hosted by the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance and Baylor Alumni Latino Group
Monday, July 13
The Baylor Black Alumni Alliance and The Baylor Alumni Latino Group joined together to host a virtual Town Hall. Baylor professor and chair of the Journalism, Public Relations and New Media Department, Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D. (MS '98, MA '01), served as the moderator. Panelists included:
U. S. Congressman Colin Allred (BA '05)
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., President, Baylor University
René Maciel (MS '91), Baylor Board of Regents and Missions Pastor, First Baptist Woodway
Michael McFarland, Ph.D. (BBA '93, EdD '05), Baylor Board of Regents and Superintendent, Crowley ISD
The size of the 2020-2021 Baylor Board of Regents stands at 34 Regents. Five of the seven new Regents are female, as is 44% of the entire Board. Six Regents, representing 18% of the Board, have diverse ethnic backgrounds, up from one just four years ago. This is the result of a focused effort on governance changes adopted in February 2017 in which the Board made diversity a stated priority in selecting future Regents, with an emphasis on increasing racial and ethnic diversity, as well as bringing in accomplished people of various professional backgrounds from the arts, sciences, technology, communications and higher education. The Board of Regents is comprised a group of dedicated volunteers who all have in common a genuine love and care for Baylor and bring to the Board a variety of backgrounds, ideas and perspectives to their service on the Board.
President Livingstone has recognized the need to coordinate and institutionalize the important work and continued conversations related to race and injustices, as well as include diverse backgrounds and viewpoints within the president's senior leadership team. On June 18, Malcolm Foley was appointed as special advisor to the president for equity and campus engagement and as a member of the President's Council. Serving in a joint role as director of the Black church studies program at Baylor's Truett Seminary, Foley will facilitate engagement and interaction with and among the many diverse members of the Baylor campus community and work collaboratively to develop initiatives designed to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus for all. Foley previously served as a Student Regent for Baylor and is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religion studying the history of Christianity. He also serves as a member of the Commission on Historic Campus Representations.
Baylor continues to make progress in the recruitment and retention of faculty of color:
This past year, Baylor's faculty of color stood at 16.6%. For comparison, a decade ago our faculty diversity percentage was at 12%.
Since 2015, Baylor has increased its African-American/Black faculty by 85% (91% if include multiracial African-American/Black faculty), Hispanic faculty by 60%, and Asian faculty by 33%.
In terms of recent major initiatives:
Launched the Faculty Recruiting Enhancement Grant program supporting academic departments that propose innovative and creative search techniques demonstrating active recruiting strategies and interdisciplinary conceptions of faculty roles. This program encourages higher levels of creativity than traditional searches utilize and avoids artificial barriers to finding future faculty for Baylor University.
Instituted required diversity training beginning in fall 2020 for all current students, faculty and staff on an annual basis. The University already requires diversity training for incoming students as well as for new faculty and staff - in addition to faculty search committees and student leadership - but this training now will occur on an annual basis for all current students, faculty and staff.
Created a virtual Baylor Conversation Series this summer on Christians' responsibilities - especially at a Christian university with a community called to offer the grace and peace of Christ to all of God's people - to elevate conversations on race, peacemaking and racial conciliation. President Livingstone and a panel of distinguished Baylor faculty held their first discussion June 24 and follow-up discussion on July 8, with the video of both sessions available online on the President's website. Additional events are being planned for the fall.
Created the Trailblazer Scholars Program, a scholarship program designed to recognize the importance of fostering diversity and mutual respect at Baylor. The University committed $5 million to launch the program, with additional fundraising efforts to follow. The program is anticipated to serve a cohort of 80 students through scholarship support once fully launched.
The Commission was established in response to a June 26, 2020, Board resolution openly acknowledging and recognizing the University's historic connections to slavery from its chartering on Feb. 1, 1845, and during its first decades of operation as an institution of higher education.
Through the following specific charges, the Commission will develop of a set of observations for consideration by the Board of Regents and Administration about how to best communicate and reflect the complete history of Baylor University for current and future generations.
Specifically, the Commission will:
Review the complete historical record and context of the University and its founders and early leaders, including historical connections to slavery and racial injustice.
