Strengthening the Baylor Line

“That Good Old Baylor Line” — Baylor University’s school song, or alma mater, since 1931 — has been proudly sung by generations of Baylor students and alumni. We all know its melody and words by heart. We love raising our hands and lifting our voices, mostly in tune, at a wide variety of events, from pep rallies and football games to Homecoming and Commencement.

A powerful metaphor lies at the core of our school song’s meaning — the unbroken line of Baylor graduates that began in the mid-1850s and has extended across the hills and valleys of time to our entering first-year students who will form this year’s green-and-gold-clad Baylor Line.

The strength of Baylor University, and the unifying element running through the members of this metaphorical Baylor Line, is our commitment to our students. We are tirelessly committed to providing all our students with a transformational education — one that develops their leadership potential, deepens their faith and beliefs, increases their desire for wisdom, and prepares them for service in a global society.

In short, we strive for nothing less than equipping our students with the knowledge and vision necessary to change the world.

A caring community

This transformational experience begins the moment we learn an individual has chosen Baylor to become home for the next stage of his or her education.

Once that transformation from prospective student to Baylor Bear has occurred, we begin warmly welcoming a new member of the Baylor Family and investing in that student’s success.

Sometimes this process begins with a celebration close to home at a send-off party. Baylor hosts such gatherings at locations across the country to connect incoming students and parents with returning students, parents and alumni. Making new friends and getting answers to questions is a great way to begin the Baylor journey. 

During the summer before their first semester at Baylor, new students can take advantage of a range of opportunities to connect with each other and Baylor through our New Student Programs, offered through the Division of Student Life. We have found that these experiences foster belonging and excitement for new students and inspire them to take ownership of their personal Baylor story.

One such program will be familiar to many generations of Baylor alumni — Welcome Week. Over the years, we have made some changes to this traditional welcome to the Baylor campus, held in the days immediately preceding the fall semester, but the overall experience has remained the same. Students join together for a fun and meaningful series of events that provide opportunities for friendship, connection to Baylor and introduction to the Waco community, including local church congregations.

Preparing students for success

Before Welcome Week, however, our new students are invited to participate in New Student Orientation and Baylor Line Camp. Both of these successful programs have developed into important stepping-stones that help new students transition to Baylor.

A two-day program offered during the months of June and July, Orientation is designed to help new first-year and transfer students discover the incredible opportunities and experiences awaiting them as Baylor Bears. In addition to meeting classmates, new students are guided through a sequence of sessions and events that help them learn more about the University’s faith foundation and the caring community they are becoming a part of. Students connect with faculty in their chosen majors, get to know their academic departments and obtain those all-important student ID cards, while parents learn about resources and services that help them support their students.

After Orientation, our new students can remain on campus for three more days to participate in Baylor Line Camp. During this extended experience, students deepen their understanding of Baylor’s distinct Christian mission, forge new friendships and get more familiar with our campus. They also connect with beloved Baylor traditions, run the Baylor Line for the first time and learn the cheers and chants they will do at sporting events during the upcoming year.

One of the memorable highlights of Line Camp is a bus trip to Independence, Texas, where Baylor’s first campus was located. After learning about the University’s beginnings and enjoying a meal together, students receive their Baylor Line jersey during a solemn ceremony at the four remaining stone columns belonging to one of Baylor’s original buildings.

Measurable results

In addition to giving new students the chance to have some fun, we provide an opportunity for them to get a jump start on earning their degrees through the Summer of Discovery program.

This initiative, which we launched three years ago, offers tuition-discounted courses across multiple summer sessions. Taught by our outstanding Baylor faculty, the courses are available online or in person for current, transfer or first-year students. For both groups, taking advantage of the Summer of Discovery is a great way to make significant progress toward graduation while saving some money.

This constellation of programs for new students — variously focused on social, spiritual practical and academic needs — has borne fruit over the years. In fact, we have found that new students who attended Baylor Line Camp reported a greater sense of belonging and connection during their first semester compared to those who did not participate in that program.

Additionally, the odds of returning for their second year at Baylor were greater for students who attended Baylor Line Camp than for those who did not. Even more significantly, students who participated in Baylor Line Camp had greater success in graduating in four years than non-participating students.

Helping students make connections to fellow students and gain awareness about the many resources available to them on campus is part of our comprehensive commitment to student success. Our students are the heart of Baylor University, and we want to do everything we can to nurture their growth during their years here and to prepare them to be successful graduates and continue Baylor’s impact in the world — extending That Good Old Baylor Line.

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
Baylor University President