2025-26 Provost's Scholars Present Findings and Recommendations to Provost
During their afternoon meeting on April 22, the 2025-26 cohort of Provost's Scholars presented their findings and responded to questions from Provost Nancy Brickhouse, PhD, regarding the four charges she gave them at the beginning of the year. The charges included the following:
- How to make the undergraduate experience at Baylor more global
- How to increase adoption of ForagerOne across the university to drive further undergraduate research activity
- How Baylor students are using AI, and how they might be equipped to use AI well as future leaders
- How to increase student retention and engagement, particularly in the sophomore year
The Provost's Scholars worked in groups over the academic year to research these charges and identify possible strategies to pursue as well as avenues for further exploration. The result was a combined report they presented to the provost, which she responded to with conversation and questions during their meeting.
"Thank you for your great work," Provost Brickhouse told the Provost's Scholars during the meeting. "If I had the answers to these questions, I wouldn't have brought them to you. This is more like a four- or five-year plan, and your ideas have already been very helpful."
Alongside the Provost and Provost's Scholars was the Office of Engaged Learning team, excited to see the culmination of the year's work. "We are thrilled to see the caliber of recommendations and strategies these talented students have proposed for the provost," said Andy Hogue, associate dean for engaged learning. "In offering their perspectives and expertise as student leaders to the university, they have been able to clearly contribute to the lasting improvement of the university."
Mark Richards, associate director in the Office of Engaged Learning, who helps administer the program, likewise shared his enthusiasm. "I am so proud of these students and the great ideas they have come up with. As we share these recommendations with other partners across the university, we are excited for the improvements yet to come and how they will serve many Baylor students in the future."
The recommendations and strategies are a quintessential example of the kind of work the Provost's Scholars do. Working at the direction of the Provost and alongside the Office of Engaged Learning team, Provost's Scholars respond to the strategic direction and instructions of the Provost and offer their expertise as student leaders in response. In so doing, they forge a lasting legacy as they help shape the institution for future generations of students.
To learn more about the Provost's Scholars program, click here.