News

Baylor University will be closed on Monday, June 19, in recognition of Juneteenth.  Biweekly employees may want to review the University holiday timecard guidelines while completing timecard entries and submissions for the pay period that includes this holiday.

LFSA will meet at the corner of Washington Avenue and University Parks Drive to watch the local Juneteenth Parade together on Saturday, June 17.  A lunch gathering will follow the parade at Ninfa’s around 12:00pm.  Lunch attendees are responsible for their meal costs.  Families are welcome.

In today’s world, most of us lead or work on projects as a significant part of our jobs, yet few of us have “project manager” in our titles or have ever had any training in project management. The good news is, all of us unofficial project managers can build the skills and confidence to lead projects, big and small, and engage project collaborators to give their best effort. This class is for anyone, regardless of experience in project management, to learn to start, run, and complete successful projects. You’ll learn the tools, skills, and best practices to complete projects on time and on budget.  Sign up in the Learning Module within Ignite for the next in-person offering on July 26, from 8:30am-5:00pm.

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

Faculty, Staff and their spouses are encouraged to attend these Financial Wellbeing seminars offered during 2023. For more Financial Wellbeing tools, go to www.baylor.edu/hr/wellbeing.

Learn how you can take action for a more secure future.  Reserve your spot now or visit TIAA.org/webinars at any time to register.  These webinars are part of your retirement plan benefits.

This program rewards you for searching the Health cost estimator tool on umr.com and utilizing “2 blue hearts” Premium Care Physicians and/or “Green” cost-effective facilities when you seek care. Most importantly, you will lower the cost of the claim and be rewarded for those savings. This program is designed to encourage positive health care behavior by rewarding participants when they make a cost effective, high-quality provider choice before seeking care.

Over the past couple of weeks, several local school districts have elected to move to 4-day school weeks starting as early as Fall 2023. We recognize that shortened school weeks may have implications for faculty and staff who are parents or guardians of K-12 students.  Click on this article to learn more.

There's plenty of summer left to invest in your wellbeing!  Baylor offers many resources to support your wellbeing year-round.  Visit wellbeing.web.baylor.edu to learn more.

Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness month? Learn how you can be trained in Mental Health First Aid for FREE at Baylor. In this training, you will learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge which can help you help yourself or others tackle goals and challenges. Enroll in this one-day course through Ignite. Learn more about the value of this course offering by reading these Baylor faculty & staff testimonials.

Want to easily find what's being offered currently for professional or leadership development courses by HR? Bookmark this link to our regularly updated webpage with all the courses, descriptions, dates, times, and locations. Once you find a course that's right for you, click on the course name to enroll in Ignite. Upcoming classes are "Getting Things Done" on May 19 and "The Power of Habit" on May 24.

Feel like you could use a helping hand? Baylor offers faculty and staff access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This EAP offers free and confidential resources, assessments, counseling, referrals and follow-up services to full time faculty and staff employees to support their personal and professional life. Learn more how you can benefit from this program.

This informational session will cover the basics of both Pre-tax and Roth contributions, their similarities and differences, the benefits of each and when one makes more sense than the other. This session will take place 3:00pm till 4:00pm on May 17 in Foster, Room 107. The session will also be available virtually. Register today! Unable to make this session? Make an appointment to meet with CAPTRUST individually.

Come celebrate the end of another great year on the banks of the Brazos with Baylor Baseball! Faculty and staff that present a valid ID at the ticket office receive free admission and will get a free Baylor Baseball t-shirt inside while supplies last!

Baylor partners with TIAA for helpful retirement and financial resources. Learn how you can take action for a more secure future. Reserve your spot now or visit TIAA.org/webinars at any time to register. These webinars are part of your retirement plan benefits. Remaining webinars this month are "Attention to Detail: Financial Finishing Touches for Women" and "Write Your Next Chapter: 5 Steps to Setting Your Retirement Date."

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

Baylor will bring the spring semester to a close with the annual Lift Up Your Hearts service of prayer and worship for the Baylor Family at 11:00am Friday, May 5, 2023, in Paul W. Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary. A complimentary luncheon will follow at noon in the Paul and Katy Piper Great Hall. Registration for this event will open soon.

College food insecurity is a growing national health crisis making its way onto college campuses across the US, and Baylor University is no exception. You can make a difference by learning more about opportunities at The Sore and getting involved today!

Join the Baylor Campus Diversity Committee to celebrate the Diversity Enhancement Award winner at our annual Cultural Connections Event on May 9. Small bites and refreshments to begin at 1:30pm and program of initiatives, accomplishments, and winner to begin at 2:00pm. Register today!

