Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the start of the new fall semester! I hope you had a restorative summer and are returning with renewed energy and inspiration.

This year, we are thrilled to welcome 116 new faculty members to our academic community, along with four brand-new endowed chair positions. Their expertise and enthusiasm will enrich our shared mission of teaching, research, and service. We also greet a projected incoming class of over 3,600 new first-year students, whose curiosity and spirit remind us why our work matters.

We extend a warm welcome to several new administrators—Deans David Szymanski and Michael Young, and Vice Provost Coretta Pittman—who bring fresh perspectives and a deep commitment to our Christian mission and institutional values. At the same time, we honor colleagues in transition: Dean Linda Plank, who will retire following the spring semester, and Dean Lee Nordt, who will return to the faculty next summer. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and lasting contributions.

Even in times of change and uncertainty, our community continues to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and purpose. I am excited about the year ahead and confident in our collective ability to meet challenges and embrace new opportunities. Thank you for all you do.

Warm regards,

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost

Academic Affairs Announcements

Upcoming Events

• Commencement- August 16, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Ferrell Center
• Academic Convocation- August 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Ferrell Center
• Administrative Skills Advancement Program (A.S.A.P.): Kristy Orr- August 28, 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m., Pat Neff 300

Fall Faculty Meeting

September 4, 3-5 p.m., Hurd Welcome Center Ballroom
We are looking forward to welcoming you to this year’s Fall Faculty Meeting. This semester’s meeting will cover topics such as:

• Current state of higher education, including academic freedom
• 9-month faculty contracts and pay periods
• Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR) and review, promotion, and tenure

Please make plans to join us! This meeting will not be livestreamed, but will be available within 48 hours on demand on the Office of the Provost’s website.

Readers Meet the Author 2025-2026 Slate Announced

We are delighted to announce the authors for this year’s “Readers Meet the Author” events – Drs. Beth Allison Barr, Elisabeth Rain Kincaid, Sergiy Kudelia, Ryan Sharp, and Luke Winslow. To learn more about their books, event dates, and conversation partners, please visit the Readers Meet the Author webpage.

Academic Affairs Administration 2025-2026

We are delighted to welcome new deans, associate/assistant deans, chairs, and other leaders to their administrative positions this year. A list of new and returning deans and chairs is available online. Individuals highlighted in yellow are new.

New ForagerOne Platform for Research Matching and Collaboration

This fall, we will roll out ForagerOne, a software platform that streamlines the process to connect students and faculty for research. Faculty can post opportunities and receive student applications in one centralized place, while students gain an intuitive way to access research opportunities on campus. ForagerOne has used an AI tool to pre-populate research profiles of all Baylor faculty. By logging into the platform, you can publish your profile and indicate your interest in student research assistance. The Office of Engaged Learningwill host a ForagerOne information table at the Fall Faculty Meeting, as well as an information session on September 9, from 3-4 p.m. on Zoom. Learn more and set up your ForagerOne account today!

Cornelia Marschall Smith Lecture

September 12, 4 p.m., Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center, Room 149 (Lewis Art Building) 
Join the Office of the Provost as we welcome Dr. Heidi Hornik, the 2025 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year awardee, as she presents her lecture, “The Secret Life of an Art Historian.” Reception to follow – all are welcome!

Update From Campus Services: Campus Dining

Please be aware that effective August 1, prices for dining on campus increased in residence halls, the McMullen-Connally Faculty Center, and applicable retail outlets. For details and costs (excluding tax), review the dining update page online.

Vice Provost’s Corner

Recommended Syllabus Statements 
It’s the time of year when faculty minds turn again to their syllabi. To support you in this work, we are again providing the Recommended Syllabus Statements document on the Office of the Provost’s website. In it, you will find helpful language to drop into your syllabus and maybe some new ideas to explore for your course policies.

Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR) Training this Fall 
As shared in the June newsletter, faculty data has transitioned from Digital Measures to FAR. Use the Quick Start Guide to log in and begin updating your activity information. FAR reports will be used for annual reviews, with summaries due to chairs or similar leaders by January 15, 2026, as part of the annual faculty performance review process.

Faculty training will be held on October 3 (12-1 p.m.) via Teams, with a recording available afterward. Office hours for one-on-one support will be offered in late November, December, and early January.

