Prospective Students & Families
Welcome is key to finding where you belong, and the Hurd Welcome Center plays a large role in making Baylor feel like home for prospective students and their families.
From the moment a prospective student enters the Hurd Welcome Center with their family, they embark on a full interactive experience. The space boasts state-of-the-art technology that connects students with a picture of what it means to be a Baylor Bear.
Upon arrival in Carlton Hall, prospective students check in for their Campus Visit at the John Cheng Welcome Desk, named for the late John Cheng, B.A. ’91, whose heroic actions helped subdue and restrain a gunman in a 2021 California mass shooting attempt. From there, they are encouraged — if they don’t make a beeline for it first — to explore the interactive experiences within the interior of each of the four columns. The columns inspire participants to reflect on where they are at the beginning of their college journey, connect with the experiences of current Baylor students, dream big with aspirations of their future and see how alumni are amplifying Baylor’s mission with their global impact.
The Hurd Center serves as a launching point for campus tours. The Fudge Family Auditorium facilitates a deeper introduction to the Baylor experience before students and their families are greeted by student tour guides. Then, they board golf carts to take in the expansive beauty of campus. The Hurd Center has still more to offer, though. Students return from the campus tour to the Hurd Welcome Center to collect swag from the Spirit Shop and a drink from Varsity Coffee and Soda.
On the floor level of Carlton Hall are rooms for prospective students to end their tour with a conversation with an Admissions Counselor to answer any remaining questions. These spaces provide a quiet place to discuss the admissions process and also meet with financial aid professionals. At the end, students walk away with a clear idea of what it would be like to be a student at Baylor.
Alumni
The McLane Family Alumni Center is a dedicated space for Baylor alumni to connect and learn about alumni programming across that helps them engage with Bears in their hometowns.
The Hurd Welcome Center is multi-functional for returning Bears. With the alumni-dedicated rooms on the second floor, there are meeting spaces for groups of all sizes, from smaller gatherings in seminar rooms all the way up to very large groups in the ballroom. These break-out rooms revolve around a homey space very much like a living room with couches and a balcony.
Baylor Alumni staff have offices in the space, and they look forward to connecting with alumni returning home. Alumni and friends of all ages may drop in or arrive by appointment in the Alumni Center to meet with a member of our Baylor Alumni, Parent Engagement or Advancement teams. Enjoy a quiet conversation and grab a cold Dr Pepper in the Randy and Myra Pullin Living Room as you reconnect with friends, learn more about the impact of our University around the world and find new ways to connect to the Baylor Family in your area.
Current Students
With its expansive and welcoming Carlton Hall outfitted with comfortable seating and small tables, the Hurd Welcome Center is equipped to support students studying for exams, working together on group projects, or simply needing a break for a cup of Peet’s Coffee or a trip to the Baylor Spirit Shop.
Baylor’s AirBear wifi system offers the same internet access in the Hurd Center as is found in other campus buildings and residential facilities.
Student groups looking for a meeting space may also find a good fit in one of the meeting rooms that may be reserved throughout the facility. Once approved through the Student Life Connect system, organizations may request meeting space through the EPIC System.