Baylor University
Encyclopedia
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas
. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Association meeting voted to adopt the suggestion of Reverend William Milton Tryon and R.E.B. Baylor
to establish a Baptist University in Texas. Baylor, a Texas district judge
and onetime U.S. Congressman
and soldier from Alabama
, became the school's namesake.
In the fall of 1844, the Texas Baptist Education Society petitioned the Congress of the Republic of Texas
to charter a Baptist university. Republic President Anson Jones
signed the Act of Congress on February 1, 1845, officially establishing Baylor University. The founders built the original university campus in Independence, Texas
. Reverend James Huckins, who had been the first Southern Baptist missionary
to Texas, was Baylor's first full-time fund-raiser. He is considered the third founding father of the university. Although these three men are credited as being the founders of the university, many others worked to see the first university established in Texas and thus they were awarded Baylor's Founders Medal. The famous Texas revolutionary war leader and hero Sam Houston
gave the first $5,000 donation to start the University. In 1854, Houston was also baptized by the Rev. Rufus Columbus Burleson
, future Baylor President, in the Brazos River.
In 1851, Baylor's second president Rufus Columbus Burleson
decided to separate the students by gender, making the Baylor Female College an independent and separate institution. Baylor University became an all-male institution. During this time Baylor thrived as the only university west of the Mississippi offering instruction in both the law, mathematics, and medicine. Many of the early leaders of the Republic of Texas, such as Sam Houston, would send their children to Baylor to be educated. Some of those early students were, Temple Lea Houston, son of President Sam Houston
, a famous western gun-fighter and attorney. Along with Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross famous Confederate General and later President of Texas A&M University
.
During the American Civil War
, the Baylor president was George Washington Baines
, maternal great-grandfather of the future U.S. President
, Lyndon Baines Johnson
. Baines was also later a trustee
of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Baines would fight hard to keep the university operating during the terrible struggles of the civil war while the male students were enrolled in the Confederate Army serving Texas in various military campaigns throughout the War . After the war and during the late nineteenth century, the city of Independence began suffering a slow decline, due primarily because of the rise of neighboring cities serviced by the Santa Fe Railroad. Because of the fact that Independence lacked a railroad line, University fathers decided to begin searching for other more viable locations to build a new campus.
Beginning in 1885, Baylor University moved to Waco, Texas
, a growing town on the railroad line. It merged with a local college Waco University, where Baylor's former second president, Rufus Burleson, was serving at the time as the local college president. That same year, the Baylor Female College decided to also move to a new location and chose the city of Belton, Texas
to be its new home. It later became known as the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
. A Baylor College Park still exists in Independence in memory of the college's history there. Around 1887, Baylor University began readmitting women and became coeducational again.
In 1900, three physicians founded the "University of Dallas Medical Department", in Dallas
, although a university by that name did not exist. In 1903, Baylor University acquired the medical school, which became known as the Baylor College of Medicine
, while remaining in Dallas.
In 1943, Dallas civic leaders wanted to build larger facilities for the university in a new medical center, but only if the College of Medicine would surrender its denominational alliances with the Baptist state convention. The Baylor administration refused the offer. With funding from the M. D. Anderson Foundation
and others, Baylor moved the College of Medicine to Houston
.
During World War II
, Baylor was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program
which offered students a path to a Navy commission.
After passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
, the university was desegregated. In 1969, the Baylor College of Medicine became technically independent from Baylor University. They still maintain close ties.
Baylor University and the Baylor College of Medicine have an agreement that provides for some Baylor undergraduates to be accepted to Baylor College of Medicine. Talks are underway to strengthen the affiliation between the two institutions, although a formal merger is under consideration.
In the late twentieth century, the Southern Baptist Convention had a major controversy between conservative Baptists and liberal/moderate Baptists. Conservative Baptists achieved control of the organization and replaced officials of many agencies. Similar actions took place in many state conventions as well.
