Provost Newsletter - June 2026

June 8, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

I hope your summer is off to a good start. Thank you again, for all your work in closing out the spring semester.

Over the summer and into the fall, Academic Affairs will engage in several "retooling" efforts to better align our resources with the priorities of Baylor in Deeds and current fiscal realities. This work focuses on three areas:

1. Stewardship of faculty time
We’re taking a closer look at how faculty time is distributed across teaching, research, and service, with attention to credit hours per faculty member and workload pertaining to course releases and stipends. While expecting some reasonable variation across disciplines and among faculty types, the goal is for us to use faculty time purposefully.

2. Reducing curricular complexity
To serve students well and support on-time graduation, we need to reduce the complexity of curricular options. We’re also reviewing courses with consistently low enrollment to find paths forward.

3. Expanding use of external research funding
We will evaluate opportunities and devise strategies to shift more research-related costs to grants. Initial areas of examination will include core facilities that support unique infrastructure and graduate student support.

These priorities were developed in close conversation with the deans, vice provosts, and incoming interim provost Lee Nordt, Ph.D., and reflect a shared commitment to stewarding our resources well and strengthening our academic programs over time. We’ll begin taking initial steps this summer and Dr. Nordt will continue this work into the coming academic year.

Warmly,

Nancy

Academic Affairs Announcements

Welcoming New Vice Provost and Deans
We look forward to welcoming a new vice provost and two new deans to campus this summer: Dr. Rishi Sriram, vice provost for undergraduate education who began his role on June 1, Dr. Tanya Sudia, dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, who began her tenure on June 1, and Dr. James (Jim) Brockmole, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who will join us on July 1.
Upcoming Events

Summer Commencement- August 15, Ferrell Center
New Faculty Orientation- August 17, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and August 18, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., BRIC
Convocation- August 21, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Ferrell Center
Faculty Senate Retreat- August 21, 1 to 4:30 p.m., BRIC 3160

Academic Leadership Seminar
The Academic Leadership Seminar, which is mandatory for deans, associate deans, vice provosts, and department chairs, will be held on Monday, August 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Questions? Contact Adrienne Conradt.

Administrative Skills Advancement Program (A.S.A.P.) Upcoming Events
This program is designed for administrative professionals in Academic Affairs seeking Baylor-specific professional development from the Office of the Provost through gatherings that include briefings from University administrators, workshops, and Q&As. All are welcome!

Coffee & Networking- June 10, 9 to 9:30 a.m., Pat Neff 105
- Come and have a coffee with the Office of the Provost team, meet fellow A.S.A.P. members, and welcome the summer season together.
Annual Practicum- July 16, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Pat Neff 330
- This in-person event will feature three sessions, focused on calendaring, AI integration, and event planning.

Chair Leadership Retreat
The department chair leadership retreat for the 2026-2027 academic year will take place on Friday, August 14, at the BRIC. Please be on the lookout for the upcoming calendar invitation from Adrienne Conradt.

Degree Data
The Office of Institutional Research has released the degree information for the spring semester. The degree data can now be accessed through the University Reports channel of the Institutional Research Metrics and Analytics (IRMA) team. Users can filter the data by various criteria such as college, major, citizenship, honors, degree, demographics, and others. Data can also be exported if needed. If you are interested in gaining access to IRMA, please complete the IRMA Access Request Form.

Vice Provost’s Corner

Preparing for the Semi-Monthly Payroll Transition
As you know, Baylor will transition faculty from a monthly to a semi-monthly pay schedule beginning January 2027. An optional Ignite Journey is now available to help you understand the change and access resources as you prepare.

A required Ignite Journey with specific tasks and next steps will be released in fall 2026 to ensure everyone is fully prepared. For continued updates, visit the Semi-Monthly Payroll website or email SemiMonthlyPayroll@baylor.edu with any questions.

2026 Summer Writing Challenge
NCFDD is hosting a FREE 14-Day Writing Challenge from July 6-19. It’s a great way to build momentum on your projects this summer! For just two weeks, you’ll commit to at least 30 minutes of writing each day, while joining a supportive community to share progress and encourage one another. Registration closes June 26 – sign up online!

Announcing New Faculty Emeriti
Congratulations to retired colleagues awarded the rank of faculty emeritus – a full list of those given this designation in 2025-2026 is available online.

Academy for Teaching and Learning
As you start to think about your fall courses, consider partnering with these two special offerings from the Academy for Teaching and Learning. Click the course name to learn more and register.

Course Makeover Workshop- August 6-8, Creekmore Conference Room, Jones Library. Build, re-build, or rethink your course in the company of thoughtful colleagues,
Jumpstart Teaching Workshop- August 8, Moody Library 104 (Active Learning Lab). Explore effective course design, teaching, and assessment practices for your fall syllabi and assignments.

Spotlight on the Academy

Celebrating 25 Years of Church Music Leadership
The School of Music’s Alleluia Conference marks its 25th anniversary July 21-24. Gathering ministry leaders nationwide, Alleluia offers a space for renewal, rest, and rejuvenation through worship, learning, and community. All are welcome.

Academic Units Deadlines Calendar

June 15- Academic Professionals are notified by the deans regarding approvals to apply for promotion
July 1- Faculty members in promotion processes that require external letters submit preliminary materials in the electronic system and department chairs send letter requests through the electronic system
July 15- Academic professionals in promotion processes that require external letters submit preliminary materials in the electronic system and Promotion Committee chairs sends letter requests through the electronic system

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

Information regarding the transition to semi-monthly pay can be found on the Semi-Monthly Payroll website.

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