Reminder: International Student Late Arrival Policy and New Visa Appointment Deadlines 
Baylor allows limited late arrivals for international students due to visa delays. While the late arrival policy remains unchanged, we are implementing new deadlines for visa appointments to help ensure students arrive within the approved timeframe.

Undergraduate international students may still request late arrival if they are fully enrolled and can arrive no later than September 1, the sixth day of the fall term. To be eligible, students must now have a visa appointment scheduled on or before August 11. Graduate students may request late arrival through the 11th day of the term, no later than September 9, with approval from their program advisor or graduate program director. Graduate students must have their visa appointment scheduled by August 18.

Extenuating circumstances will still be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The full policy details are available online.

Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) Position Opening: Martin Hall 
Beginning January 2026, a FIR position will be available for Martin Hall. Campus Living & Learning invites applications from male faculty for this position. To learn more, please visit the Office of the Provost’s website. The application deadline is Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL)

Be sure to take advantage of these exciting opportunities with the ATL:

• University Teaching Exploration Grants (applications due September 15)- This grant provides funding to faculty to engage in worthy research projects related to questions of teaching and learning in higher education.
• Jump Start Teaching Workshop (August 16)- Formerly the "Adjunct Teaching Workshop," this workshop highlights course design, teaching, and assessment practices. All are welcome. Register online.
• Looking to engage more deeply with discipline-based education research (DBER) or scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)? Consider joining the Education Research Journal Club or the Education Research Writing Group, both returning this fall! Questions or topic requests can be directed to Michelle Herridge.

Paul L. Foster Success Center

Student Financial Wellness: Class Coverage 
If you're heading to a conference or out unexpectedly, Student Financial Wellness can cover your class with a meaningful, classroom presentation on topics like budgeting, credit and credit cards, banking essentials, and insurance essentials. Request class coverage online.

Supporting First-Generation Students: First in Line Mentorship Launch 
The First in Line program is piloting a mentorship initiative to support first-year, first-generation college students with personalized guidance and connection. Please share this opportunity with eligible students—those interested can visit the First in Line website to request a mentor and learn more.

Get Involved with Baylor’s VETS Program 
Support military-connected students by exploring events on the Veteran Educational and Transitional Services (VETS) calendar, attending Green Zone Training on September 25, mentoring a student veteran, or joining the Military-Connected Faculty and Staff Association (MCFSA).

Success Center Fall Open House 
Join the Success Center team for our Fall Open House on September 9 (4-5 p.m. for faculty/staff and 5-7 p.m. for students). Explore updates to the Center and learn about resources for student flourishing. In the meantime, we invite you to check out our newly updated Success Center website.

Office of the Registrar

Curriculum Inventory Management (CIM) Proposal Process 
The CIM program and proposal process for the 2026-2027 catalog year is open for submissions. CIM/CAT deadlines and training resources are available, and you can email our offices for course-related and program-related questions.

Summer 2025 Grade Submission 
BearWeb is now available for summer 2025 grade submission. Grades must be submitted according to the summer 2025 grading schedule. Detailed resources are available on the Office of the Registrar’s website. Grades not submitted by the deadline will be automatically assigned a grade of “MG” (Missing Grade) and, thus, require the faculty member to submit a grade change through BearWeb.

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

State Authorization Information: 
Do you ever consider offering instruction (such as a short course or a class field trip) in another state? While Baylor’s online instruction is covered under our NC-SARA authorization, in-person instruction often requires specific permission from states. The Office for Institutional Effectiveness has published a State Authorization webpage. You can also find the linked BU State Authorization Guidance document for an overview.

Spotlight on the Academy

George W. Truett Theological Seminary

Parchman Lecture with Rev. Rowan Williams 
Truett Seminary will host the former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rev. Roman Williams, on October 28-29 for the Parchman Endowed Lectures. Learn more by visiting our event page!

Baylor Libraries

Welcome Back! 
Visit Promoting Discovery to learn about great opportunities for the fall (like our upcoming IDEAL course), Collection Management information, and updates from a busy summer around your Baylor Libraries!

Academic Units Deadlines Calendar

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

• September 1- Call for nominations for outstanding faculty awards and the Cornelia Marschall Smith award
• September 15- Chair set the mandatory review meetings, which will take place by October 31 (for Year 2 tenure-track)

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