Dear Colleagues,

As we close out the spring semester, I thank you all for the many ways you have contributed to Baylor’s mission as a Christian R1 university, dedicated to educating our students for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community. In uncertain times, staying focused on what we have been called to do is a good antidote and will also enable Baylor to thrive in spite of the many conflicting external challenges.

I recently returned from Washington, D.C., where we celebrated the release of the first set of published research findings of the Global Human Flourishing Study in the journal Nature. In addition, global publications for this study have surpassed 625 different articles or news broadcasts, with a worldwide reach in the multi-millions!

After five years of data collection in 23 countries, we have a better understanding of the holistic nature of human flourishing as it relates to happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and financial and material stability. As may have been expected by those at Baylor, across almost all countries, religious service attendance appears to be an important element in flourishing, with especially strong associations in the most secular societies. There is much to be learned from this rich, open-source data set – available for review and scrutiny by scholars around the world. I look forward to using this data to assure that Baylor is a flourishing institution for students, faculty, and staff.

My hope for you all as we move into the summer is that you will take the time to nurture the human relationships important to you, that you will invest in your church communities, and that you will slow down enough to notice God in many of the seemingly ordinary experiences of daily life.

Blessings,

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost

Academic Affairs Announcements

Dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) Search Committee Announced

As noted in the announcement on May 7, Dean Linda Plank will be retiring as dean of the LHSON in the summer of 2026. As we are preparing for a search for Dean Plank’s successor, we are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Jon Singletary, dean of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, who will chair this search. Additional search committee members are Jerchel Anderson, Karen Foli, Brandi Garrett, Karenna Malavanti, Roland Paquette, Deborah Shirey, Tami Taylor, Sheron Wagner, and Laura Zebreski. We’re grateful for their willingness to serve.

Upcoming Special Events

• Commencement- Please join your students and colleagues for this spring’s Commencement services on May 16-17.
• Academic Leadership Seminar- This year, we will be combining our two Academic Leadership Seminars (ALS) into one event. We believe this new format will enhance the networking opportunities for everyone involved. This year’s ALS will take place on Tuesday, August 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Invitations will be issued via email later this summer. Questions? Contact the Office of the Provost.
• Chair Leadership Retreat- The department chair leadership retreat for the 2025-2026 academic year will take place on Friday, August 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the BRIC. Please be on the lookout for the upcoming calendar invitation from Adrienne Conradt.
• Faculty Senate Retreat- The 2025-2026 cohort of Faculty Senators will meet on Friday, August 22, for their afternoon retreat in Moody 104 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming the new senators for the fall semester. A calendar invitation will be sent via email in the next few weeks from Adrienne Conradt.

2024-2025 Promotions

We congratulate all of those who received promotions for the upcoming academic year. A complete list of all promotions is available online. For more information on promotions, please see Baylor University personnel policies 702, 704, 716, 718, and 719.

Review, Promotion, & Tenure (RPT) Updates

Tenure and Promotion Procedures Updated 
The Office of the Provost has updated the procedures for mandatory review for continuation, promotion, tenure, and renewal for all faculty tracks and ranks.

• Procedures for Academic Professional Faculty Reviews for Continuation and Promotion
• Procedures for Clinical Faculty Reviews for Continuation, Renewal, and Promotion
• Procedures for Lecturer Faculty Reviews for Continuation and Promotion
• Procedures for Tenure-Track Reviews for Continuation, Tenure, and Promotion

Please ensure that you have disposed of all previous procedure documents and that your units use only current documents. Thank you!

Upcoming Training 
Please visit the RPT webpage for information on upcoming training dates and details. Faculty with review, tenure, or promotion deadlines in the upcoming academic year should receive a calendar invitation to the relevant training sessions. If you believe you have been overlooked, please contact the Office of the Provost.

Readers Meet the Author Submissions

Would you like to nominate a book for next year’s Readers Meet the Author? We would love to hear from you – email us at the Office of the Provost. Readers Meet the Author books must be:

• Published within the last few years
• Single-authored
• Of broad interest

Vice Provost’s Corner

Baylor Centennial Professors Named
Dr. Elesha J. Coffman, professor of history, and Dr. T. Philip Nichols, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, have been selected to receive the 2025 Baylor Centennial Professor Awards for summer research projects. Congratulations to these two faculty members on their awards!

Required Search Training: Conducting the Search 
This training is required for faculty search leaders (deans, dean’s assistants, department chairs, and search committee chairs) for 2025-2026 faculty searches. Training will cover best practices, legal considerations, and the interview process. Those attending the College of Arts & Sciences training on May 20 are exempt. Complete our online form to sign up for a training date. Questions? Please contact Amber Kivlighn.