On Tuesday, May 16 from 6:00pm till 8:00pm in the Baylor Sciences Building, Room E.234 an informative seminar will be presented by Baylor Human Resources along with local adoption and foster care providers. Register today. Learn about the adoption and foster care processes and the adoption assistance benefits Baylor offers to eligible Baylor faculty and staff. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

Student Employment rehire or hiring forms for summer term(s) must be completed soon.

Join us on April 26 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. for an annual refresher on the Staff Merit process. Please register for the course in Ignite. The course will be held via Microsoft Teams.

We are in the last step of the Staff Performance Review process.  Discussions and Sign-offs are due April 28.  While the process is very similar to last year's, there have been a few changes.

Baylor University has attained Gold Level recognition in the American Heart Association Workplace Health Achievement for its 3rd year! Engage in your Wellbeing today by enrolling into the Physical Wellbeing program through umr.com. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

Join us in congratulating these outstanding and distinguished members of our Baylor Family for going above and beyond in their service to the University. This year includes our inaugural Student Employment Award Winners. Click on the headline of this article for a list of winners.

The 2023 Baylor University Great Colleges to Work For Survey is now live and the last day to complete the survey is Friday, April 7. Your participation in this survey is critical to the program. The survey is easy, quick, anonymous, and confidential. Please take a few minutes to share your opinion. Check your Baylor email for survey login information.

Staff performance reviews kicked off March 1. While the process is very similar to last year's, there have been a few changes. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

Have you met with CAPTRUST yet? CAPTRUST Participant Advisory Services offers FREE financial planning services to Baylor faculty and staff. Make an appointment to meet with CAPTRUST individually. Meet with an advisor today to prepare for your future.

The University's Easter break will occur Friday, April 7 - Monday, April 10. Pay special attention to timecard entries and submissions during this period. Review the University holiday timecard guidelines for assistance.

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

Staff Council is comprised of a group of dedicated individuals who work to provide a forum for staff to make recommendations, present new ideas, and voice concerns. Are you interested in serving or know of an outstanding colleague who would be interested in serving on Staff Council? Nominations are now open until noon April 12.

Today (4/4) at 1:30pm, the Baylor Family will gather in front of Tidwell Bible Building to unveil and dedicate statues honoring Baylor's first Black graduates, Rev. Robert Gilbert and Mrs. Barbara Walker.
Please join us as we celebrate these remarkable alumni. A reception at McMullen Connally Faculty Center will follow the ceremony.

BFSA congratulates the 2022-2023 cohort of the AIM Leadership Collective. This program was developed by the BFSA to help current or aspiring staff and faculty leaders from underrepresented groups at Baylor develop and strengthen their leadership and communication skills while broadening their network. Click on the headline of this article for more information.

The Bearathon is known regionally as the "Toughest Half in Texas," where all proceeds from the race go directly to Baylor University scholarships. Thank you and congratulations to all the Baylor faculty and staff who ran the 20th Anniversary Bearathon this year in one of the most challenging courses yet. Click on the headline of this article for a list of faculty and staff finishers.

A Performance Improvement Plan ("PIP") is a tool used by managers to identify and create a corrective action plan for employees when there are performance deficiencies. The performance improvement plan communicates to an employee that their work or conduct does not meet expectations, explains the need for improvement, and provides guidance towards the expected performance or behavior. This step is taken when initial coaching efforts and regular feedback prove unsuccessful in soliciting improvement. Click on the headline to read a few key takeaways when drafting a PIP.

Baylor Round Table Presents "Inspired Gifts" Annual Anniversary Scholarship Luncheon & Style Show featuring designs by Baylor Senior Apparel Design Students on April 20. Doors open at 11:00am.

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

In past issues of Leading @ BU, we encouraged you to check out the five-part RightNowMedia series, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. We've learned about why you should eliminate hurry in order to restore your spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing. We've also learned how to do this by understanding more about why slowing down is important, focusing on silence and solitude and keeping the sabbath. This month we continue the series with the topic of Simplicity. Feel free to share these resources with your team(s) during a staff meeting or even in one-on-one meetings with direct reports. Click the headline of this article to learn more.

Writing performance reviews is a big task for any manager. We have compiled a list of tips that will help you during this process. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

Do you know a current Baylor student worker who goes "above and beyond" expectations and wish they could be recognized university-wide? The deadline to submit nominations for the Student Employment Award is March 22. Visit our new Student Employment Recognition webpage to learn more.

