News - 2025

East Texas Baptist University hosted its 15th annual Great East Texas Hymn Sing on Friday, September 12, at Baker Chapel in the Rogers Spiritual Life Center. Hundreds of participants, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and churches from across East Texas and neighboring states, joined for an afternoon of worship, fellowship, and a shared celebration of Christian faith. This year’s Hymn Sing coincided with Family Weekend on the Hill, presenting a special opportunity for Tiger families to join in the tradition with students.

East Texas Baptist University held its annual Convocation Chapel service on Wednesday, September 10, welcoming students, faculty, and staff into Baker Chapel for a time of worship, prayer, and commissioning to officially launch the 2025-2026 academic year. Retired U.S. Navy Captain and retired NASA Astronaut Captain Barry E. “Butch” Wilmore delivered the keynote address to the campus community and friends of the University.

East Texas Baptist University welcomes a record-breaking 1,944 undergraduate and graduate students for the Fall 2025. The achievement marks the largest enrollment in the University’s history. This exciting milestone reflects ETBU’s dedication to providing a Christ-centered education that that equips students to live out their purpose for the glory of God.

East Texas Baptist University celebrated the grand opening of the William B. Dean, M.D. Center for Language and Literacy Development with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Synergy Park in downtown Marshall. ETBU faculty, staff, students, and community members gathered Friday afternoon to dedicate the new clinic, which began serving clients on Monday, August 25.

Following summer experiences around the globe, new and returning East Texas Baptist University students arrived on campus for the August Mini-Term, Move-In Day, Tiger Camp, and the start of the 2025-2026 academic year on August 18.

Each year, ETBU faculty, staff, and students come together to welcome incoming freshmen and transfer students by lending a helping hand on Move-In Day. This year was no different, as they gathered at each residence hall, greeted new students and their families, and helped lift moving boxes, big and small, up to each student's room.