News

Baylor HR is pleased to introduce “Powerful Presenting,” a one day, interactive course that covers the essential topics of managing the fear of public speaking, preparing for your presentation, and the art of the delivery. Additionally, the popular “Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager” will be offered in an online format and is enrolling now. Click the headline of this article for more information and to register for these courses.

See which of your peers have been nominated for their "above and beyond" service in the month of February! Salutes may be submitted by colleagues, students or parents throughout the year. Nominate someone today!

The Office of Student Employment is launching a new resource to help you with student employees - Student Employment 101! Join us for our kickoff meeting on Friday, March 15 to learn more about how the Office of Student Employment can support your department. Join the Student Employment 101 Teams Channel to attend the kickoff meeting and stay connected with Student Employment!  

Staff Performance review is under way and HR has a new resource to assist you. Currently, HR is offering a one-hour course called “Best Practices to Write Your Performance Review Self Evaluation.” Sessions are available from March 5 through March 14 and a recorded version will be made available later. Click the title to learn more and register.

Baylor faculty and staff who have a child or family member with a developmental disability are invited to attend a gathering hosted by the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD) on April 11 at 3:30pm in Cashion 506. Spouses are welcome. RSVP for this event. Click on the headline of this article for more details about this event.

The members of Kappa Kappa Gamma invite all faculty, staff, your children, and grandchildren to their Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Mayborn Museum Bill Daniel Historic Village on Wednesday, March 27! Please arrive no later than 5:00pm for a fun egg hunt. Children of all ages are welcome.

Looking for professional or leadership development resources for you or your team? The Ignite Learning module isn’t always the easiest to search for upcoming classes. We’re told there is an update coming that will make it much easier, but until then we have all the class descriptions, dates and times, and links to enroll in Ignite on the Baylor HR website. Click the title to learn more and see some of the upcoming classes.

We asked Baylor managers about the real-world advice they have for those new(er) to leadership and wanted to start sharing their responses starting with this issue. Click on the title of this article to see the advice from Trey Hagins, Managing Director of Development.

In a world that encourages us to make decisions based on fear, God and Christ command that we instead make decisions from a position of courage. Read more about The Courageous Manager from Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley in this article.

One of the perks of working for Baylor University is the opportunity to receive tuition remission benefits for spouses and children. Employees are also able to benefit from tuition remission and tuition reimbursement. Why should you, as a supervisor, encourage a direct report to take advantage of these benefits?  Click on the headline of this article to learn more about employee education and tuition remission benefit.

When you encounter a challenge as a leader, where do you turn for answers and insights?  This month we examine a second quiet time spiritual discipline that can unlock greater insights for leaders: Scripture.  Author Brian Heasley discusses the need to include scripture reading into our quiet time routine in Session 2 of his five-part Bible study "Be Still: A Simple Guide to Quiet Times.”

The 2023-24 Staff Performance Reviews will be kicking off on March 1 and most of the process is very similar to previous years, with one notable change. Please click the title of this article to read all the details.

See which of your peers have been nominated for their "above and beyond" service in the months of December 2023 and January 2024! Salutes may be submitted by colleagues, students or parents throughout the year. Nominate someone today!

A new FWS Eligibility Label has been created in Ignite so departments can easily identify prospective student workers that are FWS Eligible. This new feature can help us hire more FWS Eligible students, improve the employment process for those students, and can positively impact the FWS Worker Wage Reimbursement for your areas. 

Baylor University has made an adjustment to the payroll date in December. Beginning December 2024 and moving forward, the payroll date in December will occur on the last weekday of the month for monthly paid faculty and staff.  Due to the current pay practice of paying mid-December, monthly paid faculty and staff experience an up to 6 week pay gap going into the new year. Updating the December pay date to coincide with the last weekday of the month will eliminate this burden and provide a more consistent monthly payroll experience. Learn more about this change and its impact on faculty and staff financial wellbeing at our webpage.

Don’t forget to use your Spiritual Wellbeing Leave before August 31, 2024.  As part of Baylor’s campuswide Spiritual Wellbeing initiative, all eligible Baylor staff received 8 hours per year of time off dedicated to use for purposes of Spiritual Wellbeing. The spring season often offers opportunities for spiritual renewal through a variety of activities.  Read this testimonial from Conner Krey, current Baylor staff member, as he shares his gratitude for Baylor’s Spiritual Wellbeing Leave.   

A once-in-a-lifetime event is happening on April 8...the Eclipse Over Texas! There is much excitement surrounding this event with the influx of visitors to the area and Diadeloso on the same day. Baylor continues to be open and available on this day for students and visitors alike.  Read this article to learn more about how to prepare for this special event along with information how to access discounted registration for the viewing event at McLane Stadium.