Concerned about potential effects on its governance
, in 1991 Baylor University gained authorization by the Texas legislature
to change the terms of its charter
. It established a governance less directly dependent upon the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which administration was feared to follow suit with the Southern Baptist Convention. The state convention continues to elect one-quarter of the members of Baylor's Board of Regents.
ranked the university 75th out of 262 national universities. Baylor is the only private university that participates in the Big 12 Conference.
Baylor's 2009-2010 acceptance rate was 48%. According to The Princeton Review
, Baylor was ranked a Best Western College. In addition, The Princeton Review ranked Baylor 2nd for marketing programs. Recently Baylor received one of the largest collegiate donations in American history when an anonymous donor gifted $200 million dollars to the university. There have also been other donations that are well above the million dollar mark.
The university first received school accreditation in 1914 when it became an accredited member of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
. The Baylor College of Medicine received accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1970.
The university is divided into eleven degree-granting academic units. Two of the units are designated as colleges, while eight others are designated as schools. They are:
Additionally, the George W. Truett Theological Seminary
is a unit of the university.
(Note: While Rufus C. Burleson served as Baylor's President twice, he is counted only once in the presidential count. This makes Reddin Andrews the fifth president and Oscar Henry Cooper the sixth president. Additionally, the interim presidents are not counted in the presidential count.)
students in 151 baccalaureate programs, 76 masters, 30 doctoral, and 2 Educational Specialist programs, for a total of around 15,000 students. Baylor also has 201 students in Baylor/U.S. Army affiliated graduate degree programs. Baylor enrollment includes students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and approximately 85 foreign countries. Baylor is among the 10% of US colleges and universities to have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
Baylor offers several choices for on-campus living. As part of Vision 2012, Baylor strives to have at least 50% of students living on campus. Due to the rapid growth of the university, Baylor cannot keep up with the construction projects needed to accommodate the entire student body citation needed.
As of 2010, the university offers seven dormitories for incoming freshmen, and eleven dormitories in all. In addition to the dormitories, Baylor owns and operates four co-ed apartment complexes on the campus that are available for upperclassmen citation needed.
Baylor students have fought in every major military action ever undertaken by the United States. Including both WWI and WWII, along with the Vietnam War and the current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Baylor students also served as soldiers in the Texas revolution and during the Civil War as part of the Confederate armies.
Baylor has had several famous military graduates such as Andrew Jackson Lummus, Jr. (October 22, 1915–March 8, 1945) who was a two-sport athlete at Baylor University, a professional football player with the New York Giants, and an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He fought, and died, at the Battle of Iwo Jima
during World War II and received the Medal of Honor for his service.
John Riley Kane, also a Baylor man received the medal of honor for his service as well. He flew 43 combat missions for a total of 250 combat hours in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Kane commanded the 98th Bombardment Group, a B-24 Liberator unit nicknamed the "Pyramiders", and his daring operations caused German intelligence reports to dub him "Killer Kane".
In July 1948, the Air Force and Baylor University partnered in the creation of Air Force ROTC Detachment 810 - one of the first detachments ever created.
In 2008, Detachment 810 was awarded the Air Force ROTC Right Of Line Award as the #1 large detachment in the nation. In addition the unit was awarded the High Flight Award recognizing it as one of the top four detachments in America, and the best in the AFROTC Southwest Region for 1996, 2003, and 2008.
, which began as the DAPs, was the first national sorority to be colonized on Baylor's campus in 1976. Most of the national fraternities on campus had existed previously as local fraternities for many years before affiliating with their National organizations. These local fraternities or secret societies had various names and had different regalia and traditions. These groups took names such as: Taurus, Circle K, Tryon Coterie, Raiders, and PAE. Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s these locals began to affiliate with national fraternities. The first local to go national was Phi Delta Theta
in 1976, soon followed by SigEp in the fall of '76. Several others would follow soon after in the spring of 1977. The rest would charter at later dates over the next decade and a half. Fraternities and Sororities are very active all year with various service events, mixers, football tailgates, formals, out of town weekends, and all university sing. Fraternities and Sororities also usually team up with one another in the fall to build large extensive parade floats for the oldest homecoming parade in the nation at Baylor university, the practice was started in 1907.
