Dear Colleagues,

Baylor has long been known for its excellent undergraduate educational experience. We are also increasingly gaining recognition for our innovative hybrid and online graduate professional programs. These programs have grown to more than 3,000 students in 20+ degree programs in the past five years. Many are well-known nationally. For example, the Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change has been recognized for its innovative approach as a Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate Program of the Year. US News and World Report has recognized the DNP and the MBA as among the top programs in their disciplines. In addition to these external validations of quality, an average of 85% of the students across all programs would recommend the program they attended to others. This average is higher for online and hybrid graduate and professional programs than it is for our graduate programs offered in traditional formats.

While our success in building these programs over the past five years has been impressive, there is opportunity to do more. By using learning technologies, we can eliminate the barriers of time and geography, making a Baylor education accessible to those drawn to our Christian mission and desirous of new professional opportunities.

We frequently evaluate our portfolio of programs to assess where we have the greatest opportunities and impact. I encourage you to consider whether there are opportunities in your discipline or field of studies to develop either a full-fledged degree program or perhaps a shorter, more focused certificate program. Vice Provost Gary Carini would enjoy hearing your ideas and helping you evaluate their feasibility. Baylor has the know-how and support for developing innovative hybrid and online courses. We would love to partner with you.

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost

Academic Affairs Announcements

COACHE Survey Reminder

All full-time faculty are asked to complete the COACHE survey this year. Please make sure you complete your survey by March 22. If you have any questions, reach out to Drs. Forest Kim or Gaynor Yancey.

Important Spring Reminder for Faculty

As you continue to plan for the spring semester, please make a note of the important calendar items below:

• April 8 will be Diadeloso AND a total solar eclipse. We will not hold classes that day.
• Importantly, even though April 9 is a Tuesday, that day will be an instructional Monday for instructional purposes. In other words, students will attend their Monday classes on April 9 instead of their Tuesday classes. That adjustment has been made because we needed an additional instructional Monday for the spring semester. For questions, please reach out to the Office of the Registrar.

Faculty Ombudsperson

It is time to find a new Faculty Ombudsperson! After six years, Dr. Kevin Pinney will be stepping down as Faculty Ombudsperson. We are grateful for his work and how he has represented his faculty colleagues well. If you want to apply or nominate someone for the Faculty Ombudsperson position, please visit Interfolio. Applications are due by April 1.

Baylor Professor Wins 2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award

Congratulations to Dr. Lourenco Paz, associate professor of economics in the Hankamer School of Business, on receiving the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Hungary, a prestigious and competitive fellowship of the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Mark Your Calendars for the Upcoming Special Events

• Readers Meet the Author: Dr. David A. Smith, March 13, 12 p.m., Schumacher Flex Commons & Virtual.
• Reception Celebrating the Teaching and Research of Baylor Women Faculty, March 19, 1-3 p.m., Hurd Welcome Center Ballroom.
• AI Faculty Forum: Dr. Christopher W. Stubbs, March 19, 3:30-5 p.m., Cashion 506.
• Kappa Kappa Gamma's Annual Easter Egg Hunt for All Faculty/Staff Children & Grandchildren, March 27, 5 p.m., Mayborn Museum Pavilion.
• Readers Meet the Author: Dr. Philip Jenkins, April 11, 12:15 p.m., Schumacher Flex Commons & Virtual.
• 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

2024 Baylor Centennial Professor
Baylor Centennial Professor applications are now open for 2024. To be considered for this designation, a tenured faculty member must apply for a development grant for a proposed project. Two $5,000 awards are available. Applications are due March 22.

Faculty Emeritus
The provost has approved expanding the rank qualifications for emeritus status to reflect our broader range of Baylor faculty. The dean of the faculty member's respective unit makes emeritus recommendations annually to the provost. Letters of nomination can be sent to the vice provost for faculty affairs, preferably by April 15, for those retiring in May 2024.

Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Professional Education

Spring Census
The Office of Institutional Research recently concluded the spring census season and finalized reports on retention and enrollment for the past semester. These reports are now available on the IR website and in the University Reports channel of the Institutional Research Metrics and Analytics (IRMA) team. If you want to gain access to IRMA, kindly visit our website and complete the IRMA Access Request Form.

Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week
The first week in April is GPE's opportunity to recognize the diverse and talented students enrolled in our hybrid/online graduate programs during the Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week for all graduate students around the nation. Thank you to those of you who teach this special group! To celebrate them, GPE will send out a newsletter that includes links to a bookstore discount and additional information to help them in their educational pursuits. These students are a vital extension of who we are as a University—if you get the opportunity, let them know how much you appreciate them (April 1-5 and always!).