Propose a plan for documenting and communicating the complete history of Baylor and its founders and early leaders, including historical connections to slavery and racial injustice.
Evaluate all statues, monuments, buildings and other aspects of campus within this complete historical context and in reference to the original intentions behind their physical location, placement and naming and provide observations for consideration.
Prepare a final report to be provided to the Board of Regents and the President no later than Dec. 20, 2020.
It is anticipated that the Commission co-chairs will provide a status report to the Baylor Family in late October.
As a University, it is part of our obligation to understand Baylor's history and its connection to our present. Board Chair Mark Rountree and the President have been clear that the Commission is not charged with changing Baylor's history. Changing the name of Baylor University is not part of the process. This effort is focused on telling the complete history of Baylor.
First and foremost, will be to gain a complete understanding of Baylor's history and then determining ways in which it can be shared and communicated both within and outside the Baylor Family. We intend to allow the Commission on Historic Campus Representations to complete its work and deliver a final report before determining next steps regarding Baylor's historic past.
Baylor is committed to treating all students, faculty and staff with respect and dignity, promoting equal opportunities and prohibiting discriminatory practices, including unlawful discrimination. Any issue or incident that violates the University's Civil Rights policy or other policies must be reported through the Report It website at www.baylor.edu/reportit or in conjunction with Baylor's Equity Office.
Established in 2018 the Equity Office supports Baylor University's goal of becoming an inclusive and equitable campus. The Equity Office provides an equitable environment for students, faculty, and staff and works to achieve this with compassion, understanding, and fairness to all parties involved. The Equity Office handles matters concerning equal opportunity, affirmative action, civil rights, and related training. Searches are underway - even in the midst of a University-wide hiring freeze - to ensure that the Equity Office is fully staffed. With these searches continued, external experts have been engaged to ensure all incidents are investigated and remain on retainer as part of the Equity Office's day-to-day operations.
First and foremost, we are all part of the Baylor Family and part of the beautiful mosaic of God's creation. As Christians, we are called to love and respect. Recognizing one another as created in the image of God requires treating each other with great dignity. As a University, we have pledged to tackle these difficult conversations regarding race and social justice backed by actionable steps.
You can learn from, engage and support Black and Latinx alumni groups, such as the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance and Baylor Alumni Latino Group, which host events and conversations bringing together diverse alumni.
Participate in upcoming Baylor Conversation Series events online and watch past conversations with President Livingstone and a panel of distinguished Baylor faculty guests, Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, Dr. Greg Garrett and Malcom Foley:
In addition, if you missed the Virtual Town Hall on July 13, 2020, hosted by the Baylor Black Alumni Alliance and Baylor Alumni Latino Group, the conversation is available in the video above on this webpage. Moderated by Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D. (MS '98, MA '01), professor and chair of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media, the discussion featured panelists:
U.S. Congressman Colin Allred (BA '05)
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., President, Baylor University
René Maciel (MS '91), Baylor Board of Regents and Missions Pastor, First Baptist Woodway
Michael McFarland, Ph.D. (BBA '93, EdD '05), Baylor Board of Regents and Superintendent, Crowley ISD
Required diversity training for all current students, faculty and staff, which we plan to roll out this fall. The University already requires diversity training for incoming students as well as for new faculty and staff - in addition to faculty search committees and student leadership - but this training now will occur on an annual basis for all current students, faculty and staff. To make this online training effective, we will leverage the continual training offered by our Equity Office and other groups that occurs throughout the academic year.
Racial Equity Institute: Numerous members of Baylor's campus leadership team have had the opportunity to participate alongside other Waco leaders in sessions provided by the Racial Equity Institute, which helps organizations and communities grow their understanding and analysis of structural racism and its cultural and historic roots. Additionally, plans are in progress to host several REI Groundwater sessions this fall for the President's Council, deans and other campus leaders throughout the University.
Classrooms: Students are learning more about diversity in campus-wide events, courses and organizations. As part of the revised core curriculum in the College of Arts & Sciences, Baylor faculty are encouraged to choose texts, lecture materials and projects to discuss and help students understand the intersections of race, gender, religion, class and culture.