IFC Fraternities (Traditional National Fraternities)
No Longer Active but Previous Chapters at Baylor:
NPC Sororities (Traditional National Sororities)
No Longer Active but Previous Chapter at Baylor:
NPHC Fraternities (Historic African American Fraternal groups)
NPHC Sororities (Historic African American Sorority groups)
Local Fraternities (Only Exist at Baylor - No National chapters)
Local Sororities (Only Exists at Baylor - No National Chapters)
Unlike most universities which allow "Greek systems", Baylor does not permit fraternities to have their own residences or fraternity houses.
(CDF) collaboration at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois
. The project is one of the world's largest experimental physics
collaborations.
In 2006, the Carnegie Foundation
upgraded the university's classification
to "Research University" status with "High Research Activity," opening the door to many new research opportunities.
In October 2009, a group of state, county and city governments and organizations and higher educational institutions in Central Texas
announced the creation of the Central Texas Technology and Research Park, and the park's first project, the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative
(BRIC) to be housed in the former General Tire
facility on South Loop Drive in Waco. Funding for the effort comes from the state of Texas and from Baylor University. Clifton Robinson donated the former General Tire facility to Baylor University to support the research collaborative.
Several former and present faculty at Baylor are involved in the intelligent design
debate, most notably philosopher William Dembski, now at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
, Christian philosopher Francis Beckwith, and electrical engineer Robert J. Marks II
.
The university's endowment
passed $1 billion in 2007 and reached $1,055,478,000 on December 31, 2007. Despite the economic crisis of 2008, Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman reported that Baylor's endowment grew 5.1% in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008; the National Association of College and University Business Officials estimated that during that same period, the median return for the top 25% of college endowments decreased by 2.2%. Fogleman cited the university's long-term investments and diversified holdings as the cause of the endowment's recent success. As of December 2008, the Baylor endowment totaled less than $1 billion, down from a May high of $1.06 billion. A consulting firm hired by the university expressed concern that the disagreements within the Baylor community could hinder the endowment from continuing its four-year streak of increased endowment donation totals and its 2012 goal of a $2 billion endowment, though the current economy may also prevent both.
On March 4, 2010 "An anonymous longtime Baylor donor. . . set up an estate provision that will benefit the school to the tune of an estimated $200 million dollars. The gift will bolster Baylor's research on the issues of aging in multiple disciplines at the school". Citing the most recent data reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Baylor officials say the $200 million donation is the second-largest gift to a Texas college or university and ranks among the top 20 private gifts to higher education institutions in the country.
On September 15, 2010, Honorable Kenneth Starr stated he had no interest in sitting on the United States Supreme Court, well known for the successful prosecution and impeachment of former United States President Bill Clinton, Judge Kenneth Starr, now President of Baylor University, announced "How Extraordinary the Stories: The President's Scholarship Initiative".
The goal of the project is to raise $100 million for student scholarship endowment by the end of May 2013 as an immediate goal in lessening the financial burden on current and future Baylor students. Judge Starr and his wife, Alice, donated $100,000 of their money to project. More than 80% of Baylor University students receive financial assistance, but there is a need to do more. Judge Starr is grateful that Baylor has grown and prospered, but in recent years tuition levels have continued to rise significantly, “As a moral imperative, we must address the fundamental question of the rapidly escalating cost of higher education,” he said. The hope is that this ambitious program will engage the alumni family to contribute to President’s Scholarship Initiative.
's Division I.
Baylor was a charter member of the Southwest Conference and remained a member until its dissolution in 1996. Baylor is now a member of the Big 12 Conference along with former SWC members Texas
, Texas A&M
, and Texas Tech
. Baylor has 42 Big XII conference titles, primarily in men's and women's tennis (31 total). These 42 titles place Baylor in sixth place among Big XII member schools, behind Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State.
Baylor has won two NCAA
titles. In 2004, the men's tennis team defeated UCLA in the championship match. In 2005, the Baylor Lady Bears basketball
team beat Michigan State in the championship game.
