Provost Newsletter - September 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you to those who attended the Fall Faculty Meeting on September 8. During our time together, the president shared an update, we welcomed a new vice provost and two new deans, and I shared my goals as interim provost. We also heard presentations on the transition to semi-monthly payroll, the COACHE Working Group recommendations, and reducing curricular complexity.

Additional updates included the New2BU survey, progress reports, and preparations for our accreditation visit in March 2027.

For those who were unable to attend or who would like to revisit the presentations, a full recording is available on the Office of the Provost’s website.

Thank you, 
Lee Nordt

Academic Affairs Announcements

Upcoming Events
•    Faculty and Staff of Color Welcome Reception- September 17, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Great Hall, George W. Truett Theological Seminary 
•    Cornelia Marschall Smith Award Lecture- September 18, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Jones Concert Hall, McCrary Music Building
•    Faculty and Staff Chapel- September 23, 9 to 10 a.m., Paul W. Powell Chapel, George W. Truett Theological Seminary

Concerned about a Student? 
The Baylor University Counseling Center provides faculty with resources on recognizing student distress, making referrals, and supporting student well-being. Our Mental Health Matters newsletter and online resources offer practical guidance to help you connect students with support when they need it most.

Readers Meet the Author 2026-2027
We are delighted to announce our Readers Meet the Author events for the 2026-2027 academic year. All events will take place in the Schumacher Flex Commons and via Zoom. 
•    Entangled Alliances: Racialized Freedom and Atlantic Diplomacy During the American Revolution (Dr. Ronald Angelo Johnson)- October 27, 12 to 1 p.m.
•    The Materiality of Early Christ Devotion: Artistic Innovation at Four Archaeological Sites (Dr. Bruce Longenecker)- November 3, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
•    Good Daughtering: The Work You’ve Always Done, the Credit You’ve Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough (Dr. Allison M. Alford)- February 3, 2027, 12 to 1 p.m.
•    Madness, Theocracy, and Anarchism: Political and Cultural Reflections on the Church (Dr. Barry Harvey)- March 18, 2027, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
•    Augmented: Life and Death as a Cyborg (Dr. Candi K. Cann)- April 20, 2027, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

Vice Provost's Corner

Action Required: Complete the Semi-Monthly Payroll Readiness Journey 
Baylor University will transition to a semi-monthly payroll schedule beginning in January 2027. All faculty must complete the Semi-Monthly Payroll Readiness Journey in Ignite by October 9 to ensure they are fully prepared for the academic-year contract change.

This required journey guides employees through key tasks related to reviewing and updating tax deductions, retirement contributions, and direct deposit settings. For a preview of the journey, watch this video and then access the journey in Ignite.

If you have additional questions, please contact the project team or visit the Semi-Monthly Payroll website. 
 

Awards Season
Nominations are now open for the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award, Outstanding Faculty Awards, and University Distinguished Professor. For details, see the Office of the Provost's Faculty Awards website. 

Changes to Lecturer-Track faculty Policy
The University has approved changes to BU-PP 716, which will change Lecturer rank titles in the next academic year. Lecturer is retitled Assistant Teaching Professor and Senior Lecturer is retitled Associate Teaching Professor. Faculty will see these new titles in their 27-28 contracts in May 2027 and may notice updates to other university systems and documents throughout this year as we prepare for the new titles to become fully effective in May 2027. 

Cherry Award Nominations Open
The Cherry Award Committee seeks your help in identifying exceptional classroom teachers and encourages you to make a nomination by November 1. More information about the award can be found on the Cherry Award website.

Constitution Day Lecture: The Declaration of Independence and the Rule of Law
September 15, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Draper 130 (Bennett Auditorium)
This year's annual Constitution Day lecture features Dr. Michael Zuckert, Professor Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame.

Cornelia Marschall Smith Award Lecture
September 18, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Jones Concert Hall, McCrary Music Building
Join the Office of the Provost as we welcome Dr. Randall Bradley, the 2026 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year awardee, for his lecture, “From Classroom to Community: Building Life Connections Through Teaching.” Reception to follow – all are welcome. 

Faculty Regent Nominations Open
Nominations are now being accepted for a faculty regent position on the Baylor Board of Regents. A full outline of position requirements is available online. Faculty may nominate a colleague or self-nominate; nomination materials are due by September 25 to Dr. Ian Gravagne.

GLOBE Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Global Engagement
The GLOBE Awards honor members of the Baylor community whose leadership, service, and dedication to international education exemplify the transformative power of global engagement. Presented during International Education Week (November 9-13), the awards recognize one faculty member, one staff member, and one student whose contributions have advanced Baylor's global mission and enriched our campus community. Nominations are now available online. 

Time Management Help at the Study Skills Center 
Our Study Skills Center (SSC) in the Sid Richardson building’s Learning Commons is open and ready to assist students in making weekly study calendars. Please send students who might need help with time management. In addition, new student experience instructors (NSE) are welcome to reserve the SSC for a classroom workshop on time management or other study-related topics.

Group Tutoring Opportunities 
Please encourage students to use our free tutoring services! We tell students how to participate through Navigate, but your encouragement can be highly influential. Group tutoring sessions are one-hour, drop-in opportunities led by Master Tutors, allowing students to review key topics and ask questions in a collaborative learning environment.  

Spotlight on the Academy

Honors College

Laura Blanche Jackson Lectureship in World Issues
Join the Honors College for the Laura Blanche Jackson Endowed Lectureship on September 29, featuring Theresa Payton, the first female White House Chief Information Officer, as she explores AI’s rapidly evolving impact on our daily lives. 

Baylor Libraries, Museums, and the Press

Incredible Development Opportunities!
DIVE into expert-led classes to enhance your teaching and student learning. Also, view the next round of Portal to the Public trainings at the Mayborn Museum and the new Baylor University Press catalog. 

Academic Units Deadlines Calendar

Additional deadlines are available on the Academic Units Deadlines calendar.

• September 1-November 2- Call for nominations for Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award, Outstanding Faculty Awards, and the University Distinguished Professor
• 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 which will take place by November 30 (see list of who this applies to in the summary) 

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.