Presidential Perspective - December 12, 2019

Baylor Students, Faculty and Staff:

I can't believe that the fall semester has come and is almost gone. It was great seeing so many familiar faces yesterday afternoon as the First Gent and I passed out breakfast tacos at Moody Memorial Library and extended our well-wishes for final exams. We also handed out green stickers with the word "Peace" on them with the following Bible verse as our prayer upon our students this exam season:

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

A few items to spotlight this week:

• My heart was warmed yesterday by the outpouring of love and support for Lady, one of our live bear mascots, following my campus memo that outlined her current medical condition. We were extremely thankful that the tumor found in her chest during a regular wellness exam was benign. More specific information about her treatment, including comments from the incredible veterinary medicine team at Texas A&M, is included in a press release we distributed last night.

• For our staff: You are welcome to take an extended lunch hour tomorrow, but there is a catch -- you have to join the First Gent and me at the Ferrell Center at 11 a.m. as our top-seeded and top-ranked volleyball team takes on No. 14 Purdue in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Ticket information can be found here. Be sure to wear your green and gold (it's Spirit Friday, after all!), and we'll see you there.

• If you are looking to get into the Christmas spirit, the Mayborn Museum has introduced a new event called Christmas Lights in the Village. Beginning tomorrow night and running for nine consecutive evenings, the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village will be illuminated by more than 30,000 Christmas lights. The event will include a petting zoo, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, food and live music.

• A proposal by Baylor faculty members Michael Richards, Ph.D., and Forest Kim, Ph.D., of the Hankamer School of Business was among 10 expert articles recommending reforming the U.S. healthcare system with solutions designed to build bipartisan buy-in. The article by Richards and Kim, "A Reformed Individual Market for All: Using Long-Term Health Insurance to Limit Fragmentation," was part of a special issue of Health Management, Policy and Innovation, published by the Business School Alliance for Health Management, a consortium of 17 top business school health management programs of which Baylor is a member.

• Keith Sanford, Ph.D., professor of psychology and neuroscience, has developed a questionnaire aimed at promoting patient adherence to medical treatment plans, which may involve taking medication, exercising or following a diet. Although the effectiveness of treatment often depends on patients adhering to their treatment plan, around 50 percent of patients fail to adequately do so. Sanford led the study, "Treatment Adherence Perception Questionnaire: Assessing Patient Perceptions Regarding their Adherence to Medical Treatment Plans," which was published in Psychological Assessment. His co-researcher was Baylor doctoral candidate Shelby Rivers.

• If you are thinking about cheering on our Bears against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans Jan. 1, all the information -- including for students -- can be found at our Bowl Central website. It's a historic opportunity as Baylor has not played in this prestigious bowl since 1957. I hope to see you there!

If you plan to hit the road immediately after finals, please take your time and travel safely. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And for our non-graduating students, I will see you back on campus in 2020!

Sincerely,

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President