Provost Newsletter - December 2022
Dear Colleagues,
Last month, I was fortunate to take part in the very first Provost’s Conference Series event: Classics and Classical Education in the Black Community. This special gathering was sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Department of Classics at Baylor.
Our mission, to which Christ calls us, is to all nations, all tongues, all tribes - to follow Him. Diversity is thus constitutive of Christ's call and the creation of Christ’s church. That's really what this conference event was all about—the central role of Classical education in the Black community bringing to light a crucial part of our national story and of intellectual history as a whole. And it is wholly appropriate for Baylor to host this conference series as we continue to take an ever-greater role in important national conversations about faith, education, diversity, freedom, and human flourishing.
This inaugural conference asked the question of what role the classics might play in the Black community. How might Classical education offer a vision of hope for a good society? How might it inspire and equip young people to be a "beneficent force in the service of the world?" to quote author Dr. Anna J. Cooper. How might a Classical education be a source of empowerment for communities experiencing sustained and systemic oppression? There are no easy answers to these questions, but this conference series seeks to stimulate such important conversations in the halls of Baylor.
Where could we shine a light next? We would love to hear your ideas about future Provost’s Conference Series events—please get in touch with my Chief of Staff, Dr. Kristina Campos-Davis, to submit your feedback. Also, learn more about the different types of events we support on the Office of the Provost website.
As we move into the Christmas season, I wish each of you and your families a very happy holiday and a restful break. I look forward to welcoming you back in January as we enter the spring semester.
Warmly,
Nancy Brickhouse
Outstanding Faculty Awards
Every academic year, Baylor honors twelve faculty members as Outstanding Faculty. This award represents a singular honor since the recognition comes from one’s colleagues. Each of the twelve outstanding professors will receive a cash award of $3,750, a citation, and recognition by her or his department. Faculty members can submit nominations for each award group to their deans no later than January 30, 2023. To learn more about the awards and nominations process, click here.
Did You Know?
A new section that spotlights those little bits of knowledge that lurk in the corners of Baylor policies and procedures.
When scheduling a trip that involves students (even within Waco!), be sure to fill out domestic or international travel forms with the University Compliance and Risk Services team or the Center for Global Engagement team, respectively. Happy travels!
Vice Provost’s Corner
Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Study Abroad Continues to Grow
The Center for Global Engagement is proud of the continued expansion of our Study Abroad programs. We would love to see more faculty join us with new programs and partnerships worldwide. Take a look below at some of the latest highlights:
- 21 first-time freshmen participating in the inaugural Global Scholars cohort in Dublin will continue their BU education in Waco in the spring. Dr. Charles McDaniel was the resident faculty director. Dr. Lauren Poor will serve as resident faculty director for the Fall 2023 cohort.
- Eight faculty-led programs in six countries on two continents will take 110 students abroad during Wintermester.
- Over 50 faculty plan to participate in winter and summer study abroad programs. CGE will also put research and COIL (collaborative online international learning) opportunities in front of faculty in the coming weeks.
Interested in learning more about leading a Study Abroad program? Contact Dr. Jeff Hamilton.
Important Academic Dates
Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.
- December 15- Summary reports for Senior Lecturer promotion are due to deans.
- December 15- Deadline for notification of non-renewal for 3rd-year regular lecturers.
- December 15- Research leave decisions communicated by Provost’s Office.
- December 15- Tenure letters and all other materials for sixth-year tenure-track faculty members due to deans.
- December 15- Department chair summary reports and notebooks for sixth-year regular lecturers and sixth-year clinical assistant professors due to deans.
- December 15- Non-reappointment notification deadline for second-year tenure-track faculty.
- December 15- Deadline for department chairs to provide summary teaching evaluations to second- and fourth-year regular lecturers as well as third-year clinical assistant professors.
- December 17- Commencement.
- January 1- Deans will communicate research leave decisions to all applicants by this date.
- January 12- In early January, the University Tenure Committee deliberates and sends tenure recommendations and all other materials to the provost.
- January 13- Faculty begin submitting Planning for the Year Ahead document to chairs for their annual performance review; Chairs to begin meeting with each faculty member to conduct performance reviews.
- January 16- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (University holiday).
- January 17- Deadline for third-year clinical assistant professors to turn in notebooks for review by available tenured faculty, clinical associate professors, and clinical professors within their department.
- January 17- Deadline for chairs to provide colleague evaluation forms to the available tenured faculty, clinical associate professors, and clinical professors and to schedule departmental reviews for third-year clinical assistant professors.
- January 17- Deadline for second-and fourth-year regular lecturers to turn in notebooks for review by available tenured faculty and senior lecturers within their department.
- January 17- Deadline for chairs to provide colleague evaluation forms to the available tenured faculty and senior lecturers and to schedule departmental reviews for second and fourth-year regular lecturers.
- January 17- Dean recommendations on whether to appoint sixth-year regular lecturers to the rank of senior lecturer due to the provost.
- January 17- First day of class.
Beginning in mid-January, annual faculty evaluations will begin. The January Provost's Newsletter will include deadlines and instructions for submitting your faculty evaluations.
Spotlight on the Academy
Louise Herrington School of Nursing
Launch of The Store in Dallas
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing’s new LHSON Store for nursing students. This is LHSON’s local food pantry that emulates the efforts of The Store in Waco. Do you need to refer a Dallas-based nursing student to the LHSON Store? Please direct her or him to this link.
School of Education
Awards Continue for SOE Professors
- Dr. Marshall Magnusen, associate professor of sport management in the Department of Educational Leadership, received the Research Fellow Award from the national Applied Sport Management Association (ASMA).
- Dr. Kelly Johnston, assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, received the 2022 Innovation in Teaching and Learning Award from the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education.
Previous issues of the Provost's Newsletter can be accessed on the Office of the Provost website.