NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who is the current commander of the International Space Station (ISS), recently took photos of Waco from aboard the ISS. Even though Kimbrough has not been on Earth since October 19, 2016, when he and two other astronauts were transported to the ISS as part of Expedition 49/50, his connections to Texas run deep: Kimbrough was born in nearby Killeen, Texas, and he now has a child at Baylor. His photos of Waco from space illumine both the wonder and breadth of God’s Creation and the intimacy of personal relationships in our small corner of the world. Kimbrough regularly posts awe-inspiring photos taken from the International Space Station on his Twitter. Kimbrough is expected to return to Earth April 10, 2017.

Psalm 8

¹ O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
² Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
⁴ what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
⁵ Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
⁶ You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
⁷ all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
⁸ the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Latino Leaders Magazine rated Baylor University as one of the top 50 universities for Latinos in the U.S. The list represents the top universities that excelled in their performance, outreach, and academic level in their relation with the Latino student population, according to data compiled from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, U.S. News & World Report, and other reporting agencies.

Latino Leaders Magazine highlighted Baylor’s variety of academic programs: 142 undergraduate degree programs, 75 master’s programs and 42 doctoral programs, which are “assets for Latino students who want both high academic standards and proximity to their families, who live primarily in the Lone Star State,” as well our Hispanic Student Association, which can “foster an enriching experience of the Hispanic culture, heritage and traditions in the Baylor and Waco communities while empowering and supporting students with their personal development, and advocating for a diverse and inclusive environment.”

Baylor has been committed to supporting Latino students for many years. Baylor has been an institutional member of the Hispanic Association for Colleges and Universities (HACU) for over twenty-five years, through which students have been selected as student fellows at national conferences. HACU provides scholarships, internships, international meetings, and opportunities to meet Latino scholars as well as business leaders. Baylor has also been a long-time institutional member of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) and recently partnered with McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College to create the inaugural Heart of Texas TACHE Chapter. Officers and members consist of representatives from all three Waco institutions.

Last fall, the Latino student enrollment rate reached 15%, resulting in Baylor University’s identification as an “Emerging” Hispanic-Serving Institution through the U.S. Department of Education. Baylor also held the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference on October 18, 2016, at which around 250 people gathered from around the country to discuss strategies and solutions to increase Latino student college graduation rates.

Dr. Elizabeth Palacios, Dean for Student Development, said, “After 35 years at Baylor, I am excited to see the Latino community has not only grown in numbers, but in impact as well. The Hispanic population is the largest minority group and second fastest growing community in the United States. Our Baylor Latino students come from a diverse array of cities, states, and countries! The Latino culture is rich in traditions, including faith and spirituality. As Baylor University continues to be intentional in reaching out to all students of color, no doubt our campus will continue to benefit from the rich tapestry of heritages!”

Last December, the Baylor family mourned the loss of Chase Cantrell, a senior journalism and public relations major and entrepreneurship minor from Franklin, Tennessee. Over Thanksgiving break, Chase suffered a seizure and fell into a coma. In the days following, his Baylor friends rallied around him, even organizing a prayer vigil where dozens of students and faculty came together to pray for his healing.

On December 6, Chase passed away at the age of 21. In the midst of their grief, the Cantrell family was moved by the support of the Baylor family hundreds of miles away. Chase’s father, Mark, requested we share the following letter on behalf of his family.

My son, Heflin Chase Cantrell, was a senior at Baylor until his passing on December 6th, 2016. While visiting relatives in Mississippi for Thanksgiving, he had an epileptic seizure and stayed in a coma until his untimely passing to be with our Creator.

During his hospital stay, Baylor friends, faculty, Sigma Chi brothers, and many more were so very supportive and loving. I came to understand why Chase loved Baylor so much, as it is more than just a university – it is a family that comes together to love the Lord and celebrate life.

The prayer vigil and memorial service that were held on campus were live streamed and meant so much to us as Chase has family spread out all over the southeast. I never understood how much prayer meant to those in need until we were in this unfortunate situation.

Once again, thank you for being such a wonderful place for my son to have studied, worshipped, and enjoyed life. God bless. I took this picture of his boots after the Kansas State game while we were playing football. I had no idea they would soon be empty for good, or until we meet again in heaven.    

Thank you,

Mark Cantrell

Thank you, Mark, for sharing with the Baylor family. As a university, our prayers remain with the Cantrell family.

Baylor University’s First in Line program is helping first generation students navigate a successful transition to campus life. According to Michelle Cohenour, director of the First in Line program, approximately one out of every eight Baylor students qualifies as a first generation student. These students often need help navigating the higher education landscape, learning everything from terminology and how to meet with academic advisors to gaining an understanding of financial aid and campus office hours.

The First in Line Summer Advantage program, first offered in 2015, allows new first generation students to complete two classes (out of a possible 15 that are offered) during the second summer school session while receiving academic mentoring, tutoring, weekly success seminars and team building activities. For a flat fee of $3,000, they are not only enrolled in the two classes, but receive meals and lodging in a campus residence hall and are eligible for all program activities. The summer 2015 program had 30 participants, while the 2016 version had 31.

During the fall and spring semesters, events for First in Line students continue with monthly workshops, a welcome-back barbecue, faculty dinners and more. One faculty member, Dr. Todd Buras, associate professor of philosophy and a former first generation college student himself, remarked, “The transition to college is not easy for anyone, but it is especially challenging for these students. A little effort at the beginning to make sure they know the ropes pays huge dividends for these students and for the university. I am proud to be part of Baylor’s effort to throw our doors wide open to first generation students.”

