Dear Colleagues,

Thank you to those of you who attended the Fall Faculty Meeting on September 4! As the semester gets underway, it’s been a joy to see our campus come alive again with the energy of faculty, staff, and students reconnecting and engaging with the work we love.

In the spirit of fresh starts, we also acknowledge a significant upcoming transition: as noted in the BU Digest a few weeks ago, Dr. J. Wesley (Wes) Null has announcedthat he will step down from his role as vice provost for undergraduate education and academic affairs in the summer of 2026, returning to his faculty position in the School of Education.

This marks a bittersweet moment for our office. For 15 years, Dr. Null has been a steady and thoughtful leader, always placing student success at the heart of his work. His ability to think at scale — carefully weighing past decisions and future implications — has been a guiding force, especially during challenging times. His leadership has played a key role in Baylor’s academic progress, including this year’s milestone four-year graduation rate, as well as in the University’s continued SASCOC accreditation during some challenging times in our history. I am deeply grateful for his dedication and long-standing service.

Looking ahead, Dr. Null will begin serving as graduate program director for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction’s Ph.D. program, which he helped establish in 2009. After a sabbatical beginning in summer 2026, he looks forward to returning to the classroom in the School of Education and the Honors College, and continuing his research in curriculum theory and the history of American education.

Since joining Baylor in 2001 and the Provost’s Office in 2011, Dr. Null has led transformative initiatives in undergraduate curriculum, university accreditation, student success, and academic partnerships. His impact will be felt across campus for years to come. A search committee for his successor has been formed and will be chaired by Dr. Eddie Contreras, vice provost for global engagement.

Also noted below are the full search committees for our other Academic Affairs searches this year. If you have questions about these searches, please do not hesitate to contact the respective chairs or committee members.

Warmly,

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost

Academic Affairs Announcements

Upcoming Events

• 2025 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award Lecture- September 12, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center, Room 149, (Lewis Art Building)
• Faculty and Staff of Color Welcome Reception- September 18, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Truett Great Hall
• Readers Meet the Author: Elisabeth Rain Kincaid- September 25, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Schumacher Flex Commons, Moody Memorial Library, online via Zoom webinar
• Administrative Skills Advancement Program (A.S.A.P.): Curtis Reynolds & Brian Denman- September 30, 1:15 to 2 p.m., Pat Neff 300 and online via Teams
• Faculty and Staff Chapel- October 2, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Powell Chapel, Truett Seminary
• Baylor 101: Business and Finance- October 2, 2 to 3 p.m., online via Zoom webinar

Cherry Awards: Please Save the Dates

The Cherry Award for Great Teaching program is pleased to present the public lectures for the three Cherry Award finalists. More information is available on the Cherry Award's website.

• Jamie Rankin, October 14, 3 p.m.
• Lendol Calder, October 20, 4 p.m.
• Melissa Gross, October 27, 3 p.m.

Hazing Prevention at Baylor

Baylor is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful campus community. In compliance with federal requirements and Baylor’s Hazing Policy, hazing prevention training is now available to all students, faculty, and staff. Completion of this training is highly encouraged for the entire campus community. To learn more about Baylor’s Hazing Policy, reporting options, and to access the training, visit the Student Life website.

Faculty and staff who serve as advisors of registered student groups are required to take Hazing Prevention 101: Faculty/Staff Edition. Student Activities will reach out to advisors about this training.

Vice Provost’s Corner

A great way to get connected this academic year is by joining an Affinity Group or Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)! There are plenty to choose from—here are a few upcoming meetings:

• Latinx Faculty and Staff Association- September 10, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Penland Conference Room
• Baylor Women's Colloquium- September 23, 1 to 2 p.m., Moody 104

Teaching Innovations Brown Bag
September 17, 12 to 1:15 p.m., Schumacher Flex Commons
The College of Arts & Sciences, in partnership with the vice provost for community engagement and belonging, invites you to a Teaching Innovations Brown Bag featuring Dr. Scott J. Varda, associate professor of communication. Dr. Varda will share his approach to developing the syllabus and course design for Introduction to Africana Studies.

