture. Students and faculty representing SACNAS at Baylor received the award Oct. 31 while attending the National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) conference in Phoenix.

Jo-Ann Tsang, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Baylor University, talks about gratitude as more than a seasonal sentiment on Baylor Connections.

Lots of things can derail a student away at college for the first time: family problems, loneliness, academic struggles, financial issues, etc. Nationwide, only about 75% of students who start college as freshmen each fall even make it back for their sophomore year.

At Baylor, however, more than 90% of freshmen return each fall to continue towards their degrees — and that percentage is trending up. Such a high retention rate is thanks in part to the tremendous effort Baylor puts into welcoming and supporting students as they make the transition to college life.

For the third time in six years, a Baylor Bear is the national student-teacher of the year.

That same Bear is also the Texas student-teacher of the year — the sixth time in nine years a Baylor grad has been so honored.

This year’s double honoree is Ashlyn Bergethon (BSED ’24), now an Algebra I and Honors Algebra II teacher at Robinson High School just outside Waco — the same school where she did her student teaching.

Baylor’s Baptist roots go all the way back to the University’s founding in 1845 when we were chartered by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers. For nearly two centuries Baylor and Texas Baptists have labored together for God’s glory. Our relationship was on full display earlier this week as the Baptist General Convention of Texas held its annual meeting right here in Waco.

Baylor University has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant from the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) to drive transformative local initiatives aimed at bolstering food security, advancing sustainable agriculture and enhancing climate resilience in Waco’s underserved communities.

With electronics, online convenience and competitive pricing at the forefront, the landscape of Black Friday is evolving to match the shifting shopping habits of today’s consumers, said Baylor University consumer behavior expert James A. Roberts, Ph.D. 

What kind of impact are Baylor researchers making on the world? The burgeoning number of honors and grants awarded to BU faculty and students indicates that Baylor’s impact as a Christian research university is growing.

Here are just a few recent examples:

When Steven Follis (BBA ’10, MSIS ’11) saw the devastation brought to communities throughout Appalachia after Hurricane Helene, he knew he had to do something. North Carolina was home, and the need was great. Follis, a product manager at Intel who’s also a certified pilot, wanted to help.

Four Baylor University students have been named University Innovation Fellows, a nationally competitive global program run by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design that empowers student leaders to increase campus engagement with innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking and creativity.

Baylor researchers have expertise in a wide variety of areas. Students at three area public schools got to learn that firsthand last week, when BU faculty and students visited with elementary, middle and high school-aged scientists to highlight National STEM Day through hands-on learning activities.

In recent years, Baylor has brought some of its outstanding faculty and their students to local schools for National STEM Day to make science come alive and encourage kids to think about college and careers in the STEM fields. It’s a mission that aligns with the day itself, which celebrates discovery and innovation that sparks interest in future science careers.

Baylor’s push to elevate research and teaching, coupled with an ever-expanding offering of classes, programs and majors, has drawn dozens of elite faculty members to become a part of a distinct Christian research university.

This fall, more than 100 new faculty members joined the university (!!). It’s impossible to give them all their due, but here are four members of BU’s “Class of 2024” who highlight the excellence of the faculty who are choosing Baylor: