Self-driving cars (and other vehicles) are quickly moving from science fiction to present reality. As such technologies leap from research labs to roadways, Baylor’s Dr. Liang Sun is focused on what comes next.
Sun is a leading researcher on autonomous transportation, developing technologies that could power future air taxis, autonomous aircraft, intelligent drone networks and more.
About a decade ago, Baylor set out to complete major renovations of each of its legacy residence halls. Each would go offline for a year, during which time it would receive a head-to-toe update.
That project is now complete. The new-look Kokernot Residence Hall was unveiled at the start of the semester, just in time for Move2BU. The renovation was extensive, including updates to all bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas, revamped community spaces (both inside and outside the building), plus a new roof, new landscaping, and more.
Baylor once again stands among the nation’s top 50 private universities and top 100 national universities, according to new U.S. News rankings for 2026-27.
Baylor ranks No. 48 among private colleges and universities, and No. 90 among national universities (both public and private). For context, that puts BU at the top of the Big 12 for the third straight year, tied with TCU and ahead of Colorado (No. 109), BYU and Iowa State (tied at 116), and the rest of the conference. Baylor is again a top-five university in Texas, along with Rice, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU and TCU.
Can you believe it? Baylor Homecoming is already just a month away — Nov. 2-7 — so it’s time to make your plans to join the nation’s oldest collegiate homecoming (if you haven’t already)!
Here’s a round-up of what you’ll want to work into your schedule:
Since 1962, Howdy has served as Baylor’s official Texas welcome to new students. With the opening of the Hurd Welcome Center in 2023, the event — presented by Pi Beta Phi and Baylor University — has evolved into a Friday night block party outside the Hurd, anchored each year by a concert from an up-and-coming country artist.
This year’s event featured line dancing, food trucks, a Ferris wheel, cornhole and more on Friday night, topped off with a concert by CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Carter Faith. (Faith followed in the footsteps of such other recent Howdy performers as Bailey Zimmerman and Ty Myers.)
Earlier this month, Baylor University asked on Facebook and LinkedIn: “Which Baylor professor changed the way you thought about your future?”
Nearly 2,000 (!!) comments later, the impact Baylor faculty have on students is evident in both the quantity and quality of the responses.
Baylor’s rise as a nationally recognized Christian research university continues to attract exceptional scholars, teachers and innovators from across the country and around the world. This fall, a new cohort of faculty — think of them as the Class of ’26 — joined the Baylor Family, bringing expertise that ranges from quantum materials and artificial intelligence to bioethics and sports nutrition.
It’s impossible to spotlight everyone, but meet four of these new faculty members who offer a glimpse into the people choosing Baylor to begin, continue or grow their careers:
Baylor has always been about family — so it was a joy to welcome thousands of BU parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and more to campus this past weekend for Family Weekend 2026.
From the new “Wake Up!” coffee crawl, “Meet the Faculty” Welcome Hour, Taste of Waco, After Dark, and Old Dominion concert on Friday, and on through the Family Tailgate and Baylor Football’s win Saturday, the weekend was a joyful celebration of our Bears and their biggest fans.