Dear Colleagues,

As we celebrated Women's History Month, I was delighted to listen to and share about the incredible contributions of the women in our Baylor family- faculty, staff, students, and alumni. There were several excellent opportunities to acknowledge women's invaluable impact in shaping our institution, advancing academic excellence, and fostering a sense of inclusivity.

On February 28, the University Libraries, College of Arts & Sciences, and the Office of the Provost hosted "Discovering DH: Honoring Women's Stories." We gathered and heard from five members of our faculty who highlighted their scholarship in the digital humanities, learning more about this critical interdisciplinary field that focuses on digital tools and data science methods in the humanities.

In March, at the "Reception Celebrating the Teaching and Research of Baylor Women Faculty," we welcomed nearly 100 members of our University community. At that time, our President shared statistics about the growth of women in leadership at Baylor since her arrival in 2017:

• The percentage of total female department chairs went from 12% to 32%.
• The percentage of female full professors went from 18% to 23%.

There is still work to be done, but there is much to get excited about. Thank you to those who participated in and organized events to mark this month.

Warmly,

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost

Academic Affairs Announcements

Religious Observances and Related Cultural Practices

Due to the diversity of student religious identity at Baylor, your classes may include students with religious observances and related cultural practices that you have not considered. It is good practice to invite students to communicate with you early in the semester about anticipated conflicts associated with their religious observances.

Please note that the Office of the Provost has developed the following Recommended Syllabus Statement for your guidance: “As a Baylor instructor, I am committed to providing a caring environment in which students from diverse religious backgrounds can succeed. Please review all of the course requirements to identify assignments, exams, or attendance expectations that conflict with religious observance and related cultural practices. I ask that you communicate any conflicts to me within the first week of the semester to allow time for us to discuss the conflict and perhaps determine any fair and reasonable adjustments to the schedule and/or assignments.”

Dr. Benjamin F. Brown IV Fund for Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Scholarship

Full-time faculty across the University are invited to apply for the Brown Fellowship, which supports research or curriculum-development projects that are collaborative, interdisciplinary, and globally significant. Three awards of up to $25,000 each are available. Applications are due by April 26.

Mark Your Calendars for the Upcoming Special Events

• Baylor 101: Campus Facilities and Dining, April 10, 3:30 p.m., Zoom.
• Readers Meet the Author: Dr. Philip Jenkins, April 11, 12:15 p.m., Schumacher Flex Commons & Virtual.
• Symposium: Migration and Food Needs: Latin American and US Perspectives, April 16-18.
• Faculty and Staff Chapel, April 17, 11 a.m., Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary.
• University Faculty Retirement Reception, April 18, 3 p.m., Hurd Welcome Center Ballroom.
• Dean Mortenson Retirement Reception, April 26, 3 p.m., Baylor Club.

Vice Provost’s Corner

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Collins Outstanding Professor Award & Lecture
April 30, 4:30 p.m., Schumacher Flex Commons, Moody Library
The 2024 Collins Outstanding Professor Award, recognizing outstanding teaching, is awarded each year by senior class members. The honoree is selected by Baylor students, making this a particularly special award. This year's winner is Prof. Lotte Bostick, who will present her lecture, "A Legal Analysis of the Netflix Documentary 'Pepsi, Where's My Jet?'" All are welcome to attend.

Vice Provost for Institutional Research (IR) & Professional Education

Course Evaluations 
IR is currently administering course evaluations for semester courses – please encourage your students to complete their evaluations as soon as possible. Evaluations will close on May 4, and results will be available on May 10. For additional information regarding course evaluation, please visit the IR website.

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs

Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL)
Please consider the following opportunities from the ATL:

• LA Workshop Special Preview – April 12 at 2:30 p.m., Moody Library 104 (Active Learning Lab) – Learn about the Learning Assistant (LA) Program and generate ideas for adapting your course to utilize LAs!
• Join Provost Nancy Brickhouse as she moderates a panel of Baylor Fellows (Sam Henderson, Stephanie Boddie, and Nadine Welch) presenting their work on the theme “Fostering Student Wellbeing” at the next Provost’s Faculty Forum, April 19, 3-4 p.m., MMSCI 301 (hybrid).
• Summer Ethics Seminar (SES), a collaboration between the ATL, College of Arts & Sciences, and the Baylor Ethics Initiative, will explore “Engaged Learning for Local Food and Environmental Justice.” SES runs May 20-24, and the application deadline has been extended to April 22. Learn more about SES 2024 and download an application online.