Robust campus programming throughout the academic year that celebrates the diversity of the Baylor Family and provides learning opportunities regarding different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Major educational campaigns are centered around Martin Luther King Day, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Asian-Pacific Heritage Month.
Baylor Conversation Series: In this online series, President Livingstone and a panel of distinguished Baylor faculty guests, Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, Dr. Greg Garrett and Malcom Foley, explore how, as a Christian university with a community called to offer the grace and peace of Christ to all of God's people, we should lean into the current events, build upon our actions to date and elevate the difficult, uncomfortable but important conversations - with actionable steps - regarding race, privilege, violence and conciliation in America.
The 26 appointed members of the Commission on Historic Campus Representations include voices from across the University, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. The ethnic/racial breakdown of the Commission is:
14 Black members
2 Hispanic members
1 Asian member
9 white members
The Commission on Historic Campus Representations is co-chaired by the following, with Baylor University degrees indicated:
Alicia D.H. Monroe, M.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Faculty Affairs, Baylor College of Medicine, and member, Baylor Board of Regents
Gary Mortenson, D.M.A., Professor and Dean, Baylor University School of Music
Walter Abercrombie (B.S. '82, M.S.Ed. '92), Associate Athletics Director for Baylor "B" Association
Members of the Commission, who represent students, faculty, staff and alumni, include:
Katie Adair (Doctoral Candidate), President, Graduate Student Association
Joel Allison (B.A. '70), retired President and CEO, Baylor Scott & White Health, and former Chair, Baylor Board of Regents
Jayson Baldridge, Senior, Student-Athlete, Track & Field
Lexy Bogney, Junior, Secretary and Community Coordination Chair, Baylor NAACP
Michael A. Evans Sr. (D.Min. '09), Senior Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Mansfield, Texas; member, Baylor Board of Regents; and President, Baptist General Convention of Texas
Malcolm Foley (Ph.D. Candidate), Special Advisor to the President for Equity and Campus Engagement
Cheryl Gochis (B.A. '91, M.A. '94), Vice President, Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer
Dominque Hill, Director of Wellness and Past-President, Black Faculty and Staff Association
Sutton Houser, Senior, Student Body President
Trent Hughes (B.A. '98), Vice President of Sales, Curazene, and Vice President, Baylor Alumni Board of Advocates
Sher Isada, Junior, University Scholar, and Student Regent
Alan Lefever (B.A. '84), Director, Texas Baptist Historical Collection, and member, Baylor Alumni Board of Advocates
Sandra Lené, Associate Vice President, Operations and Financial Services, Advancement
Mark Lovvorn (B.B.A. '76, B.Acc. '77), Chairman and CEO Providence Bancshares Corp., Dallas, Texas, and member, Baylor Board of Regents
Michael McFarland (B.B.A. '93, Ed.D. '05), Superintendent of Schools, Crowley Independent School District, and member, Baylor Board of Regents
Bill Neilson, M.D. (B.A. '76), retired Associate Dean, Honors College and Clinical Professor, Medical Humanities
Michael Parrish, Ph.D. (B.A. '74, M.A. '76), Linden G. Bowers Professor of American History
Coretta Pittman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and Chair-Elect, Faculty Senate
Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D. (M.S.Ed. '98, M.A. '01), Professor and Chair, Journalism, Public Relations and New Media
Marcus Sedberry, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development
Tyrha Lindsey-Warren, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing
Doug Weaver, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, Undergraduate Program Director and Director of Church-State Studies
Mya Ellington-Williams, Senior, member, Black Student Union
Ex-Officio Commission Members
Kristy Orr (J.D. '03), Baylor University Board Professional
Karen Kemp (B.B.A. '84, M.B.A. '85), Associate Vice President, University Marketing and Brand Strategy
The Commission is an advisory committee charged with developing a set of observations for consideration by the Board of Regents and Administration about how to best communicate and reflect the complete history of Baylor University for current and future generations.
Specifically, the Commission will:
Review the complete historical record and context of the University and its founders and early leaders, including historical connections to slavery and racial injustice.
Propose a plan for documenting and communicating the complete history of Baylor and its founders and early leaders, including historical connections to slavery and racial injustice.
Evaluate all statues, monuments, buildings and other aspects of campus within this complete historical context and in reference to the original intentions behind their physical location, placement and naming and provide observations for consideration.
