News

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!

Register your kids today for Baylor REC Camp – a new and exciting day-camp experience this summer for the children of Baylor faculty and staff. Located conveniently on the Baylor campus, REC Camp is offered in eight, one-week terms that engage campers with recreation, active learning, specialty activities, and character development.

Over this past year, we realized that the Baylor Family had a desire to recognize teams on campus for going above and beyond for their Baylor community. In fact, we received such heartfelt team nominations this past year, the Baylor VA Benefits Team was selected and recognized as the inaugural BaylorPLUS Salute Team Winner at the Staff Awards Ceremony in April. As of today, we are now accepting BaylorPLUS Salutes for teams as well as individuals. Submit a nomination today!

Join us May 10 as the Baylor Campus Diversity Committee returns to an in-person celebration of the Diversity Enhancement Award winners at the annual Cultural Connections Event. Small bites and refreshments to begin at 1:30pm and program of initiatives, accomplishments, and winners to begin at 2:00pm. Register today!

May is recognized as mental health month. Some mental health assistance and/or recovery may require abstinence from substances or education on substance misuse. Learn more by watching this Substance Misuse and Substance Use Disorder video from the Gil Taylor Behavioral Health Symposium. You can find additional substance misuse resources at Baylor Wellbeing. Help is available!

We are nearing the end of the Staff Performance Review process. All review discussion sign-offs are due in Ignite by April 29. After the review discussion has concluded, the manager will confirm the meeting was held, then the employee will confirm as well (in that order). Additional resources are available online. Please reach out to your HR Consultant if you have any concerns regarding your review.

Join us on April 28 from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. for information regarding Baylor's compensation practices and the staff merit process. Please register for the course which will be held via Microsoft Teams.

The Champions of Change recognition program acknowledges the accomplishments of individuals who have demonstrated efforts to foster greater appreciation and advancement of diversity, inclusiveness, and equity for communities of color at Baylor and in Waco. Nominate a champion by April 29. Learn more at this webpage.

Earlier this month we gathered to honor our faculty and staff that met a service milestone during the 2021 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.

Baylor faculty and staff along with their spouse or guest are cordially invited to attend the Celebration of R1 Achievement in recognition of their significant work. Event will take place April 25 at 5:30pm at the McLane Stadium Baylor Club. Please RSVP by April 19.

Please join us on April 20 at 12:00pm to explore your Blue Cross and Blue Shield everything wellness member portal, Well onTarget®. We will highlight all the engaging and motivating tools and resources available for you to help create your own personal wellness journey, no matter where you may be on your path to wellness. We will also walk through a live demo of the portal to show you how to begin your wellness journey and how to earn Blue Points to redeem at the online shopping mall with over a million products! Register today!

This workshop will be held at the Truett Great Hall on Tuesday, April 26 from 10:30am till 12:00pm. Register today!

Join the Baylor family in a service of prayer and worship on Friday, May 6 at 11:00am at the Truett Chapel. A complimentary luncheon for Baylor faculty and staff who attend the service will follow. 

Baylor's Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE) Office is working to identify faculty/staff who have shared identities of the student populations that they serve (i.e. student veterans, first-generation college students, etc.). The goal is to invite these faculty/staff to different events and gauge interest for potentially serving as mentors. Completion of this short survey (2 minutes or less) will help CASE in their work to create a sense of belonging and support for these students. Completing this survey does NOT commit you to anything. It only helps identify faculty/staff for sharing information on future events and volunteer opportunities.

You are invited to attend the upcoming interest meeting for the newly formed Employee Resource Group (ERG) representing Latinx Faculty and Staff on campus. This meeting will be held on April 1 from 11:30am till 1:00pm in the Penland Cafeteria Conference Room. All employees are welcome to join. The meeting will begin at noon, so come early to get lunch and meet other Latinx employees from across the University. 

During this webinar, you will learn how to maximize your hard-earned dollars and build healthy financial habits from Jean Chatzky, former NBC Today financial editor and CEO of Her Money and Heidi Johnson, Director of Behavioral Economics from Financial Health Network.

Baylor achieved the American Heart Association Gold Level Workplace Health Achievement Recognition last fall. The American Heart Association has a variety of helpful tips on staying healthy. Learn more about Nutrition Labels, getting better sleep, heart disease and stroke prevention, and how to have a healthy fridge & pantry.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that more than 90% of poisonings happen inside the home. Household cleaners and disinfectants are one of the leading causes of household poisonings. Learn more about keeping your family safe by using these tips for using and storing cleaners and disinfectants in your home.

