• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main navigation
Baylor University
Office of the Provost
  • About
    • Office Directory
    • Academic Affairs Organizational Chart
    • Academic Calendar
    • Academic Units Deadlines
    • Academic Search Index
    • News
  • Faculty
    • Prospective Faculty
    • Current Faculty
      • Baylor Commencement
      • Departmental Resources: Tenure & Promotion
      • Faculty Awards
      • Faculty Development
      • Faculty Meetings
      • Faculty Retirement Planning Program
      • Faculty Senate
      • Recommended Syllabus Statements
    • Past Faculty
      • Emeritus Faculty
      • Recent Retirees
      • Retiree Benefits
      • Retiree Resources
    • Faculty Handbook
      • Faculty Handbook History
      • Faculty Classifications
      • Faculty Responsibilities
      • Evaluation, Tenure, Promotion, and Compensation
      • Policies and Procedures Related to Employment at Baylor
      • Faculty Benefits
      • Faculty Senate
      • Faculty Ombudsperson
      • University Libraries
      • Information Technology Services
      • University Committees
      • Policy Revisions
  • Policies & Guidelines
    • Administrative Resources
      • Departmental Organization
      • Event Planning
      • Hiring Faculty
      • Legal Issues
      • Resources & Budgets
      • Staff
      • Technology
      • Working with Faculty
    • Curriculum Management
      • Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
      • Course Actions, Revisions and New Proposals
      • Course Data Template
      • Course Lookup
      • Curriculum and Assessment
      • Course Change Questions
      • FAQs Regarding Curriculum Changes
      • Undergraduate Curriculum Forms
      • Scheduling Classes & Rooms
    • Export Compliance
    • GDPR Privacy Notice
    • International Travel
    • Office of Institutional Research
    • Policy Revisions
      • BUPP 702 Promotion
      • BUPP 705 Faculty Dismissal
      • BUPP 706 Faculty Workload and Merit Evaluation
      • BUPP 708 Faculty Development
      • BUPP 710 Meetings Revision History
      • BUPP 711 Faculty Senate
      • BUPP 715 Research Leaves
      • BUPP 716 Lecturers and Senior Lecturers
      • BUPP 717 Academic Credentials for Faculty and Graduate Teaching
      • BUPP 721 Intellectual Property
    • University Policy Library
  • Initiatives
    • ACE Internationalization Lab
    • COACHE Survey
    • Faculty Diversity & Belonging
    • Readers Meet the Author
      • Readers Meet the Author Archive
    • Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan
      • SEM Executive Summary
      • SEM Executive Team
      • SEM Implementation Team
    • Other Initiatives
      • Baylor/Xavier University Exchange Program
      • Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program
      • Discipline-Specific Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Training and Education Proposals
      • New Faculty Mentoring Program
      • Target of Excellence Hiring Program
  • Illuminate Forward
  • Research at Baylor
Baylor BU Office of the Provost About News Provost Newsletter - April 2023

Provost Newsletter - April 2023

April 11, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Spring is a time to honor those in the Baylor community with achievements that merit special regard. Promotions are being announced, and the outstanding faculty awards committee has assessed nominations for awards that will be shared at the Fall Faculty Meeting (to be held in the new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center!). The latest Cornelia Marshall Smith Award recipient will be named at the Academic Honors Convocation, and students vote for their selection for the Collins Outstanding Professor Award.

This year, a new designation, University Distinguished Professor, is being bestowed on Dr. Mikeal Parsons, Professor of Religion and holder of the Kidd L. and Buna Hitchcock Macon Chair in Religion. This appointment is the product of a rigorous review of nominees that occurs once every two years. It is the highest honor bestowed on faculty at Baylor University, requiring:

  • A ranking of top 5% of professors within their discipline.
  • Evidence of national/international intellectual leadership and recognition.
  • Testimony of outstanding mentorship for colleagues and students.

Dr. Parsons’ nomination dossier was reviewed by leading scholars in his discipline and a Baylor selection committee – the evidence was overwhelming that Dr. Parsons met the high expectations within our new policy for University Distinguished Professors.

In some respects, special awards for Baylor faculty run counter to the culture of Baylor. We carry out our work in service to our students, our profession, and to Baylor. Most importantly, we labor in love for the Lord. However, national faculty recognitions are also good for Baylor. Awards such as the Fulbright Scholar, given most recently to Les Palich, Candi Cann, and Kwang Lee, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow awarded to Bryan Brooks, bring glory to Baylor as a Christian research university. Awards given at Baylor can be important stepping stones to highly impactful national awards.