Baylor was the only private school in the current incarnation of what is now known as the Big 12 Conference, which as the Big Eight Conference
had several private schools as members. However, in 1928, the private schools were kicked out of the conference, and no private school joined until 1996, when Baylor was added. Baylor will be joined by Texas Christian University
as a private school in the Big 12 starting in 2012. TCU was also a member of the Southwest Conference before 1996.
" and they became generally accepted among the student body as the school fight song
. However, in 1931, Enid Eastland Markham, wife of music professor Robert Markham, feeling the words were not dignified enough nor representative of the total University, wrote new lyrics which were presented in chapel in November and soon sanctioned as the official school song. The Good Old Summer Time tune was later arranged to fit Mrs. Markham's "Baylor Line" through the work of Jack Goode, Donald I. Moore and Charles F. Brown.
organizes the event which consists of entertainment of all types. Events on campus include: tug-o-war, free food, dog shows and concerts.
, Texas. Ten members of the traveling party were killed and many others were injured in the accident. Each year at homecoming the story of the Immortal Ten is told again to the new freshman class at the Freshman Mass Meeting. The names of the ten are called out. In 1996, the senior class provided initial funding to create and place an Immortal Ten statue on campus. Fund raising and discussions about where to place the statues continued off and on over the ensuing years. Finally, on June 22, 2007, the statues were unveiled. The Immortal Ten memorial was officially dedicated during the 2007 Baylor Homecoming on November 2 in Traditions Square.
. Baylor University houses two live American black bears on campus. They are named Judge Joy Reynolds and Judge Sue Sloan, affectionately referred to as "Joy" and "Lady", respectively. In the fall of 2005, the university finished renovation and construction of the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, a $1 million facility which includes a thirteen-foot (four-metre) waterfall, three pools, two dens, grass, and eye-level viewing. The facility is a United States Department of Agriculture
- licensed Class C Zoo
. It was formally dedicated on October 28, 2005.
, Cyrus Baylor, brother of R.E.B. Baylor, was cited for his bravery with the presentation of a gold sword by President Jackson. In 1957 it was given to the university. In 1974, Baylor president Abner V. McCall suggested that the sword be used to form the focal point of a ceremonial "symbol of authority". A timber from one of Old Main's towers was used to construct a base and center pole. Walking canes of former Baylor President Rufus C. Burleson and General Sam Houston, who had been baptized by Burleson and had been a supporter of the university, were linked to the sword to form the Mace. It is used at all university commencement exercises and at other special ceremonies.
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
History
In 1841, 35 delegates to the Union BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Association meeting voted to adopt the suggestion of Reverend William Milton Tryon and R.E.B. Baylor
Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor
Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor was a Kentucky native who later moved to Alabama and then Texas. Baylor was also the nephew of Kentucky politician Jesse Bledsoe....
to establish a Baptist University in Texas. Baylor, a Texas district judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and onetime U.S. Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and soldier from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, became the school's namesake.
In the fall of 1844, the Texas Baptist Education Society petitioned the Congress of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
to charter a Baptist university. Republic President Anson Jones
Anson Jones
Anson Jones was a doctor, businessman, congressman, the fourth and last President of the Republic of Texas, sometimes called the "Architect of Annexation."- Early life :...
signed the Act of Congress on February 1, 1845, officially establishing Baylor University. The founders built the original university campus in Independence, Texas
Independence, Texas
Independence is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Texas, United States. Located twelve miles northeast of Brenham, it was founded in 1835 in Austin's colony of Anglo Americans. It became a Baptist religious and educational center of the Republic of Texas...
. Reverend James Huckins, who had been the first Southern Baptist missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Texas, was Baylor's first full-time fund-raiser. He is considered the third founding father of the university. Although these three men are credited as being the founders of the university, many others worked to see the first university established in Texas and thus they were awarded Baylor's Founders Medal. The famous Texas revolutionary war leader and hero Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
gave the first $5,000 donation to start the University. In 1854, Houston was also baptized by the Rev. Rufus Columbus Burleson
Rufus Columbus Burleson
Rufus Columbus Burleson was the President of Baylor University from 1851 to 1861, and again from 1886 to 1897.-Biography:Rufus Columbus Burleson was born on August 7, 1823 close to Decatur, Alabama...