Spotlight on the Academy

College of Arts & Sciences

2024 Beall-Russell Lecture: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
April 17, 3:30 p.m., Waco Hall 
Henry Louis Gates Jr., historian, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and host of the popular PBS genealogy series “Finding Your Roots,” will deliver the 2024 Beall-Russell Lecture, speaking on “Finding Your Roots: Genealogy, Genetics, and African-American History.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

Diana R. Garland School of Social Work

"Understanding Christian Nationalism from an Interfaith Perspective" Lecture 
April 22, 4 p.m., Kayser Auditorium (Hankamer Academic Center) 
We look forward to welcoming Reverend Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, the president and CEO of the Interfaith Alliance, a national organization dedicated to protecting the integrity of both religion and democracy in America. The lecture will be titled "Understanding Christian Nationalism from an Interfaith Perspective." All are welcome.

George W. Truett Theological Seminary

Truett Pastors Conference 
April 18-19, First Baptist Church of Waco 
Join Truett Seminary for two days with ministry leaders nationwide to learn from Matt Snowden and Joshua Hays as they guide attendees through their book "Soul Culture." A panel discussion featuring Ralph D. West, Maddie Rarick, and Steve Bezner will complement the teachings.

Honors College

Annual Ethics & Culture Lecture: “Politics in the Shadowlands”
April 11, 7 p.m., Baylor Club, Level 400, Suite Lounge
The Honors College presents the Annual Ethics & Culture Lecture featuring Dr. Justin Dyer, professor and executive director of the Civitas Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.

Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences

Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series 
April 12, 10 a.m., Foster 250 
Please join Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences for the Spring 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series. This year’s lecture, “What I Learned During the Pandemic,” will be offered by Dr. Michael J. Joyner, professor of anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic. The lecture is free and open to the public.

School of Education

That Good Old Baylor FamilyLine: Gathering for faculty/staff with family members with a developmental disability 
April 11, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Bill Daniel Student Center 202 (Beckham) 
The Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD) is hosting a gathering of faculty and staff who have a child or family member with a developmental disability. Spouses are welcome. The BCDD wants to connect with Baylor families, share about the center’s work, and invite your input. R.S.V.P online by April 9.

School of Music

Semper Pro MusicaSolo and Chamber Winners’ Recital at Kimbell Art Museum 
April 21, 3 p.m., Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth) 
Join the School of Music for performances from our Semper Pro Musica Solo and Chamber Competition winners. The three winning soloists and one chamber group will present at the beautiful Kimbell Art Museum. This recital is free and open to the public.

Baylor Symphony Orchestra at Bass Performance Hall 
April 23, 7 p.m., Bass Symphony Hall (Fort Worth) 
You are cordially invited to the Baylor Symphony Orchestra’s debut concert at Bass Performance Hall. This concert, conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya, will feature several notable performances, including Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor with internationally acclaimed soloist Richard Lin. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased through Bass Performance Hall.

University Libraries, Museums, and the Press

Prepping Your Fall Coursework? Make the ELC Part of Your Plans! 
The Experiential Learning Commons (ELC) can help you integrate making, media, and prototyping activities into your fall 2024 courses. From workshops to individual consultations, we welcome collaborations from faculty in every discipline.

A Mammoth Masquerade Weekend Celebration
May 17, 6 p.m., Mayborn Museum 
To honor the Mayborn Museum’s 20th anniversary, a Mammoth Masquerade Gala will be held at the museum on May 17. The Gala, presented by H-E-B, will include a silent auction, strolling dinner, a preview of the Tom Tischler mammoth sculptures, and a Q&A with Charles Walter and Brad Livingstone. Get your tickets online.

Then, on Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m., the Mayborn welcomes everyone for a family-friendly Mini-Mammoth Masquerade. Admission to the mini-masquerade is free for museum members and students. Come and join us!

Special Libraries Teaching Fellowships - Deadline April 12 
The Libraries offer teaching fellowships to support excellence in teaching and learning and to provide opportunities for original research by encouraging the use of rare books, archives, and other special collections materials in Baylor graduate and undergraduate courses. Please apply by April 12.

Important Academic Dates

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

• April 15—The deadline for notifying 2nd- and 4th-year regular lecturers and 3rd-year clinical assistant professors of the decision to continue or terminate.
• April 24- New Faculty Reunion.
• April 26- Chair Coffee and Conversation.
• May 1- Faculty contracts and pay change statements issued through Ignite.

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