Leadership can be difficult, and the first leadership role is often one of the most challenging career transitions. We are collecting and compiling real-world advice from Baylor's leaders to share with new managers. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

As a manager you may find yourself contacting Human Resources for several reasons. Teams within HR partner closely together to support managers and their business needs but this can make it difficult to understand which team you need to contact depending on your question. Click on the headline of this article for a resource that describes some HR Teams, provides examples of their duties, and how to contact that team when you need assistance.

Join your colleagues for the relevant, practical, and easy-to-understand award-winning Retirewise workshop series. It doesn't matter how much or how little financial or retirement planning you've done, at the Retirewise workshops there's something for everyone to learn. Sign up today. Workshop sessions will begin April 4, 2023.

Baylor University offers a variety of wellbeing resources for faculty and staff. Ensure your teams know what opportunities are available to them by highlighting a few each month at your staff meeting or 1-on-1 meetings when you can. Click on the headline of this article for our top 3 this semester.

As we think about topics for future issues, we want to know what leadership challenges are keeping you up at night. Hiring? Retention? Employee engagement? Or…? Let us know by filling out this Qualtrics Form.

Join us for a special update on the Hurd Welcome Center. This session will cover construction progress, details on the building and how the center will serve as a gateway to the university. It will also feature a sneak peek look inside our newest building. All Baylor 101 sessions are held virtually with live chat Q&A and recorded for your convenience.

Are you interested in the creation of an Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association? If so, please join the Vice Provost of Faculty Diversity & Belonging, Dr. Stephen Breck Reid, for a gathering on April 26.

All Baylor faculty and staff members along with their spouse and dependent children are invited to enjoy Diadeloso Lunch beginning at 11:00am on March 28 at Fountain Mall compliments of Baylor Dining Services and Baylor Human Resources. Please bring your Baylor ID card. We encourage casual dress (jeans) and Baylor spirit gear. For more details click on the headline of this article.

Join Special Guest Coach Aranda, Staff Council, and The Store on Wednesday, March 29 from 10:30am – noon in Cashion 506 to pack meals with kindness, thoughtfulness, and food, to help make sure that food insecurity doesn't dampen the Easter holiday for any Baylor students.

Baylor Faculty & Staff are invited out to Baylor Ballpark for a tailgate hosted by SACE on April 1 at 3:30pm. The Baylor Family is encouraged to come to the Baylor Softball game, fuel up in the ballpark, then head to the Ferrell Center for some Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling. Bring your Baylor ID for free admission and RSVP for the tailgate today!

Earlier this month we gathered to honor our faculty and staff that met a service milestone during the 2022 year at our annual celebration. Thank you to these faculty and staff for their dedication to our students and the operation of the University. View the Recognition List to see the names of all honorees.

Truett Seminary has blessed us with daily Lenten devotionals for our journey with Jesus as we prepare for Easter. Download the daily devotional guide on the Truett website.

The professional development class Crucial Conversations: Tool for Talking When the Stakes are High is being offered March 22 & 29. This popular two-day course focuses on learning how to approach high-stakes and difficult conversations, speak persuasively, foster teamwork, build acceptance, and resolve differences. Enroll in Ignite.

If You're Breathing, You're Biased is an introductory workshop to the course Building an Inclusive Community. This workshop will be offered in-person and take a look at defining bias, identifying personal and potential biases, and considering the effect(s) of biases in the workplace as well as within the Baylor community. If You're Breathing, You're Biased will be offered March 17 and April 3. Register Today.

Register your children today for Baylor REC Camp! Located conveniently on Baylor campus, REC Camp is offered in eight, one-week terms that engage campers ages 6-12 with recreation, active learning, specialty activities, and faith and character development.

Annual Staff Performance Reviews will kick off on March 1 (more info to come). In preparation, please update any current goals you already have in Ignite before February 28. Review the full details and instructions for staff. Managers can review this document for instructions.

Baylor University has added features to the Baylor Retirement Plan and Baylor 457(b) Plan to give you more flexibility when making contributions to your retirement account, effective Feb. 20. If you are happy with your current retirement plan salary deferral amounts, no action is needed. An email to all Baylor faculty and staff on the morning of Feb. 21 details these new features. To start making or change your employee salary deferral contributions, please visit TIAA.org/baylor.

Congratulations to Tatum Hennig, daughter of Baylor employee Tierra Hennig, for being selected to the Baylor's Bright Scholarship at Vanguard College Prep School!