, future Baylor President, in the Brazos River.
Rufus Columbus Burleson
Rufus Columbus Burleson was the President of Baylor University from 1851 to 1861, and again from 1886 to 1897.-Biography:Rufus Columbus Burleson was born on August 7, 1823 close to Decatur, Alabama...
decided to separate the students by gender, making the Baylor Female College an independent and separate institution. Baylor University became an all-male institution. During this time Baylor thrived as the only university west of the Mississippi offering instruction in both the law, mathematics, and medicine. Many of the early leaders of the Republic of Texas, such as Sam Houston, would send their children to Baylor to be educated. Some of those early students were, Temple Lea Houston, son of President Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
, a famous western gun-fighter and attorney. Along with Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross famous Confederate General and later President of Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Baylor president was George Washington Baines
George Washington Baines
George Washington Baines, Sr. , a maternal great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson , was a Baptist clergyman in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas who served briefly as natural science professor and President of Baylor University at its first location in Independence in Washington...
, maternal great-grandfather of the future U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Lyndon Baines Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. Baines was also later a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Baines would fight hard to keep the university operating during the terrible struggles of the civil war while the male students were enrolled in the Confederate Army serving Texas in various military campaigns throughout the War . After the war and during the late nineteenth century, the city of Independence began suffering a slow decline, due primarily because of the rise of neighboring cities serviced by the Santa Fe Railroad. Because of the fact that Independence lacked a railroad line, University fathers decided to begin searching for other more viable locations to build a new campus.
Beginning in 1885, Baylor University moved to Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, a growing town on the railroad line. It merged with a local college Waco University, where Baylor's former second president, Rufus Burleson, was serving at the time as the local college president. That same year, the Baylor Female College decided to also move to a new location and chose the city of Belton, Texas
Belton, Texas
Belton is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County.Belton is part of the Killeen – Temple – Fort Hood metropolitan area.-Geography:...
to be its new home. It later became known as the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, generally referred to as UMHB, is a Christian co-educational liberal arts institution of higher learning located in Belton, Texas, United States. Founded by the Republic of Texas in 1845 as "Baylor Female College," it has grown to approximately 2,700 students...
. A Baylor College Park still exists in Independence in memory of the college's history there. Around 1887, Baylor University began readmitting women and became coeducational again.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, although a university by that name did not exist. In 1903, Baylor University acquired the medical school, which became known as the Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
, while remaining in Dallas.
In 1943, Dallas civic leaders wanted to build larger facilities for the university in a new medical center, but only if the College of Medicine would surrender its denominational alliances with the Baptist state convention. The Baylor administration refused the offer. With funding from the M. D. Anderson Foundation
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers established by the National Cancer Act of 1971. It is both a degree-granting academic institution and a cancer treatment and research center located at the Texas Medical Center in...
and others, Baylor moved the College of Medicine to Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Baylor was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program
V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
which offered students a path to a Navy commission.
After passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
, the university was desegregated. In 1969, the Baylor College of Medicine became technically independent from Baylor University. They still maintain close ties.
Baylor University and the Baylor College of Medicine have an agreement that provides for some Baylor undergraduates to be accepted to Baylor College of Medicine. Talks are underway to strengthen the affiliation between the two institutions, although a formal merger is under consideration.
Concerned about potential effects on its governance
Governance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
, in 1991 Baylor University gained authorization by the Texas legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
to change the terms of its charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
. It established a governance less directly dependent upon the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which administration was feared to follow suit with the Southern Baptist Convention. The state convention continues to elect one-quarter of the members of Baylor's Board of Regents.
Rankings
In 2011, U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
ranked the university 75th out of 262 national universities. Baylor is the only private university that participates in the Big 12 Conference.
Baylor's 2009-2010 acceptance rate was 48%. According to The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The Princeton Review operates in 41 states and 22 countries across the globe. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college...
, Baylor was ranked a Best Western College. In addition, The Princeton Review ranked Baylor 2nd for marketing programs. Recently Baylor received one of the largest collegiate donations in American history when an anonymous donor gifted $200 million dollars to the university. There have also been other donations that are well above the million dollar mark.