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs

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

1. Upcoming Seminars for Excellence in Teaching: Developing Multigenerational Awareness Learning for Increased Student Engagement in Academic & Clinical Experiences (March 12), Teaching with Special Collections (March 19), and Intuition in the Classroom: Debunking Learning Myths (March 27).
2. University Teaching Development Grant: Upcoming Deadline: April 4. This grant provides financial support for activities that enhance faculty effectiveness in the classroom.
3. The ATL, in partnership with the College of Arts & Sciences, is accepting applications for the 2024 Summer Ethics Seminar (SES). SES is designed to cultivate increased ethical literacy across the Baylor campus with an eye toward teaching and research. Learn more about SES and download an application (due March 25) on the ATL website.

Paul L. Foster Success Center: Student Opportunity and Accessibility Resources (SOAR) News
 

• Pathfinders Undergraduate Research Exploration Program—In its second semester at Baylor, SOAR's Pathfinders Program focuses on providing opportunities for first-year students to explore research opportunities, gain professional development, and build connections with faculty. If you have students interested in participating, please refer them to the Pathfinders website for more information.
• Latino/a/x Spring Faculty and Student Mixer—The members of the Latino/a/x Student Success Initiative (LSSI) are excited to share that our upcoming Spring Latino/a/x Faculty and Student Mixer will take place on April 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Bobo Spiritual Life Center. All faculty are invited to attend to connect with Baylor students.
• Navigate Top Tips for Faculty- Baylor's student success management system, Navigate, is a powerful tool with many features supporting faculty and students. If you are looking for ways to help your students and their academic success, please look closely at this "Navigate Top Tips for Faculty" document that Carroll Crowson put together. You will find many great suggestions for how to help our students thrive. Questions? Email Ms. Crowson.

Spotlight on the Academy

George W. Truett Theological Seminary

W.C. Dobbs Endowed Lecture
March 26, 11 a.m., Paul W. Powell Chapel, Truett Seminary
For this year's W.C. Dobbs Endowed Lecture, Dr. Elise Edwards, assistant professor of religion at Baylor University, will share a message entitled "Christian Ethics and Architectural Design: Building a World Based on Justice."

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.

Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences

Robbins College Interprofessional Education Symposium
March 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Virtual
Register today for the 2024 Robbins College Interprofessional Education Symposium. This collaborative online event will welcome faculty, staff, and professionals from various healthcare disciplines to explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning together.

School of Education

That Good Old Baylor FamilyLine:  
Gathering for faculty/staff with family members with a developmental disability
April 11, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cashion 506
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. Learn more about this special event on the BCDD website and register online.

University Libraries, Museums, and the Press

Educational Technology Showcase Returns April 18-19 - Proposal Submission Deadline Today!
Faculty have one last chance to submit proposals for the 2024 Educational Technology Showcase! Proposals for presentations, workshops, and poster presentations are welcome. The deadline is today, (March 11) at 5 p.m.

Apply for the Bryce C. Brown Fellowship
The Mayborn Museum offers two 4- to 6-week, $2,000 summer fellowships — one for those interested in our natural history collection, the other for our cultural history collection. Apply by March 15 by emailing Sabrina Thomas.

Research Data Management
The Libraries provide resources and guidance for properly managing research data. Whether you want to better understand the data life cycle, become a data scholar, or find assistance with data management plans, this library guide will be a great help.

Important Academic Dates

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

• March 11- Chairs summary reports of 2nd- and 4th-year regular lecturers, clinical assistant professors, and 4th-year T-T are due to the deans.
• March 12- New Chair Training.
• March 13- Readers Meet the Author: Dr. David A. Smith.
• March 15- Research leave reports from the previous fall are due to the department chair and dean (the deadline is 90 days from the end of the term of research leave).
• March 18- Faculty merit recommendations must be entered into Ignite by this date, and unit business officers begin their review.
• March 19- Reception Celebrating the Teaching and Research of Baylor Women Faculty.
• March 19- AI Faculty Forum: Dr. Christopher W. Stubbs.
• March 20- Deans' summary letters for regular lecturers, clinical assistant professors, and 4th-year T-T faculty are due to the Office of the Provost.
• March 25- Mentoring Dinner.
• March 29- Deadline for deans to submit merit recommendations to the Office of the Provost.
• April 1- Candidates seeking promotion to the rank of professor in the next academic year submit credential portfolios for review to department chairs.
• April 1- Deadline for deans to submit copies of faculty evaluation forms to the Office of the Provost (evaluations to be uploaded to Box via instructions).
• April 4- University Teaching Development Grant applications due to ATL.

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