It's no secret that Baylor University offers faculty and staff many benefits and advantages while on your career journeys.  But, did you know many of these benefits also extend to spouses and dependents?  It's true!  Aside from being able to add your family to health related insurances, your family can access services at the Student Life Center (SLC), get free or discounted Baylor Athletics tickets, and much more.  Read this article to learn more about family benefit offerings.

Engagement and productivity are two great reasons to encourage employees to focus on their physical wellbeing. UMR has a rewards program where plan holders can earn up to $400 annually, and Baylor Campus Recreation offers discounted fitness classes.

With the unpredictability of Texas weather, it's best to prepare your team for potential inclement weather situations in relation to University operations. Click on this headline to learn more about University closure guidelines.

Leaders often feel they must constantly move at the “speed of hurry” just to keep up. Our work lives are filled with important activities, but our chronic busyness can lead to anxiety, damaged relationships, and burnout. In his five-part Bible study, "Be Still: A Simple Guide to Quiet Times,” author Brian Heasley guides us through how to develop a regular rhythm of relationship with God in the midst of our busyness. In Lesson 1, he discusses the concept of quiet time in “Encounter.” Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

Now that the new year is underway, we have several classes available for managers starting in February. Full details, times, and enrollment links are available on our Available Course Listings webpage.

Does the theological virtue of hope have anything to do with being a manager at Baylor? Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley says, "It definitely does!"

Have any financial goals this new year? Here's an easy one you can check off your list - meet with CAPTRUST to discuss your retirement plan. CAPTRUST Financial Advisors is the independent advisory firm that works with the Baylor Retirement Plan at no cost to you. This free resource gives you the opportunity to meet with an advisor individually for general retirement and financial planning advice, investment education and advice, and a Retirement Blueprint®.

See which of your peers have been nominated for their "above and beyond" service in the month of December!  Salutes may be submitted by colleagues, students or parents throughout the year.  Nominate someone today!

Student Employment is creating a new student-led Student Employment Advisory Board and accepting nominations.  Additionally, there is an influx of interest from students for campus student worker jobs.  If you still need spring semester student workers, start reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and submitting your job offers.

The MBA program is hosting an information session for Baylor faculty and staff interested in using the tuition remission benefit for themselves or their dependents to earn a Baylor MBA degree. RSVP to learn more about how an MBA can impact your career, to determine which MBA program would be the best fit, and to learn more about navigating the application process. 

In the first Baylor 101 webinar of the spring semester, Dr. Kevin Chambliss, vice provost for research, will discuss several topics related to Baylor research, including our journey to R1 status and plans for growth in the enterprise. The one-hour Zoom session will highlight strategic research initiatives and offer an update on the University’s research investment, there will also be time for Q&A with Dr. Chambliss. The webinar is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, and we hope you will join us. Remember all Baylor 101 webinars are available on demand for later viewing.

Do you know a Baylor staff member who goes "above and beyond" expectations? Is there a Baylor staff leader you would like to recognize for their devotion to excellence?  Nominations are now open for Outstanding Staff and Distinguished Staff Leadership Awards. Nominations will close at 11:59pm (CT) on Thursday, February 1.  Nominations must be submitted online through the Staff Awards webpage.  When submitting a nomination, please be sure to review nomination guidelines and provide as much detail as possible based on the award criteria in order to provide a comprehensive narrative to be reviewed.

The Payroll Office will be distributing 2023 W-2 Tax Statements in January.  Employees can expect to receive an e-mail next week once W-2s are available online in Ignite.  Any printed W-2s will be mailed to home addresses by the end of the month.

With the 2024 new year, Baylor is using the award-winning company Awardco for all faculty and staff service milestone recognition to provide a single, user-friendly platform for an overall better employee experience!  Supervisors will receive notification emails when a team member's service anniversary nears.  Baylor faculty and staff will receive a congratulatory email and points on their service milestone anniversary that they can use to select a gift from a vast online catalog that includes Amazon and charitable donation options.

As of January 1, Baylor University now recognizes "Sick Time" as "Health Leave," and you will notice these changes in policies and inside the absence module of Ignite.  Additionally, the health insurances you enrolled into during open enrollment are now active.  If you enrolled in the dental plan, the plan administrator is now UnitedHealth and you should have received a notice by regular mail to your home address on file regarding your digital insurance card.

The department of HHPR invites you to participate in a health and wellness check run by our students in conjunction with the Family Practice Residency program of Waco.  The program will follow University health and safety guidelines.

Looking to focus on your wellbeing in 2024? Baylor Wellbeing is designed to support the Baylor community by promoting five interrelated areas: physical, financial, spiritual, professional, and mental health.  Read more about our top five highlighted resources for the new year.  Aside from these highlights, there are a variety of resources available to you on your wellbeing journey this new year.  Visit wellbeing.web.baylor.edu to learn more about and gain access to all wellbeing resources today.