I appreciate the hours of service you all give to faculty reviews for our promotion and awards programs. It is an important contribution to Baylor.

All the best,

Nancy Brickhouse

Academic Affairs Announcements

New Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Announced
The Office of the Provost is pleased to share that Dr. DeAnna Toten Beard, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and professor of theatre history and dramaturgy, has been selected as Baylor University’s vice provost for faculty affairs, effective July 1, 2023.

New Vice Provost for Global Engagement Announced
In March, the Office of the Provost announced that we will be welcoming Dr. Eduardo Contreras to our office as the incoming vice provost for global engagement, effective July 1, 2023. To learn more about Dr. Contreras, please visit the Office of the Provost website, linked above.

Wintermester Option Task Force Report
Thank you to the members of the Wintermester Option Task Force, who have spent the past few months reviewing potential alternatives to our Wintermester calendar. Upon a review of the Task Force’s report, the provost and President’s Council have accepted the Task Force’s recommendation and will continue the current 3-week Wintermester structure. This decision will enable the Academic Calendar Committee to move forward with proposals for the upcoming calendar terms. We intend to have those calendars finalized by the end of this semester.

School of Music and School of Law Dean Search Committees Announced
As the search for new deans of the School of Law and School of Music begin, the Office of the Provost would like to thank the faculty, staff, and community members who have agreed to serve on the search committees.

  • School of Music: Douglas Henry (chair), Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Kelly Jo Hollingsworth, Ian Gravagne, Jenny LaPoint, Tim McKinney, Maria Monteiro, Wiff Rudd, Jr., DeAnna Toten Beard, and Jamie Van Eyck.
  • School of Law: Sandeep Mazumder (chair), Jerry Clements, Matt Cordon, Angela Cruseturner, Laura Hernández, Chris Holmes, Chris Jaeger, Julie King, Beth Miller, David Reid, Ronnie Turner, Jr.

Cherry Award Summit on Great Teaching
April 14, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Marrs McLean Science Building, Room 101
All faculty, staff, and graduate students are invited to join us at this year’s Cherry Award Summit on Great Teaching. The Summit will feature the 2022 Cherry Award recipient, Dr. Hollylynne S. Lee, along with Baylor faculty on the theme, "Reaching Beyond." Learn more and register by visiting the Cherry Awards webpage.

Vice Provost’s Corner

Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Belonging

Interest Meeting: Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Faculty & Staff Association
April 26, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Barfield Drawing Room in Bill Daniel Student Building
Are you interested in the creation of an Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association? If so, please join Vice Provost of Faculty Diversity & Belonging Stephen Breck Reid for a gathering on April 26. Snacks will be provided—we look forward to seeing you (and your friends) there!

Inclusive Excellence Seminar
May 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Foster 143/144
Join the vice provost for faculty diversity and belonging for an opportunity for faculty to increase their skills in building bridges with faculty applicants from multiple communities and backgrounds. Sascee’s Southern Eatery will provide lunch. Registration closes May 7—only 25 slots available.

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

2023 Collins Outstanding Professor Award Lecture
May 4, 4:00 p.m., Baylor Sciences Building, Room B110
All are welcome to celebrate the 2023 Collins Outstanding Professor, Dr. Thomas McGrath, as he gives his lecture “How to Build a Soccer Ball.”

Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Professional Education

Career Center Annual Report for 2022
Baylor University students continue to shine on the career front. The Career Center has released its annual report, and our students achieved 90% overall job placement and 92% overall career success. 2022 job placement performance improved by 11% over the past two years. For more details on the accomplishments of our students, please check out the Career Center 2022 Annual Report.

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs

Academy for Teaching & Learning (ATL)
Please consider signing up for the upcoming events – click the event title to register or learn more!

  • ChatGPT for Professional Writing, Thursday, April 13, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Jones Library 200. Facilitated by Nicole Kenley and Lauren Short.
  • Mentoring Women Faculty and Students Workshop, April 21, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This workshop, an ATL collaboration with the vice provost for faculty diversity and belonging and Women’s and Gender Studies, is open to faculty and students. Visit the ATL website for details.
  • Provost’s Faculty Forum, April 21, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Kayser Auditorium, Hankamer Academic Center (H101) or, click above for a Zoom link. Hear how Baylor Fellows John Davis, Marcie Moehnke, Coretta Pittman, and Elon Terrell are addressing the theme “Teaching for First Gen Success.”