Prepare a final report to be provided to the Board of Regents and the President no later than Dec. 20, 2020.
President Livingstone recently posted the following response to the @DearBaylor Instagram, where many of these difficult stories have been shared by members of the Baylor Family:
"I have read every single one of the heartbreaking stories posted @DearBaylor, reflecting incidents of racism at Baylor that date back many years. These stories cut against the core of who we ought to be as Christians and the caring community for which Baylor strives to be.
"As Christians, we are called to love and respect. Recognizing one another as created in the image of God requires treating each other with great dignity, and @DearBaylor gives us sobering examples of our family being denied that dignity.
"As a University, we have pledged to tackle these difficult conversations regarding race and social justice backed by actionable steps, beginning with the immediate actions shared earlier in June. In addition to @DearBaylor, we have heard from the Baylor Chapter of the NAACP, the Black Student Coalition, the LatinX Coalition and Coalition of Asian Students. We plan to communicate further plans with the campus community next Wednesday, August 19, prior to the start of the fall semester.
"We appreciate the many contributions of our students, faculty, staff and alumni of color. You are an important part of the Baylor Family."
The University takes all allegations of this nature seriously and reviews and investigates claims made to the University through its reporting systems, including www.baylor.edu/reportit. Baylor is committed to maintaining an environment in which all students and employees are treated with respect and dignity, equal opportunities are promoted, and discriminatory practices, including unlawful discrimination are prohibited. The Equity Office handles matters concerning equal opportunity, affirmative action, and civil rights.
Baylor University Personnel Policies regarding equity and civil rights:
Required diversity training for all current students, faculty and staff, which we plan to roll out this fall. The University already requires diversity training for incoming students as well as for new faculty and staff - in addition to faculty search committees and student leadership - but this training now will occur on an annual basis for all current students, faculty and staff. To make this online training effective, we will leverage the continual training offered by our Equity Office and other groups that occurs throughout the academic year.
Racial Equity Institute: Numerous members of Baylor's campus leadership team have had the opportunity to participate alongside other Waco leaders in sessions provided by the Racial Equity Institute, which helps organizations and communities grow their understanding and analysis of structural racism and its cultural and historic roots. Additionally, plans are in progress to host several REI Groundwater sessions this fall for the President's Council, deans and other campus leaders throughout the University.
Regular programs offered through the Equity Office: In our commitment to continuously educate our campus community on topics of equal opportunity, discrimination, affirmative action and federal and state mandated requirements, the Equity Office offers various trainings and workshops throughout the academic year. Current Trainings Offered (registration available in the Ignite LEARN module):
Inclusion & Diversity 101: Building an Inclusive Workplace Community: Authenticity. Awareness. Appreciation.
Since 2002, the overall racial and ethnic diversity of our faculty has grown from 6.4% to 16.5%. Since 2015, Baylor has increased its African-American/Black faculty by 85% (91% if include multiracial African-American/Black faculty), Hispanic faculty by 60%, and Asian faculty by 33%.
Once hired, the University provides vital support to retain these faculty scholars and help them reach their aspirations as members of our outstanding faculty. We believe representation matters, and we understand we have much more progress to make. The bottom line is we are committed to building a faculty that also reflects our diverse student body.
In terms of students, 36.9% (or 6,653) of Baylor's 18,033 students identified themselves as part of an ethnic minority group for the Fall 2019 semester (data for Fall 2020 will not be available until after the 12th class day). For Fall 2019, student enrollment was as follows:
Five years ago (2015), Baylor's minority student percentage stood at 34.4% (5,772 students), while 10 years ago (2010) the number was 32.0% (4,769 students).
Baylor University and its Department of Student Activities values open dialogue and the exchange of ideas in a manner that is consistent with the University's mission for the purposes of education. Within this context, a recognized student organization may engage in expressive activity as long as the activity maintains the dignity of and is consistent with the mission of the University and does not infringe on the rights of others.