Celebrate Baylor Giving Day on March 1 from 9am-5pm at Fountain Mall! Our campus shines bright because of the generous spirit of the Baylor Family. This is your chance to see and be a part of the impact. Free Food, DJ, Games, Photo Booth, and MORE for on-campus faculty, staff and students! Learn more at this webpage.

Don't miss out! Unlock a special Waco Perks offer at Hawaiian Falls from now through the end of April 2023. Full time employees are eligible for a FREE season pass. Learn more by visiting this webpage.

The University has authorized a new space heater. Along with the new unit, there is also an approval process for the heater. Learn more by visiting www.baylor.edu/dps/heatersafety.

The Baylor MBA program is hosting an information session for Baylor employees and family members who are interested in earning a Baylor MBA degree using tuition remission. Please come to the Foster Campus for Business & Innovation for an informative session on Tuesday, February 28 at 4:00pm to learn more about how an MBA can impact your career, determine which program is the best fit, and next steps.

Providing opportunities for spiritual wellbeing and to join together in worship is a priority of President Livingstone's spiritual wellbeing initiatives for faculty and staff. Please join us for the Baylor Faculty and Staff Chapel on Wednesday, February 15 at 1:00pm in the Paul W. Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary. Rev. Jimmy Hunter, pastor at Toliver Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Waco and Dr. Horace Maxile of Baylor's School of Music will lead this special service.

We have a few more spots left for the Social Security Fundamentals presentation happening on Feb. 14 at 3pm in the Upper Mezzanine Meeting Hall at the Mayborn Museum. This informational session will focus on the basics of Social Security covering the steps to get ready for Social Security, transitioning into Social Security and maximizing benefits.

The Virtual Spring Faculty Meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, from 3:00pm - 4:30pm on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent via email prior to the event. Staff are welcome to attend as well.

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

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 & safety guidelines.

Do you know a Baylor staff member or leader who goes "above and beyond" expectations that you would like to recognize for their devotion to excellence? Nominations are now open for Outstanding Staff and Distinguished Staff Leadership Awards. Deadline to submit a nomination is February 3.

RightNow Media is a faith-based extensive streaming service with access on demand offered FREE to Baylor faculty and staff. A great resource for your spiritual wellbeing journey with a variety of interest topics. Visit RightNow Media to create your account.

Leading and influencing change is crucial for improving results, processes, quality, safety, service, and constituent satisfaction. This course was created from 50 years of social science research to teach influence skills and strategies for changing ingrained behavior. Click on the headline of this article to learn more and enroll today!

As you meet with students who have questions about billing, payment, scholarships or financial aid, please encourage them to visit the new Baylor One Stop location on the 3rd floor of the SUB or sign up for a virtual office visit.

In partnership with the National Weather Service and the Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management, Baylor University Department of Public Safety (BUDPS) is hosting NWS' SKYWARN Severe Weather/Storm Spotting Training at the Baylor campus! Register Today!

Employee engagement has become a critical driver in the job market today. Keeping employees engaged is a process that needs ongoing evaluation and support. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits workplace discrimination (including harassment) against individuals with disabilities, personal relationships, or associations with individuals with disabilities and persons "regarded as" having a disability. Employees who wish to request an ADA accommodation should communicate their need to their supervisor and HR Consultant for assistance. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

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!

In past issues of Leading @ BU, we encouraged you to check out the five-part RightNowMedia series, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry to help you learn and grow in your own spiritual wellbeing. In September, we started the series with The Case for an Unhurried Life and in November, we continued the series with Silence and Solitude. In this issue, we will focus on Session 3, Sabbath. Feel free to share these resources with your team(s) during a staff meeting or even in one-on-one meetings with direct reports. Click the headline of this article to learn more.

One of the greatest challenges a manager or supervisor faces is ensuring they are aware of the things that affect their employees. Whether it is how to perform a certain task, understanding policies & procedures, or knowing where to get help. Click on the headline of this article to learn more.

The Baylor University Family Compassion Fund, "Compassion Fund", is a charitable assistance program funded by Baylor faculty, staff, and others, for the sole purpose of providing financial assistance to current Baylor faculty, staff, and official retirees and current employees of Baylor's official vendor partners who work on the campus in support of Baylor. To learn more about the Baylor University Family Compassion Fund please visit our giving web page.

From RightNow Media @ Work, this series of short videos is focused on ten simple practices to help us effectively manage our time and eliminate distractions preventing progress. This series is presented by bestselling author, Jordan Raynor.