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

Staff self-evaluations are due by next Monday, March 21. Information and resources are available at www.baylor.edu/hr/performance. Managers complete performance reviews by April 13 and there are resources available online. Additionally, HR is offering classes for managers on Writing and Discussing Staff Performance Evaluations. Sign up in Ignite.

We are excited to announce the winners for the 2021 Baylor Staff Awards. Join us in congratulating these outstanding and distinguished members of our Baylor Family for going above and beyond in their service to the University.

Baylor offers a variety of training methods to meet your needs. Use this webpage to learn more about the new Ignite Training Lab, the Ignite training website, Microsoft Teams groups, the Ignite Learning Module and Guided Learning.

This digital self-management program may help you develop a healthier lifestyle. With Well on Target, you'll get tips, techniques, and the resources you'll need to help support your wellness goals. Reach your health milestones and earn BluePoints. A mobile app for this program is also available. Learn more.

Blue365 is just one more advantage you have by being a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) member. With this program, you may save money on health and wellness products and services from top retailers that are not covered by insurance. There are no claims to file and no referrals or preauthorizations. Learn more.

See how much better life can feel with digital mental health programs from Learn to Live. You can learn new skills to break old patterns that may be holding you back. Learn to Live can help you get your mental health on track so you can feel better and enjoy life more. Watch the Learn to Live video to learn more.

Join the Baylor Department of Wellness for this special Fit & Well Challenge, beginning March 14–May 6. Challenge participants will engage in physical activities of choice at least three days per week while logging the activities on a monthly accountability calendar. Participants will receive special door prizes after completing 10 and 20 workout sessions. Optional fitness assessments will be available for all participants.

Small wins feel good and can lead to rewarding results. A new addition to our benefits offerings, Upwise from MetLife is a free financial wellness app designed for you to get the most out of your money. Personalized to your specific goals, Upwise recommends actions to complete that build positive financial momentum. Download from the App Store or Google Play today. Learn more at Upwise.com.

Congratulations to Samuel Hunt, son of Baylor employees Jeff and Jenny Hunt for being selected to the Baylor's Bright Scholarship at Vanguard College Prep School!

Baylor faculty and staff have access to numerous resources available for supporting mental health, including the Employee Assistance Program and telehealth services. Learn more.

The Bearathon is back on March 19! Race in the half marathon or the Sic 'Em 6K! Gain access to discounted pricing by registering with your Baylor email address under the "Baylor Faculty & Staff Registration" option. Proceeds support student scholarship funding.

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

You should have received an email with information to complete your annual, mandatory Title IX training. We must be intentional about building a caring Christian community in which our members feel safe, respected and supported – a commitment that lies at the core of our mission to transform lives and serve others. The deadline to complete this updated online training is Feb. 25.

Baylor faculty and staff can obtain free at-home COVID-19 tests through CVS Caremark by ordering or by visiting a CVS. Learn more about how you can get $0 cost COVID-19 at-home tests. Starting Feb. 15, 2022, at-home COVID-19 tests you purchased for yourself or your covered family members may be eligible for reimbursement. You can request your reimbursement online through your Caremark.com account – there's no need to mail anything in. There are also Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help you learn more about eligibility, the reimbursement process, and what you can expect.

Missions and Public Life is in need of Faculty or Staff team leaders for two upcoming spring break mission trips! A trip of 25 students will be traveling to Mayfield, Kentucky and a team of 50 students will be traveling to LaPlace, Louisiana to help as these communities continue to recover from natural disasters last year. The department requires that you are an approved Baylor Driver, or willing to become one, in order to transport students, plus supervise and help lead the students as they navigate comprehending the devastation to these communities as they lend a helping hand!

TIAA has 2 financial help programs available to Baylor faculty and staff - SAVI and GreenPath. Learn more about these programs and how they can help you. Register for a webinar today!

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

It's hard to save for tomorrow's goals when you're dealing with debt today. That's why TIAA is working with Baylor University to help you take advantage of debt coaching provided by the nonprofit GreenPath. Find out how you can leave the burden of debt behind at one of our upcoming webinars on Tuesday 2/15 at 11am CST and Wednesday 2/16 at 11am CST.