A Year of Hispanic Heritage Through Collaboration at Baylor 
The dynamic collaboration between the Baylor University Libraries, Museums, and the Press and the History department began with Hispanic Heritage Month in the fall and continued throughout the academic year.

This included events on the history of Spanish at Baylor, a panel discussing Democracy Across the Americas, the “Latina Changemakers” event, the “Life & Death on the Border” Exhibit in Jones Library, and the acquisition of a new volume, “Atlas geografico, estadistico e historico de la Republica Mexicana, formado por Antonio Garcia y Cubas,” in the Texas Collection. This atlas is one of only 300 copies printed! We finished the year strong with celebrations marking Cinco de Mayo around campus. Thank you for your participation in and support of these special events.

Reminder to All Faculty and Staff to Register for International Travel 
As you plan official Baylor international travel this summer, please remember that travel registration is required per University Policy 2.2c. This applies to all faculty, staff, students, dependents, and guests. Registration also enrolls travelers in Baylor’s international insurance coverage – free for faculty and staff. Students, dependents, and guests are covered for $3/day, billed through Baylor. Personal travel is not eligible and does not require registration. To register, visit the Center for Global Engagement registration portal (VPN required off-campus). For help, contact Lynae Jordan or call 254-710-2657.

International Student Visa Status Update 
In April 2025, a small number of international students had their F-1 visa status terminated. As of May 1, all affected students have had their status restored to active. We have been in direct contact with each of them. The University checks SEVIS records daily and promptly notifies individuals of any status changes, referring them to legal support as needed. To protect privacy, we do not disclose the identities of those impacted. We are aware that similar incidents have occurred at other institutions, and we will continue monitoring SEVIS daily, alerting affected students and scholars immediately.

Graduate Professional Education (GPE) Launches New Career Navigator Dashboard
GPE’s new Career Navigator, created with Lightcast, is a powerful tool to share with professional graduate students as they plan their academic and professional paths. It offers real-time data on job trends, skills, and outcomes. By connecting coursework with current labor market demands, the dashboard supports better advising, stronger student outcomes, and clearer career direction, equipping them for long-term success.

Welcoming Baylor’s Director of Federal Relations 
Baylor welcomes Amy Davenport as the University’s director of federal relations in the Office of General Counsel. In this role, she serves as the primary liaison between the institution and the federal government. If you have business in Washington, D.C., or are looking to develop business with federal agencies, please reach out to her.

Hiring Updates 
Dr. Eric L. Robinson, associate professor of educational psychology, has accepted the role of associate vice provost for student access, effective June 1. Dr. Robinson has served in an interim capacity in a similar role during the past year. Dr. Robinson will be working closely with the Office of Access and Learning Accommodations (OALA), the Honor Council, the Academic Appeals process, and will be working on other initiatives related to student success and engagement.

Dr. Rishi Sriram, associate professor of educational leadership, has accepted the role of associate vice provost for undergraduate success, effective June 1. Dr. Sriram has served in an interim capacity in a similar role during the past year. Dr. Sriram will be working closely with the Advising Leadership Council, the Major Exploration and Success Advising (MESA) Office, and the Pre-Law Office, and will be working on other initiatives related to student success and engagement.

Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL)

Register for courses by clicking the course title.

• Course Makeover Workshop- May 28-30: Build, rebuild, or re-think your course in the company of thoughtful colleagues.
• Augustine Teaching Institute- June 9-11: Join faculty colleagues in an exploration of pedagogical wisdom of the past and its implications for teaching in the present. Participants will read and discuss Augustine, Quintilian, Erasmus, the Confucian text On Teaching and Learning, Comenius, and more, connecting insights from history’s great thinkers to evidence-informed teaching practices.
• Teaching with AI Playground- May 23 (Virtual Workshop): Experiment with how generative AI can enhance your course design, lesson plans, feedback, and assignments while also helping students develop AI literacy. This session is virtual (Zoom link will be sent to registrants).

Office of the Registrar

Spring 2025 Grade Submission 
BearWeb is now available for spring 2025 grade submission. Grades must be submitted according to the spring 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.

Spotlight on the Academy

Baylor Law School

Opportunity to Serve Future Baylor Lawyers 
Big Trial is the capstone of Baylor Law’s renowned Practice Court program, where students try cases before volunteer jurors. In June, we need jurors for trials starting at 1 p.m. and lasting ~6 hrs. Sign up online. Questions? Email Katherine Sims.

Baylor School of Music

Music Moments You’ll Never Forget! 
We had a great Mariachi Ensemble concert on May 5 to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Thanks to all who attended! Explore all the other recitals, concerts, and operas across our stage — view the full lineup online!

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