Student Activities' Expressive Events process and expectations are outlined on p. 27 of the Student Organization Policies and Procedures Guide. The University's policy on demonstrations is available online here. Note that modifications for the policy are currently underway that include encouraging expressive activities to be planned outdoors with social distancing guidelines in mind and the University's face covering requirement to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally, any recognized student organization planning to engage in expressive activity must adhere to the spirit of these expectations:
Student organization expressive activity must be registered with the Department of Student Activities through the online Event Registration form within the Connect system 24 hours in advance and follow all guidelines as requested by Student Activities in the event approval notice. The Director of Student Activities, or his/her designee, will serve to coordinate university resources to support the event in accordance with university protocol.
Only members of the Baylor University community may organize, lead, or participate in expressive activity on campus; therefore, students, faculty members, and staff are encouraged to have their Baylor University ID card in their possession to verify their ability to participate.
Activities must not violate local, state, or federal laws, or university policy and activities must not disrupt Baylor University functions or impede access to or use of campus facilities. Similarly, chanting or sustained, repeated noise which substantially interferes with communication during a planned activity is not permitted.
Participants may not employ amplified sound in their activities in order to avoid significant disruption of university functions.
Participants are prohibited from using open flames/torches.
Signage, leaflets, or other distributable or displayable materials will be reviewed prior to expressive activity for approval. Signage should be constructed of soft materials such as cardboard or cloth and should not be attached to rigid sticks or poles.
The University reserves the right to control time, place, message, and manner of the expressive activity.
Commercial activity is outside the scope of expressive activity and must adhere to established solicitation policies.
The Department of Student Activities and/or designated university personnel may intervene as appropriate for violations through expressive activity.
Trailblazer Scholars Program
During the virtual Town Hall event, Baylor University President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. announced the establishment of the Trailblazer Scholars Program, a scholarship program designed to recognize the importance of fostering diversity and mutual respect at Baylor University. Launching the program with $5 million in scholarship support, the University will actively engage alumni and donors to support growth in the program, with a goal of providing a cohort of 80 or more students scholarship support through Trailblazer Scholarships.
Congressman Colin Allred (BA '05) served in the General Counsel’s office at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Colin later returned home to Dallas and decided to run for office to represent the district he grew up in. He is dedicated to helping North Texas families gain the same opportunities he had to fulfill his dreams. Colin’s top priorities in Congress are working to lower health care costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and creating an economy that works for everyone.
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
Dr. Linda A. Livingstone is the 15th president of Baylor University. She previously served as dean and professor of management at The George Washington University School of Business, as dean and professor of management at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, and as a tenured faculty member and associate dean of graduate programs at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. As Baylor's president, Dr. Livingstone has overseen the development of Baylor's strategic plan, Illuminate, which details Baylor’s pursuit of becoming a preeminent Christian research university, and the $1.1 billion comprehensive campaign that undergirds Illuminate, called Give Light.
René Maciel
A member of the Baylor University Board of Regents, René Maciel (MS '91) serves as the missions pastor at First Woodway Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He previously invested more than 31 years in higher education and administration with Baptist institutions including Hardin-Simmons University, Baylor University, New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and Baptist University of the Américas. He most recently served as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptists) from 2015 to 2016.
Michael McFarland, Ph.D.
A member of the Baylor University Board of Regents, Dr. Michael McFarland (BBA '93, EdD '05) is the superintendent of schools of Crowley ISD, where he serves more than 16,000 students across 25 campuses. Students have made significant academic gains under his leadership, with increases at every level and in every subject based on the most recent State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results. Dr. McFarland previously served as the superintendent of Lancaster ISD from 2010 to 2017, leading its transformation from a historically underperforming district to a nationally recognized, award-winning district.
Moderator:
Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D.
Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez (MS '98, MA '01) is a Professor and Chair of the Baylor University Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media. She joined Baylor in 2001 and has maintained an active research portfolio in addition to her teaching and leadership roles. Her research emphasizes media framing of people of color, women and political candidates, the pros and cons of social media in political campaigns and she has examined how historical stereotypes are found in social media platforms.
Give Light is a $1.1 billion comprehensive campaign for the future of Baylor University. The campaign undergirds Illuminate, the University's Academic Strategic Plan, and will impact every aspect of campus life, from academics and athletics to student life and global engagement.
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred
Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
René Maciel
Michael McFarland, Ph.D.
Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D.