UMR is pleased to be your benefits administrator. We encourage all those who elected into the Baylor Health Plan for 2023 to please register and download the UMR phone app using the UMR Portal to access your new insurance cards which were also mailed to your home address on file. UMR is committed in providing you with excellent claims administration and customer service. UMR takes pride in being flexible, effective, and focused on you and your dependents.

Take 5 minutes today to login to Ignite and take the critical step to ensure your Emergency Contact (a close friend or family member) can be contacted in the case of an emergency. Make sure your address on file is correct as well.

Managers play a key role in how employees develop, how much they develop, and how fast they develop. Here are five tips to keep top of mind.

Earlier this month, 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 wellness in ourselves and the University. Even though the semester has ended and the Christmas and New Year's break is upon us, you can still prepare to celebrate Christmas with your Baylor family by engaging with daily devotionals through the Preparing Our Hearts for Advent series. Week 4 invites us to reflect on peace during the holiday.

The University will observe the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays from Fri. Dec. 23 - Mon. Jan. 2. 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.

Challenges can arise even during the holidays. There are resources to help. Learn more about virtual healthcare, retirement funds, employee assistance program and other resources to help you or your family during difficult times with regard to counseling, crisis intervention, or legal concerns.

Vanguard College Preparatory School offers the "Bright" Full Scholarship opportunity to children of full-time Baylor faculty and staff. The Bright Scholarship is for a rising 7th-grade student.

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 & safety guidelines for COVID-19.

On Tuesday, December 13 from 6:00pm till 8:00pm in the Clifton Robinson Tower, Suite 200 (2nd floor, HR Training Room) an informative seminar will be presented by Baylor Human Resources along with Nightlight Christian Adoptions and Arrow Child & Family Ministries. Register today. Learn about the adoption and foster care processes and the adoption assistance benefits Baylor offers to eligible Baylor faculty and staff.

We tend to think of success as a linear progression of unimpeded forward progress. But success isn't a straight line. Many of us feel confused, defeated, or discouraged as we work toward our goals. We feel stuck, but that doesn't mean we have failed. In this five-part series through RightNow Media@Work, speaker and bestselling author Nona Jones will unpack practical ways to get out of the emotional, mental, and intellectual ruts we often find ourselves in. It's time to get unstuck.

Need to hire spring student workers? Here are some things to know that will assist student worker managers with tools and forms for hiring, rehiring, separations and any changes. Guided Learning and the Journeys Tile in Ignite are also available tools for student worker hiring.

Mental Health First Aid is an interactive training course that introduces students, faculty and staff to the risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges. Required "pre-work" will be sent out prior to the class. This training class will be held December 9 & 14. Register today using the Ignite Learning module tile. Learn more about the value of this course offering by reading these Baylor faculty & staff testimonials.

Library and Academic Technology Services (LATS) offers numerous opportunities to expand your horizons, with targeted training in technologies such as Canvas, SPSS, and more. Whether you are new or an experienced faculty, we invite you to join one of our many sessions listed here.

The 2022 United for Waco Leadership Challenge is coming to a close this week! With the participation of every faculty and staff member, Baylor University will continue to maintain its role in the support of our community. Make a gift today at baylor.edu/hr/UnitedWay by Dec. 9.

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!

As an employer, Baylor University provides annual notices on various topics to keep you informed. These notices are provided for awareness of options, laws, and resources. You can view these notices online.

Baylor Human Resources is offering a course in December that can help you improve focus, organizational skills and more. The Power of Habit will be December 15. You can register online in Ignite through the Learning module tile.

We enjoyed experiencing the Baylor Faculty & Staff Chapel with you all and hearing from senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Hannah Coe, on Nov. 9. The next opportunity to enrich your faith at work and join in a service of prayer and worship on campus will be on Dec. 8 at the Lift Up Your Hearts event. Learn more about Baylor's efforts to encourage faculty and staff to pursue their personal faith in ways that enrich their families and overall wellbeing.

The Harvard School of Medicine reported "Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships." The American Heart Association promotes that regular gratitude practice can make you healthier.

In case you missed the latest Baylor 101, which featured a discussion on the Baylor Board of Regents, it is now archived online along with previous sessions on Benefits and the Endowment. We'll kick off a new semester of Baylor 101 in late January.

The University will observe Thanksgiving with a break from Wednesday, November 23 – Friday, November 25. Biweekly employees, please pay special attention to timecard entries and submissions during this pay period which ends Saturday November 26. Review the Timecards During University Closures Guide for assistance.