Baylor University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community.  We accomplish this together through many venues but most importantly through our Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct (Title IX) and Civil Rights policies and the requirements of mandatory reporting.  Employees with direct or indirect knowledge of alleged policy violations have a responsibility to report, even if you believe the information has already been reported.  We all play a part!

Last week, Baylor faculty and staff came together to join in a time of prayer and worship at the Lift Up Your Hearts service. It was a wonderful reminder of the importance of nurturing our faith for spiritual wellbeing during this holiday season.  With Christmas nearing, we invite you to join your Baylor community by engaging with daily devotionals online through the Preparing Our Hearts for Advent series.

The University will observe the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays from December 22, 2023 - January 2, 2024. Biweekly employees should pay special attention to timecard entries and submissions during this period and managers should ensure all time cards are approved by any deadlines. Use this Holiday Timecard FAQs document for more information on this current pay period. Review the University holiday timecard guidelines for assistance.

Baylor University made an institutional commitment to require an annual diversity education for all students, faculty, and staff.  Baylor faculty and staff were enrolled in “Courageous Conversations: Culture,” the third of a four-part series, offered through the Baylor University Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office (Equity Office). Baylor faculty and staff are expected to complete this course by January 19, 2024, and its completion will be considered during the annual performance review process.  This course is accessed within Ignite.

We are excited to announce that beginning January 1, 2024, Baylor will use the award-winning company Awardco for all faculty and staff service milestone recognition to provide a single, user-friendly platform for an overall better employee experience!

Holidays can be hectic, but Care.com can help.  It's easy to find the holiday support you need when you have unlimited access to the leading online network of caregivers to find short- and long-term care for children, adults, pets, home, tutors, and more.  Use your Care.com Premium Membership to find care for your family or for around the house during the holidays and over break.  Search for caregivers, post a job, access background checks, attend webinars and more!

Baylor University has transitioned to using Optum as the Employee Assistance Program provider.  In this program, eligible employees and their household family can easily connect with benefits such as counseling sessions, legal and financial support, parenting/childcare support, and elder care information - all at no cost to you.  Optum's Live and Work Well program will be available around the clock, from the convenience of your desk or the comfort of your home. 

See which of your peers have been nominated for their "above and beyond" service in the month of November!  Salutes may be submitted by colleagues, students or parents throughout the year.  Nominate someone today!

The Bible tells us “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” - Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV) How do you seek the Lord and lean on him in order to manage your anxiety?  This month, we finish our 6-part series Managing Anxiety: Yours & Theirs by Steve Cuss. Session 6, Differentiation, focuses on how to manage anxiety in all four spaces Steve identified in Session 1, The Four Spaces of Anxiety, by using the concept of differentiation.

We are excited to announce that beginning January 1, 2024, Baylor will use the award-winning company Awardco for all faculty and staff service milestone recognition to provide a single, user-friendly platform for an overall better employee experience!  Read more about the transition to Awardco and what this means for you as a manager.

Effective leadership lies in striking a balance between guidance and freedom. While it is essential for managers to provide direction and support, it is equally important to avoid the pitfalls of micromanagement.  Click on the headline of this article to learn how to use the power of trust to avoid micromanagement.

To help make managing and leading your team easier, HR provides numerous toolkits and guides on the Baylor HR website.  Topics include: employee development, recruiting, performance management, compensation, and employee transition and exit. Click the headline of this article to see some of the more popular tools.

What does it mean for a manager to be just? It means to give those who report to you what you owe them: your service.  Click on the headline of this article to read more from Rev. Malcolm B. Foley, Ph.D.

Baylor faculty, staff and retirees are invited to a Christmas Reception in Barfield Drawing Room on November 29, 2023 at 5:00pm to celebrate the season.  In the spirit of the season, we encourage gifts to the Baylor Compassion Fund, providing financial relief to eligible members of the Baylor Family who have experienced a qualified hardship due to an unforeseen or unavoidable financial emergency.  Giving is optional and available through the registration link.

There are tax advantages to saving within your retirement plan.  Your money has the potential to grow through the power of compounding interest.  You can contribute up to $23,000 annually to your retirement account—or up to $30,500 if you’re 50 or older for the 2024 year.

Looking to change your life in just one month?  Consider taking this RightNow Media@Work 30-Day Challenge: journey on the road to significance. This video course on RightNow Media from Dr. John C. Maxwell provides one short video each day for 30 days to help you be even more intentional in your life.  RightNow Media is an extensive video library with access on demand from your TV, computer, tablet, or phone.  While this resource is completely optional, you are encouraged to register, log in, and explore all that’s available.  Learn more at our RightNow Media webpage.