The university first received school accreditation in 1914 when it became an accredited member of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
. The Baylor College of Medicine received accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1970.
Graduate Rankings
Several Baylor graduate programs, including its Law School, Hankamer School of Business and programs in the sciences and education are nationally ranked.Institutional organization
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Hankamer School of Business
- Honors College
- School of Education
- School of Engineering and Computer Science
- Graduate School
- Law SchoolBaylor Law SchoolFounded in 1857, Baylor Law School is the oldest law school in Texas and has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1931 and a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1938. Baylor Law School is affiliated with Baylor University and located in Waco, Texas...
- Louise Herrington School of Nursing
- School of Music
- School of Social Work
Additionally, the George W. Truett Theological Seminary
George W. Truett Theological Seminary
George W. Truett Theological Seminary is a Baptist theological seminary in Waco, Texas. The seminary, named after Southern Baptist preacher George Washington Truett, was founded in 1993 as part of Baylor University.-History:...
is a unit of the university.
Presidents
During its more than 160 years of history, Baylor has had 14 presidents, whose leadership has shaped the growth of the institution (Interim presidents are noted):- 1846–1851 — Henry Lee GravesHenry Lee GravesHenry Lee Graves was the President of Baylor University from 1846 to 1851.-Biography:Henry Lee Graves was born in Yanceyville, North Carolina in 1813. From 1931 to 1935, he attended the University of North Carolina...
- 1851–1861 — Rufus Columbus BurlesonRufus Columbus BurlesonRufus Columbus Burleson was the President of Baylor University from 1851 to 1861, and again from 1886 to 1897.-Biography:Rufus Columbus Burleson was born on August 7, 1823 close to Decatur, Alabama...
- 1861–1863 — George Washington BainesGeorge Washington BainesGeorge Washington Baines, Sr. , a maternal great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson , was a Baptist clergyman in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas who served briefly as natural science professor and President of Baylor University at its first location in Independence in Washington...
- 1864–1885 — William Carey CraneWilliam Carey CraneWilliam Carey Crane was the President of Baylor University from 1864 to 1885.-Biography:William Carey Crane was born in Richmond, Virginia, on March 17, 1816. He attended the Mount Pleasant Classical Institute in Amherst, Massachusetts and Virginia Baptist Seminary, now known as Richmond College...
- 1885–1886 — Reddin AndrewsReddin AndrewsReddin Andrews was the President of Baylor University from 1885 to 1886.-Biography:Reddin Andrews was born in La Grange, Texas, on January 18, 1848. He fought in the Confederacy as a scout and a courier during the American Civil War. In 1871, he graduated from Baylor University as a valedictorian...
- 1886–1897 — Rufus Columbus BurlesonRufus Columbus BurlesonRufus Columbus Burleson was the President of Baylor University from 1851 to 1861, and again from 1886 to 1897.-Biography:Rufus Columbus Burleson was born on August 7, 1823 close to Decatur, Alabama...
- 1899–1902 — Oscar Henry CooperOscar Henry CooperOscar Henry Cooper was the President of Baylor University from 1899 to 1902, and of Simmons College, now known as Hardin-Simmons University from 1902 to 1909.-Biography:...
- 1902–1931 — Samuel Palmer BrooksSamuel Palmer BrooksSamuel Palmer Brooks was the President of Baylor University from 1902 to 1931.-Biography:Samuel Palmer Brooks was born in Milledgeville, Georgia on December 4, 1863. He graduated with a B.A. from Baylor University in 1893, and from Yale University in 1894. At Baylor, he roomed with later Governor...
- 1932–1947 — Pat Morris NeffPat Morris NeffPat Morris Neff was the 28th Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925 and 9th President of Baylor University from 1932 to 1947.-Early life:...
- 1948–1961 — William R. WhiteWilliam R. WhiteWilliam Richardson White was the President of Hardin-Simmons University from 1940 to 1943, and of Baylor University from 1948 to 1961.-Biography:...