Latino/a/x Faculty/Staff/Student Mixer
April 25, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., BOBO Spiritual Life Center
The Latinx Student Success Initiatives (LSSI), in partnership with the Latinx Faculty & Staff Association (LFSA) and Baylor’s Avanzando Through College (ATC) program, will be hosting a University-wide Latino/a/x Faculty/ Staff/ Student mixer this month. This event will include food, live music, networking, and an interactive panel of faculty and staff to answer students’ questions. RSVP online -- we hope that you will join us!

Customizing Your Navigate Experience
Navigate has become an essential tool for our advising community and for faculty who want more comprehensive information about their students. Have you ever wanted to customize your Navigate experience? With the options found in User Settings, you can customize such items as which email signature to use, your preferred default term, and many others. Please see the User Settings Guide or contact Carroll Crowson at 254-710-3086 for more info.

Spotlight on the Academy

School of Music

Baylor Opera Theatre Presents
The Baylor Opera Theatre will present two performances of Prima la musica, e poi le parole and Monsieur et Madame Denis on April 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Roxy Grove Hall. This event is free, open to the public, or can be watched via livestream.

University Libraries

Annual Browning Day Celebration
April 27, 3:30 p.m., Armstrong Browning Library & Museum
Join us for this annual celebration featuring Dr. Kevin A. Morrison, Professor of British Literature at Henan University, sharing his lecture “Translated into Song: Robert Browning and a Picture at Fano.” For more information, visit the University Libraries website.

Learning Design’s LDJIT Program Offers Support to Faculty on Your Schedule
LDJIT (Learning Design Just In Time) is a new video module-based way for faculty to engage with evidence-based learning design best practices at a time and place when faculty need the information. Each module’s development represents many hours of collaboration between Learning Experience Designers and Faculty. View the modules on your schedule on the University Libraries website. 

LATS Introduces UDOIT (You-Do-It) Assistant for Canvas
UDOIT scans barriers to accessible courses and helps faculty level up their online course content. Access UDOIT through your Canvas courses today and help Baylor create more inclusive learning environments. More information about UDOIT is available on the Help Desk Plus website. 

Important Academic Dates

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

  • April 11- Provost notifies the deans of the president's decision to promote clinical associate professor candidates to the rank of clinical professor.
  • April 11- Deans notify the chair (who will contact the candidate) of the promotion from clinical associate professor to clinical professor.
  • April 14- Deadline for notification for 2nd- and 4th-year regular lecturers and clinical assistant professors of the decision to continue or terminate.
  • May 4- Last class day.
  • May 5- Study day.
  • May 6-11- Final exams.
  • May 12-13- Commencement.

Previous issues of the Provost Newsletter can be accessed on the Office of the Provost website.

