Baylor Christmas/New Year’s Holidays Openings and Closings
A Christmas tree lights up Founders Mall on the Baylor University campus with the tower of Pat Neff Hall in the background. (Matthew Minard/Baylor University)
Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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Baylor University offices and most facilities will be closed during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays from Monday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. The University will reopen Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. The first day of classes for the spring semester will begin Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.
Below is holiday information about Baylor offices, facilities and public attractions.
Hurd Welcome Center/Campus Visits
The Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, and then closed for the Christmas break from Dec. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. The Hurd Welcome Center will resume normal business hours Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
Baylor Undergraduate Admissions, housed in the Hurd Welcome Center, will resume offering on-campus tours on Jan. 6, 2025, when the University returns from the holiday break. To schedule an on-campus tour beginning Jan. 6, please register here. Guests also can walk in or call at 254-710-TOUR (8687) or 1-800-BAYLOR-U, option 1-2, for assistance with on-campus tours.
During the holiday closure, prospective students and their families are welcome to take a self-guided tour by accessing the Baylor University Walking Tour, which allows visitors to see the beautiful Baylor campus at their own pace. From the comfort of their home, visitors also can discover Baylor University virtually through The College Tour, which featured Baylor in season 2 of the Amazon Prime streaming series.
End-of-Year Giving
The Baylor Office of University Advancement will be available by phone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT on Dec. 26-27 and Dec. 30-31 to process end-of-year gifts made by credit card. Please call 254-710-2561 or 800-229-5678, option 4. End-of-year online giving also is available on the Baylor giving website.
Bear Foundation offices will be closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, 2025, reopening on Jan. 6, 2025. To contact the Bear Foundation during this holiday period, please email Bear_Foundation@baylor.edu.
University Libraries
Baylor Libraries, including Moody and Jones libraries and Special Collections libraries, will be closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 5, 2025. Libraries will reopen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 6, 2025. Please see the Libraries’ calendar for specific opening hours and dates leading up to the first day of spring semester classes on Jan. 21, 2025.
For Law Library hours, please visit the Baylor Law School website.
Campus Dining
The Food Court in the SUB, Starbucks at Moody Memorial Library and Varsity Coffee & Soda in the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 5, 2025, reopening Jan. 6, 2025.
Residential dining halls are closed during the holidays. Penland Crossroads will reopen starting Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m., then resume breakfast, lunch and dinner that week. Please check the Baylor Eats website for updated hours for residential dining in 2025.
Penland Market will be open with reduced hours during the winter break. Please check the Baylor Eats website for dates and hours of operations.
The Store, Baylor’s on-campus food pantry located on the first floor of the Paul L. Foster Success Center, will be open through Dec. 20 during normal operating hours. The Store will be closed from Dec. 21 and reopens Jan. 13.
Bill Daniel Student Center
The Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB) will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 5, 2025, reopening Jan. 6 during normal operating hours.
McLane Student Life Center
The McLane Student Life Center will be closed for the semester break from Dec. 21 to Jan. 12, 2025. The SLC will reopen Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and resume regular hours on Jan. 21.
Museums
The Mayborn Museum will be closed Dec. 24-25, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025, but otherwise open to the public during its regular hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The Martin Museum of Art in the Hooper-Schafer Fine Arts Center will be closed beginning Dec. 23 and will reopen Jan. 7, 2025.
Baylor Athletics
Over the holidays, Baylor women’s and men’s basketball will play several games in the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion, including Big 12 home openers:
- Dec. 18 – WBB vs. Utah Tech – 11 a.m.
- Dec. 27 – MBB vs. Arlington Baptist – 6 p.m.
- Dec. 31 – MBB vs. Utah – 1 p.m.
- Jan. 1, 2025 – WBB vs. Oklahoma State – 3 p.m.
- Jan. 4, 2025 – WBB vs. Colorado – 2 p.m.
- Jan. 7, 2025 – MBB vs Cincinnati – 7 p.m.
In addition, Baylor Football will play LSU at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston.
For more information, visit the Baylor Athletics website.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.