- 1961–1981 — Abner Vernon McCallAbner Vernon McCallAbner Vernon McCall was the President of Baylor University from 1961 to 1981.-Biography:McCall was born June 8, 1915 in Perrin, Texas. After his father's death and his mother's failing health, he was sent to the Masonic School and Home in Fort Worth. He gained a scholarship to attend Baylor...
- 1981–1995 — Herbert H. ReynoldsHerbert H. ReynoldsHerbert Hal Reynolds was the President of Baylor University from 1981 to 1995.-Biography:Herbert H. Reynolds was born March 20, 1930, in Frankston, Texas. He graduated from Trinity University in 1952. From 1952 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Air Force and was an advisor for the Japanese Air Self...
- 1995–2005 — Robert B. SloanRobert B. SloanRobert Bryan Sloan, Jr. is an American academic and theologian, currently serving as president of Houston Baptist University.-Education and background:...
, Jr. - 2005–2006 — William D. UnderwoodWilliam D. UnderwoodWilliam D. Underwood has served as the eighteenth President of Mercer University since 2006. He was the interim President of Baylor University from 2005 to 2006.-Biography:...
, Interim President - 2006–2008 — John M. LilleyJohn M. LilleyJohn Mark Lilley served as the President of the University of Nevada, Reno from 2001 to 2005 and Baylor University from 2006 to 2008.-Biography:...
- 2008–2010 — David E. GarlandDavid E. GarlandDavid E. Garland currently serves at the Dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, in Waco, Texas...
, Interim President - 2010–Present — Kenneth W. Starr
(Note: While Rufus C. Burleson served as Baylor's President twice, he is counted only once in the presidential count. This makes Reddin Andrews the fifth president and Oscar Henry Cooper the sixth president. Additionally, the interim presidents are not counted in the presidential count.)
Student life
For the fall 2011 semester, Baylor University had 12,438 undergraduate and 2,261 graduate and professionalProfessional student
The term Professional student has two uses in the university setting:*In the United States and Canada, if not elsewhere, a professional student is a student majoring in what are considered the professional degrees. These include Veterinary Medicine , Law , Medicine , Engineering, Business...
students in 151 baccalaureate programs, 76 masters, 30 doctoral, and 2 Educational Specialist programs, for a total of around 15,000 students. Baylor also has 201 students in Baylor/U.S. Army affiliated graduate degree programs. Baylor enrollment includes students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and approximately 85 foreign countries. Baylor is among the 10% of US colleges and universities to have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
Housing
| Traditional residence halls | Year built | Room capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Collins (female) | 1957 | 600 |
| Kokernot (co-ed) | 1954 | 230 |
| Martin (male) | 1954 | 320 |
| North Russell (female) | 1962 | 481 |
| Penland (male) | 1960 | 538 |
| South Russell (female) | 1967 | 286 |
| Suite-style residential halls | ||
| Alexander (male) | 1956 | 141 |
| Allen (male) | 1952 | 189 |
| Brooks College (co-ed) | 2006 | 370 |
| Dawson (female) | 1954 | 130 |
| Memorial (female) | 1961 | 201 |
| Apartment-style residential halls | ||
| The Arbors (co-ed) | 1981 | 222 |
| Brooks Flats (co-ed) | 2006 | 346 |
| Fairmont (co-ed) | 1984 | 45 |
| Gables (co-ed) | 1987 | 28 |
| North Village (co-ed) | 2004 | 598 |
| Total | 4,725 students | |
Baylor offers several choices for on-campus living. As part of Vision 2012, Baylor strives to have at least 50% of students living on campus. Due to the rapid growth of the university, Baylor cannot keep up with the construction projects needed to accommodate the entire student body citation needed.
As of 2010, the university offers seven dormitories for incoming freshmen, and eleven dormitories in all. In addition to the dormitories, Baylor owns and operates four co-ed apartment complexes on the campus that are available for upperclassmen citation needed.
Military Service
Baylor University has a strong history of military service and currently offers Army and Air Force ROTC for students.Baylor students have fought in every major military action ever undertaken by the United States. Including both WWI and WWII, along with the Vietnam War and the current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Baylor students also served as soldiers in the Texas revolution and during the Civil War as part of the Confederate armies.
