Presidential Perspective - October 27, 2022

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

We are heading into the final five weeks of the Fall semester, which is generally the toughest part of the academic year. Don’t let the weight of the semester bog you down. Baylor offers many resources for students, and I encourage you to take advantage of these to help support your academic success and your health and wellbeing:

• Paul L. Foster Success Center: Our Success Center team provides a wide range of services and resources to help students fully thrive, from academic coaching and mentoring, to food resources through The Store, to study strategies, tutoring and more.
• Counseling Center: If you are struggling with mental health concerns, please contact the Counseling Center at 254-710-2467. Additionally, CARE Team Services helps connect students to mental health resources that best meet their needs.
• Pastoral Care: University Chaplain Dr. Burt Burleson, as well as staff and resident chaplains, are available to provide pastoral care. Find the list of chaplains here, call 254-710-3517 or email Spiritual_Life@baylor.edu.
• Health Services: If students are not feeling well, they can make an appointment via their Health Portal to be seen at the Health Center. In addition, students who are ill or have mental health concerns can access on-demand telehealth services at no cost from anywhere by visiting baylor.academiclivecare.com.
• Title IX: The Title IX Office offers support and resources for those who have experienced sexual and/or interpersonal misconduct. The office can be reached at 254-710-8454 or titleix_coordinator@baylor.edu. Reports can be made online through baylor.edu/titleix or anonymously through baylor.edu/ethicspoint.

Some news from around campus:

• Yes … the rumors are true. The Livingstones hand out full-sized candy bars at Allbritton House every Halloween! Stop by from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday for some of our favorite treats made right here in Waco by Mars Wrigley Confectionary. And First Pup BU has treats for fellow Doggos, too.
• Voting provides an opportunity to exercise one of our most important privileges and rights as Americans. It’s important to have a plan in place – and voting early may work best for your schedule. Early voting locations are now open in McLennan County in advance of Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. Baylor is offering a shuttle for students on two days during early voting – tomorrow and Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m – with a pick-up location near Penland Hall directly across from the Bookstore. Additional information, including early voting locations across the county, can be found here.
• Baylor’s Institute for Faith and Learning is hosting its annual Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture this week, the largest scholarly conference convened annually at the University. This year’s theme is “Art Seeking Understanding,” and we have more than 130 scholars and celebrated artists from across North America, Europe and Africa on campus exploring together how art – whether music, poetry or visual work – connects to the divine and thus contributes to human flourishing.
• As Baylor continues to attract students from around the world, some of my favorite events are those that encourage students to share their culture, traditions and history. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is observed nationally in May, but at Baylor we celebrate our many AAPI students, faculty and staff from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 while everyone is on campus. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks as we share stories from AAPI students and alumni, and make plans to attend this Friday’s AsianFest, a cultural showcase of different Asian cultures through dance, singing and other creative talents, in Waco Hall at 7 p.m.
• On Tuesday, the Texas Standard – the “national daily news show of Texas” that airs on public radio stations throughout the state – featured an excellent story on the groundbreaking research led by chemistry professor Bryan Shaw, Ph.D. He and a team of blind chemists designed experiments and tactile learning aids so blind and visually impaired students can get a literal feel for chemistry in classrooms and labs, spaces that previously have been inaccessible. I invite you to read or listen to this encouraging story!
• Baylor is blessed by the tireless dedication of the Baylor University Department of Public Safety. They focus 24/7 on the safety and security of our campus, but they also ensure we leverage our strong partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement to offer vital training opportunities. Today, BUDPS led a daylong training on “Threat Assessment Strategies for Schools and the Workplace,” along with the FBI, Southwest Texas Fusion Center and iWatch Texas, that offered best practices in school security to assist local and regional schools, universities, law enforcement and HR decision-makers.

Thank you for being part of the Baylor Family!

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

A shout-out to Baylor’s Golden Wave Band for leading the oldest and largest collegiate homecoming parade in the country early last Saturday morning. The parade included 172 entries!