Exciting news! You now have access to a great tool that can help ease the burden of student debt. Not only does it help lower your monthly payment, it simplifies the process for getting student debt forgiveness. Come learn about a student debt solution that saves $1,880 a year on average. Learn more!

Thasunda Brown Duckett is CEO of TIAA, a leading provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions to millions of people working in higher education, health care and other mission-driven organizations, such as Baylor University. Mrs. Duckett joined Baylor's 2022 Spring all-staff meeting to discuss the importance of retirement planning. Watch this incredible Baylor alum and her advice for personally contributing more toward retirement. We hope you will consider the specific suggestions to actively participate in your retirement planning.

Baylor offers a multitude of resources available to help you prepare for the future. Visit the Baylor Retirement website to learn more about the importance of personally contributing toward your own retirement account and completing the Online SRA Form.

Please review the details in the Jan. 31 email from President Livingstone regarding updates to COVID-19 policies/protocols that specifically address changes to required testing and testing locations.

America Saves Week is February 21 to 25 this year. Saving enough for the future doesn't happen overnight. That's why it's so important to keep taking small steps now that can make a big difference later. To celebrate America Saves Week this year, challenge yourself to contribute an extra 2 cents on every dollar to your retirement account. That's just 2% now with the potential for a lot more in growth by the time you retire. And with pretax contributions, more money goes into your account than comes out of your paycheck. To see your take-home pay when you save more, check out this TIAA calculator.

Are you ready to invest in your retirement or begin the retirement process in 2022? Visit www.baylor.edu/hr/retirement to learn more about taking charge of your retirement. This website features updated information and navigation. Take a look today!

Today is the last day to submit any staff award nominations. If 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, please submit their nominations by 11:59pm (CT) on Feb. 1.

Did you miss the 2022 Virtual Spring Staff Meeting? No worries! We have the full recording here. Learn about University updates, accomplishments, and a valuable discussion regarding retirement investing and resources. Watch today!

With the winter weather anticipated in the Central Texas region, you are encouraged to take a few minutes to review the following preparedness tips! Learn more.

New eligible members will want to take advantage of this waived enrollment opportunity for the Fitness Program. The enrollment fee of $19 will be waived for eligible new members who sign up from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 2022.

Join a 7-week virtual discussion of the Seeing White podcast series. You can choose Wednesdays or Fridays, 12 – 1 p.m. Seeing White takes a deep dive into the history of institutional racism in America, debunks common myths and fills in gaps left by American history books. Seats limited. Register today.

This one day course based on the bestseller by Charles Duhigg and the latest science in habit formation, The Power of Habit teaches how habits work and how to master them for improved performance. Enroll in Ignite today!

The Baylor Wellness Department wants you to get FIT and have lots of FUN doing it this semester. Learn more and register today!

All members of the Baylor Group Health Plan are invited to benefit from this convenient health checkup. Everything will be sent to you, and you will review your results with a board-certified Nurse Practitioner via virtual consultation

On Thursday, Jan 13, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Biden Administration's OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) Guidelines which had required all COVID-19 unvaccinated faculty, staff and student employees to wear face coverings indoors beginning Jan. 10. With the Supreme Court's ruling, this guideline will no longer apply to unvaccinated employees as part of their Baylor employment. Please note that the University's interim policy requiring face coverings, regardless of vaccination status, continues to apply through the end of this month. Read more.

The Baylor Better Together Gathering events have been cancelled until further notice.

Consider giving back to Baylor University by supporting the Staff Endowed Scholarship. Sponsored by Staff Council, this scholarship has provided for over a dozen students since 2012 and we'd like to help even more. Thank you for your service to the University!

Blue Access for Members has a new look with new features! All Blue Cross/Blue Shield members now have access to a new digital mental health resource called “Learn to Live”. Login in at bcbstx.com.

Beginning Jan. 20, Dr. Jon Singletary will be hosting a weekly contemplative prayer group on Thursdays at 5pm in Room 321 at the downtown location of the Garland School of Social Work (811 Washington).

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!

Baylor Chapel is available online. This can be a wonderful opportunity to hear encouraging messages and gather with others virtually in your department to hear and discuss engaging reflections. Learn more.