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 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.

Live FAR training will be held on October 3 (12 to 1 p.m.), via Teams, with a recording available afterward. Download the event and Teams link by visiting the Office of the Provost’s website. Office hours for one-on-one support will be offered in late November, December, and early January.

Faculty Records Insights for Chairs and Deans
We have adopted a tool called Lifecycle Management (LM) to help ensure that chairs, deans, and the Office of the Provost can all view the same faculty record information related to upcoming mandatory reviews, appointment start and end dates, and rank history. System access will be granted by October 1.

Awards Season
As of September 1, nominations are open for the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award and Outstanding Faculty Awards. For details, see the Office of the Provost's Faculty Awards website.

Constitution Week Celebrations
The full schedule of events for Constitution Week (September 15-19) is now available online. Events will include an interdisciplinary showcase of graduate student research, Constitution-themed games and contests, and a public lecture by Dr. Jasmine Farrier of the University of Louisville.

As we navigate the evolving landscape of grant funding at the national, state, and local levels, we encourage you to stay closely connected with your unit’s research grant contacts, as recommended by your dean — especially when exploring grant topics or themes that may be sensitive or complex.

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 September 30.

Office of the Registrar

Curriculum and Catalog Updates for 2026-2027
Our Curriculum Inventory Management (CIM) and Catalog (CAT) systems are open for the 2026-2027 academic year with a new look and feel. Deadlines, training documents, and contact information are available on our website.

Class Roster Verification
As the Class Roster Verification (CRV) deadlines approach for the fall 2025 terms, all instructors must confirm student participation for each student on the class roster for each class section each term through the CRV process. Please ensure that you conduct your classes in a manner that accurately reports student participation. For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar CVR webpage.

Virtual CIM and CAT Training
Virtual CIM and CAT Training will take place on September 10, conducted by the Office of the Registrar team. CIM and CAT users will receive a Teams meeting invitation via email.

Office of Institutional Effectiveness (IE)

Upcoming Institutional Reaffirmation with SACSCOC
Baylor is one year away from submitting our 10-year Reaffirmation Compliance Report to our institutional accreditor, SACSCOC. As we prepare to submit our report in September 2026 and host our on-site committee in March 2027, we ask for your continued help in contributing evidence of our commitment to academic quality and continuous improvement when requested by IE. Thank you for partnering with us as we prepare to demonstrate the strength of our programs and support for student success. For more information, visit the IE website.

Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL)

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

• Upcoming Seminar for Excellence in Teaching: Improvisation as a Teaching Practice- September 15, 2:30 p.m., Moody Library 104
• Upcoming 30-Minute Mastery: Less Grind, More Mind: Research with AI- September 19, 12 p.m., online
• Upcoming Seminar for Excellence in Teaching: Teaching without a Net: Replacing Textbooks with Open Education Resources- September 26, 2:30 p.m., Moody Library 104

Paul L. Foster Success Center Open House and Faculty/Staff Reception!

Please register to join us on September 9, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Sid Richardson Building for our Open House and Faculty/Staff Reception! Connect with Success Center staff, learn about student support programs, and explore collaboration opportunities.

A student Open House will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. — please encourage your students to attend. We hope to see you there!

Spotlight on the Academy

George W. Truett Theological Seminary

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

Baylor School of Music

Choral Showcase at Family Weekend
Experience the power of choral music as all Baylor ensembles unite for the Family Weekend Choral Concert on September 12, at 5 p.m. in Jones Concert Hall. All are welcome.

Academic Units Deadlines Calendar

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

• September 15- Chair sets the mandatory review meetings, which will take place by October 31 (for Year 2 tenure-track)
• October 1- Packets are due in the electronic system by 10:59 p.m. (Central time) for Academic Professionals seeking continuing appointment and Year 2 tenure-track faculty
• October 15- Chair sets the mandatory review meetings for promotion to senior lecturer, teaching professor, associate professor with tenure, professor with tenure, clinical assistant professor, clinical associate professor, and clinical professor, which will take place by November 20

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