Office of the Provost

Pat Neff Hall, Suite 109
1329 S. 7th Street
Waco, Texas

One Bear Place #97014
Waco, Texas 76798

(254) 710-3601
Baylor BU Office of the Provost About News Provost Newsletter - April 2023
  • About
    Back
    • Office Directory
    • Academic Affairs Organizational Chart
    • Academic Calendar
    • Academic Units Deadlines
    • Academic Search Index
    • News
  • Faculty
    Back
    • Prospective Faculty
    • Current Faculty
      Back
      • Baylor Commencement
      • Departmental Resources: Tenure & Promotion
      • Faculty Awards
        Back
        • Outstanding Faculty
        • Research Leave Awards
        • Teaching Awards
      • Faculty Development
      • Faculty Meetings
      • Faculty Retirement Planning Program
      • Faculty Senate
      • Recommended Syllabus Statements
    • Past Faculty
      Back
      • Emeritus Faculty
      • Recent Retirees
      • Retiree Benefits
      • Retiree Resources
    • Faculty Handbook
      Back
      • Faculty Handbook History
      • Faculty Classifications
        Back
        • Academic Professionals
        • Clinical Faculty
        • Lecturer Faculty
        • Retired Faculty
          Back
          • Emeritus Faculty
        • Tenure-track/Tenured Faculty
      • Faculty Responsibilities
        Back
        • Academic Freedom
        • Community Life
        • Personal Conduct
        • Research Responsibilities
        • Teaching and Related Responsibilities
          Back
          • Academic Appeals
          • Academic Support for Students
          • Accommodating Students with Disabilities
          • Add/Drop a Course
          • Attendance Policy
          • Classroom Conduct
          • Career Counseling
          • Class Roll Instructions
          • Delayed Examinations
          • FERPA/Handling Student Records
          • Final Exam Policy
          • Grading Policies
          • Harm to Self or Others
          • Honor Code
          • Honor Code Reporting Form
          • Library Questions
          • Mental Health Counseling Resources
          • Office Hours
          • Office of Spiritual Life
          • Paul L. Foster Success Center
          • Reporting Deficiencies
          • Student Course Evaluations
      • Evaluation, Tenure, Promotion, and Compensation
        Back
        • Annual Faculty Performance Review
        • Assessment of Part-Time Faculty
        • Faculty Compensation
        • Faculty Promotions
        • Pre-Tenure/Tenure Review
      • Policies and Procedures Related to Employment at Baylor
      • Faculty Benefits
      • Faculty Senate
      • Faculty Ombudsperson
      • University Libraries
      • Information Technology Services
      • University Committees
      • Policy Revisions
  • Policies & Guidelines
    Back
    • Administrative Resources
      Back
      • Departmental Organization
      • Event Planning
      • Hiring Faculty
        Back
        • Hiring Process for Faculty
        • Hiring Forms for Faculty
        • Faculty Interviews & Contract Initiation
        • New Faculty Checklist
        • New Faculty Mentoring Program
      • Legal Issues
      • Resources & Budgets
      • Staff
        Back
        • HR Resources for Managers & Academic Leaders
        • Staff Compensation
        • Staff Evaluations
      • Technology
      • Working with Faculty
    • Curriculum Management
      Back
      • Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
      • Course Actions, Revisions and New Proposals
      • Course Data Template
      • Course Lookup
      • Curriculum and Assessment
      • Course Change Questions
      • FAQs Regarding Curriculum Changes
        Back
        • Individual Course Proposals & Revisions
      • Undergraduate Curriculum Forms
      • Scheduling Classes & Rooms
    • Export Compliance
    • GDPR Privacy Notice
    • International Travel
    • Office of Institutional Research
    • Policy Revisions
      Back
      • BUPP 702 Promotion
      • BUPP 705 Faculty Dismissal
      • BUPP 706 Faculty Workload and Merit Evaluation
      • BUPP 708 Faculty Development
      • BUPP 710 Meetings Revision History
      • BUPP 711 Faculty Senate
      • BUPP 715 Research Leaves
      • BUPP 716 Lecturers and Senior Lecturers
      • BUPP 717 Academic Credentials for Faculty and Graduate Teaching
      • BUPP 721 Intellectual Property
    • University Policy Library
  • Initiatives
    Back
    • ACE Internationalization Lab
    • COACHE Survey
    • Faculty Diversity & Belonging
    • Readers Meet the Author
      Back
      • Readers Meet the Author Archive
    • Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan
      Back
      • SEM Executive Summary
      • SEM Executive Team
      • SEM Implementation Team
    • Other Initiatives
      Back
      • Baylor/Xavier University Exchange Program
      • Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program
      • Discipline-Specific Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Training and Education Proposals
      • New Faculty Mentoring Program
      • Target of Excellence Hiring Program
  • Illuminate Forward
  • Research at Baylor
  • General Information
  • Academics & Research
  • Administration
  • Admissions
  • Gateways for ...
  • About Baylor
  • Athletics
  • Ask Baylor
  • Bookstore
  • Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Directory
  • Give Light
  • Give to Baylor
  • Illuminate
  • News
  • Pro Futuris
  • Search
  • Social Media
  • Baylor Libraries
  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
  • George W. Truett Theological Seminary
  • Graduate School
  • Hankamer School of Business
  • Honors College
  • Law School
  • Louise Herrington School of Nursing
  • Research at Baylor University
  • Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Engineering & Computer Science
  • School of Music
  • More Academics
  • Athletics
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Office of General Counsel
  • Office of the President
  • Office of the Provost
  • Operations, Finance & Administration
  • Senior Administration
  • Student Life
  • University Advancement
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • goBAYLOR
  • Graduate Admissions
  • Baylor Law School Admissions
  • Social Work Graduate Programs
  • George W. Truett Theological Seminary Admissions
  • Online Graduate Professional Education
  • Virtual Tour
  • Visit Campus
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Online Graduate Professional Education
  • Parents
  • Prospective Faculty & Staff
  • Prospective Students
  • Students
  • Accessibility
  • Anonymous Reporting
  • Annual Fire Safety and Security Notice
  • Digital Privacy
  • Legal Disclosures
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Report It
  • Title IX
 
Baylor University
Copyright © Baylor® University. All rights reserved.
Baylor University • Waco, Texas 76798 • 1-800-229-5678