The University will be fully open with all offices functioning this week. However, remote work will be provided as an option for staff through the remainder of the week in consultation with their supervisors. Free COVID-19 testing will be provided for staff and their dependents this Wednesday-Friday at the North Village Community Center (NVCC) from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Health Center staff will resume giving COVID vaccines, booster doses and flu shots on Jan. 12 at the NVCC vaccination clinic. All staff who are not currently in a hybrid or permanent telework arrangement will be expected to return to work on campus in-person Jan. 10, unless they are taking sick or vacation leave.

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

Spring 2022 is around the corner, please take steps now to ensure you are ready for student worker hiring. If you are needing a student to start at a specific date, please allow a 2-week processing time from the time you submit your rehire forms or when you create the offer for the student in Ignite. Graduating students will not be eligible to work after December 18. Learn more!

Baylor University has attained Gold Level recognition in the American Heart Association Workplace Health Achievement! Learn more.

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

The IRS has announced the contribution limits for retirement plans for 2022. The contribution limits for employee contributions to the Baylor Retirement Plan - 403(b) and the Baylor 457(b) Plan have been increased for the 2022 tax year. Learn more!

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.

Join your Baylor family for a service of prayer and worship on Friday, Dec. 10 at 11:00am in the Paul W. Powell Chapel at Truett Seminary. Complimentary fellowship luncheon for faculty and staff will follow.

The HHPR Department is conducting training Dec. 9 & Dec. 10 on the Hologic bone density scanner for their PhD students and are in need of volunteers to help complete requirements for certification.

Take advantage of 30% off your entire apparel & gift purchase at the Baylor Bookstore during Dec. 6 - 11. Exclusions apply, see store for details.

This summer, the Department of Campus Recreation will pilot a day camp for kids ages 6-12 years old. Faculty and Staff dependents will have the opportunity to enroll prior to non-BU families. Camp Directors and Counselors will be high energy, fun-loving Campus Rec professional staff and students. This will be a multi-activity recreation and adventure camp. If you have children ages 6-12 years please complete this very short survey.

The Museum Store is offering a 20% discount to all Baylor Faculty, Staff, and Aramark Employees on Monday, December 6.

We're excited to share that the Baylor Board of Regents approved an increase to Baylor's discretionary retirement contribution to the Baylor Retirement Plan. This change, which is effective retroactively to June 1, 2021, will increase the contribution percentage from the current rate of 8% to 10.8%. This is effective for eligible employees. Upcoming CAPTRUST meetings for free retirement financial advice available this November and December.

This is the last week to join the Baylor Family in supporting the United Way Campaign. Learn more about United Way and this year's donation challenges and weekly raffles at www.baylor.edu/hr/unitedway.

Our next quarterly update from Oracle is scheduled Friday, Nov. 19 – Sunday, Nov. 21. During the update, Ignite access and/or services will not be available. Learn more.

Baylor Health Services is offering COVID-19 vaccines, including booster shots and the pediatric Pfizer vaccine (with extended hours), to eligible employees and students, as well as spouses and dependents, at its North Village Community Center clinic. For information on Thanksgiving week testing, visit www.baylor.edu/coronavirus/testing.

Baylor's 2022 Benefits Open Enrollment period ends Nov. 2. This is your last chance for your once a year opportunity to make changes to your insurance benefits. Log into Benefitfocus and make your 2022 benefit elections today!

This morning Baylor ITS migrated the first group of faculty and staff to Microsoft Teams Calls. Through mid-December, two groups will be moved each week. You will receive an email from Baylor ITS ten days before your transition. Training is provided to each group prior to the move to Teams Calls, and immediate support is available throughout the day when your migration is complete. Visit baylor.edu/helpdesk/teamscalls for up-to-date information about the process as well as training and support resources.

Baylor SHAC, Department of Wellness, and Be Awesome Now will host a FREE “It Starts With Me: Self Care for the Busy Woman” Conference on Saturday, November 6 from 9:00am – 12:30pm at the SUB Barfield Drawing Room. Participants will also have an opportunity to attend an Exercise Band Workshop from 1:30pm - 2:45pm The workshop fee is $40/person, including an exercise band and a booklet. Learn more!

Beginning Monday, October 18, Baylor has transitioned from required twice-weekly COVID-19 testing to required once-weekly testing for students, faculty and staff who are not exempt from the testing requirements. As a reminder, exemption from weekly testing is given to faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated, have had a documented, positive COVID-19 diagnosis within the past 180 days, or are working remotely. The University will continue to re-evaluate the testing requirement. Learn more!