To learn more, visit: Baylor Arts & Sciences Magazine: First in Line

Baylor has long cherished deep connections among its athletic programs, academic focus, and Christian mission, mutually enhancing Baylor’s programs and reputation, and our regional, national, and even global impact. As we all know, those deep connections became frayed in recent years because of significant problems in the football program. Despite the valiant efforts of Coach Jim Grobe and a football team with many admirable student-athletes, the last year has been challenging for the whole university.

The appointment of Mack Rhoades as Vice President and Director of Athletics in July 2016, and then his leadership in the hiring of Matt Rhule as Head Football Coach in December 2016 have helped reconnect our football program to Baylor’s broader mission. Indeed, because of the character and leadership of these remarkable people, our future is very bright.

Coach Rhule announced at his opening press conference that he wanted Baylor to be proud of its football players “on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.” That is true across all of our athletic programs: our men’s and women’s basketball teams are having outstanding seasons; Baylor student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, achieving a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher for the 17^th consecutive semester; and last fall, our softball and baseball teams traveled to Louisiana to help with flood relief and this spring, the football team volunteered in a community gardening project as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday observance. A holistic approach to education and formation is a hallmark of Christian higher education at Baylor.

Over the past two months, in the midst of the most hectic time of the football recruiting season, AD Rhoades and Coach Rhule have reached out to collaborate with our deans, with the Provost’s Office, and with faculty to ensure that we are all working together effectively. Coach Rhule already has remarkable achievements under his belt in helping to restore integrity to Baylor’s football program and reconnect it to our academic focus and Christian mission. Against all odds, Coach Rhule and his staff were able to recruit an exceptional class that was announced on February 1^st, National Signing Day. These student-athletes will become a significant cornerstone of Coach Rhule’s upstanding program. As AD Rhoades regularly notes, we at Baylor are “preparing champions for life,” signifying our commitment to character and leadership that represents Baylor at our best.

There may continue to be stories in the media about the events of the last several years that led to the changes announced on May 26, 2016. Even so, we can focus on how Hope Abounds in the leadership of all of our coaches, teams, and athletic programs, especially with Coach Rhule’s new leadership as Head Football Coach and the broader leadership of AD Mack Rhoades.

Baylor University students struggling with substance abuse will have an on-campus haven this fall at the Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center (BARC). Made possible by a $2.5 million gift from Bob and Laura Beauchamp of Houston, the BARC, to be located in the East Village Residential Community, will create a friendly recovery community culture for students to connect between classes, to study, to host community and recovery support events, and to hold meetings. It will also support increased staff and a wide array of programming, including recovery coaching, conversations with mentors, and campus-wide educational outreach efforts.

On college campuses across the nation, young men and women are navigating a host of complex issues as they deal with the challenges and changing responsibilities of college life. For some, such challenges include alcohol and substance use disorders. Research indicates that 31.6 percent of college students across the country meet the criteria for substance use disorders. Baylor University’s students encounter the same challenges as their peers nationwide. Recognized for its caring Christian community, Baylor has consistently sought to educate its nearly 17,000 students about the negative consequences of alcohol and drug use and to care for those in recovery from compulsive behavior and addiction. However, more needs to be done, both at Baylor and nationwide, to prevent substance use disorders and to provide support to students in recovery.

“Laura and I strongly believe that young men and women who are struggling with addiction should be supported and treated with compassion and grace,” said Bob Beauchamp, chairman of BMC Software and member of the Baylor Board of Regents. “We believe Baylor as a Christian university should be the best in the world at supporting its students who are struggling. Removing the stigma of addiction is crucial to ensuring that students feel they can seek out resources to help them overcome their challenges and fully realize all that God is calling them to become. Our family is honored to help Baylor raise awareness about substance use disorders and support addiction recovery, and we hope others in the Baylor family will come alongside us in supporting this effort.”

The multifaceted program will dramatically enhance Baylor’s efforts to foster the holistic well-being of its students in a manner that reflects the University’s values as a Christian community where wholeness, spiritual growth, and academic success are priorities. The Beauchamps’ lead gift launches the first phase of the Christian Character Initiative coordinated through the University Provost’s Office. With an initial $20 million fundraising goal, the Initiative reinforces Baylor’s long-standing commitment to a Christ-centered education, bringing together a range of programs and experiences in a coordinated and powerful endeavor to help students thrive and flourish.

To learn more, visit:

Bob and Laura Beauchamp Make a Significant Gift to Create the Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center and

Waco Trib: Baylor to launch addiction recovery center for students

The professional development school partnership between Midway Independent School District and the Baylor University School of Education has received the Exemplary Professional Development School Achievement Award. The National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) will present the award at its annual conference in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 2017.  The award gives national recognition to outstanding school-university partnerships that shape educator leadership and practice.

The Baylor School of Education/Midway ISD partnerships are noted for emphasis on a clinically based teacher preparation program that positively impacts the learning of P-12 students, pre-service teachers, and in-service professionals. The visionary system sets this partnership apart from others on the national level. Of their collaborative work the partners say, “…Collectively (we) strive to provide programs that promote success at all levels of education.” They describe the partnership as successful “because of intensive and purposeful reflection on best practices.” NAPDS commends the partnership for the practical experiences that future teachers gain through immersion in schools where complex issues facing education are ongoing. This partnership works effectively to equip future education professionals through best practice experiences. One of only three school-university partnerships recognized nationally this year, the award committee commented, “This partnership is an excellent example of a strong school-university partnership. Its many exciting PDS programs enhance teaching and learning and supports the community.”

Professional development schools are uniquely positioned to prepare future educators; provide current educators with on-going, job-embedded professional development; encourage joint inquiry of education-related issues; and promote the learning of P-12 students. The Baylor partnerships are nationally recognized for their exemplary work in the field of education.