To raise awareness during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Baylor has contracted with The SANS Institute to provide training on best practices in cybersecurity. Log in to Ignite, select the Learning tile, locate the "Cybersecurity Awareness Training" course, and get started on the sessions. Each training module is only a few minutes long, and you are not required to complete them all in one sitting. The course must be completed by Friday, Nov. 5. Do Your Part, Bears #BeCyberSmart.

Ignite will no longer support Internet Explorer. It is recommended that you use Microsoft Edge as the default browser. Oracle also recommends Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or Mozilla Firefox. Learn more.

The Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program is looking for mentors starting immediately. LEAD is a business and education program through the Waco Chamber that connects local high school students with business leaders to foster mentoring relationships that educate and expose students to various business fields and educational opportunities in the Greater Waco area. Learn More!

Help us welcome our new faculty of color, build community across all disciplines, and celebrate this year’s Diversity Enhancement Award winner. Wednesday, October 13, 2021 from 3:00pm till 5:00pm. Register today!

Baylor Athletics has a special offer for University faculty and staff to attend Saturday's home football game against West Virginia. With the code CHAMPIONS, you can buy $10 stadium tickets or $5 berm tickets. There's also a tailgate. Learn more and buy your tickets today!

The Black Faculty and Staff Association held its Fall Kick-off event on September 22, in Truett's Great Piper Hall. This event marked the first in-person gathering for BFSA since early 2020. BFSA will hold its Fall Business Meeting on October 6 for members. To learn more about BFSA, view a list of upcoming events, or to join their membership, please visit www.baylor.edu/BFSA.

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

Passport Health will administer flu shots for ALL faculty, staff and students throughout the month of September. Register today!

7 Day Experiment is a practical guide to John C. Maxwell's 30-Day Journey to give you practical actions to try during your day to live a life of intentionality. From "Serving Your Family First" to "Surprising People with How Much They Matter," this 7 day video series will help you kick start your life of intentionality.

The University Chaplain's office is available to lead times of prayer for any department or group of staff and faculty. Please call 254.710.3517 to schedule.

Please review the updated Fall 2021 COVID-19 guidance for Faculty & Staff; including twice-weekly testing for unvaccinated.

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your skills through LinkedIn Learning which is FREE to all Baylor Faculty and Staff.

Save the date to virtually join us on September 28 at 11:30am for Baylor's 2021 Fall Staff Meeting through Zoom. Join your colleagues as we celebrate your hard work and to hear from President Livingstone, Baylor Human Resources, Staff Council, BFSA, United Way, Baylor COVID Team, and more. It's a great day to be a Bear!

Support our students! Faculty Senate and Staff Council are leading an important initiative, asking faculty and staff to give to support Baylor's food security programs such as The Store and meal scholarships. These programs directly impact students by providing a reliable source of nutritious food. Will you give to help build a dedicated source of support for our campus food programs? Give $25+ and you’ll receive a pair of Sic 'Em socks!

To celebrate and kickoff National Fire Prevention Week in Waco, Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum is partnering with the university’s Department of Public Safety, the Waco Fire Department, American Red Cross, American Medical Response and other local first responders from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. Learn more!

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

Baylor faculty, staff, and their families have access to drug and alcohol counseling and treatment resources. Additionally, this fall the Beauchamp Addiction Recovery Center is offering Naloxone Training.

Visit our Wellbeing Calendar to find virtual resources and events that focus on the 5 dimensions of wellbeing through various workshops.

BFSA will host their Fall Kickoff on Sept. 22 at 11:45am in the Truett Piper Great Hall. RSVP by Sept. 15! Learn more about BFSA membership and events. NOTE: Please know that BFSA is keeping abreast of the COVID dashboard and has created a programming plan with several health and safety measures in place. Masks are strongly encouraged while not eating or drinking.

Baylor University's pursuit of excellence through continuous improvement is achieved only by the consistent investment in our people and processes. As part of our commitment to you, it is with great excitement that Baylor Human Resources announces the upcoming launch of our new Benefits management system, BenefitfocusTM beginning this 2022 Open Enrollment Period!

Baylor Human Resources announces the upcoming launch of our new Benefits management system, BenefitfocusTM beginning this 2022 Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 19 - Nov. 2). Detailed information to be sent this Tuesday to your Baylor email.