Baylor has had several famous military graduates such as Andrew Jackson Lummus, Jr. (October 22, 1915–March 8, 1945) who was a two-sport athlete at Baylor University, a professional football player with the New York Giants, and an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He fought, and died, at the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
during World War II and received the Medal of Honor for his service.
John Riley Kane, also a Baylor man received the medal of honor for his service as well. He flew 43 combat missions for a total of 250 combat hours in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Kane commanded the 98th Bombardment Group, a B-24 Liberator unit nicknamed the "Pyramiders", and his daring operations caused German intelligence reports to dub him "Killer Kane".
In July 1948, the Air Force and Baylor University partnered in the creation of Air Force ROTC Detachment 810 - one of the first detachments ever created.
In 2008, Detachment 810 was awarded the Air Force ROTC Right Of Line Award as the #1 large detachment in the nation. In addition the unit was awarded the High Flight Award recognizing it as one of the top four detachments in America, and the best in the AFROTC Southwest Region for 1996, 2003, and 2008.
Greek organizations
A sizable segment of students participate in Greek life at Baylor. Approximately 14% of undergraduate men and 17% of undergraduate women are members of a fraternity or sorority. There are four councils at Baylor. Many of the Greek organizations are very old but were only local clubs until 1976, when Baylor allowed national affiliations. Kappa Alpha ThetaKappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
, which began as the DAPs, was the first national sorority to be colonized on Baylor's campus in 1976. Most of the national fraternities on campus had existed previously as local fraternities for many years before affiliating with their National organizations. These local fraternities or secret societies had various names and had different regalia and traditions. These groups took names such as: Taurus, Circle K, Tryon Coterie, Raiders, and PAE. Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s these locals began to affiliate with national fraternities. The first local to go national was Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
in 1976, soon followed by SigEp in the fall of '76. Several others would follow soon after in the spring of 1977. The rest would charter at later dates over the next decade and a half. Fraternities and Sororities are very active all year with various service events, mixers, football tailgates, formals, out of town weekends, and all university sing. Fraternities and Sororities also usually team up with one another in the fall to build large extensive parade floats for the oldest homecoming parade in the nation at Baylor university, the practice was started in 1907.
IFC Fraternities (Traditional National Fraternities)
- Alpha Tau OmegaAlpha Tau OmegaAlpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
, 2004 - Beta Upsilon ChiBeta Upsilon ChiBeta Upsilon Chi,or ΒΥΧ , is the largest Christian social fraternity in the United States. Since its founding at the University of Texas in 1985, ΒΥΧ has spread to twenty-four campuses in twelve states...
, 2000 - Delta Tau DeltaDelta Tau DeltaDelta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
, 1987 - Kappa SigmaKappa SigmaKappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
, 1979 - Pi Kappa PhiPi Kappa PhiPi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina...
, 2005 - Phi Delta ThetaPhi Delta ThetaPhi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
, 1976 - Phi Gamma DeltaPhi Gamma DeltaThe international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
, 1988 - Phi Iota AlphaPhi Iota AlphaPhi Iota Alpha , established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino...
, 1999 - Sigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
, 1977 - Sigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
, 1976 - Tau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
, 1986
No Longer Active but Previous Chapters at Baylor:
- Beta Theta PiBeta Theta PiBeta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
, 1976 inactive since 2011 - Kappa Alpha OrderKappa Alpha OrderKappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
, 1976 inactive since 2003 - Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
, 1988 inactive since 2008 - Pi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
, 1980 inactive since 2007 - Sigma ChiSigma ChiSigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
, 1977 inactive since 2010 - Sigma NuSigma NuSigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
, 1982 inactive since 2010 - Sigma Tau GammaSigma Tau GammaSigma Tau Gamma Fraternity also named "Sig Tau" or "the Knights" is a U.S. all-male college secret-social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri...
, 1976 inactive since 2007
NPC Sororities (Traditional National Sororities)
- Alpha Delta PiAlpha Delta PiAlpha Delta Pi is a fraternity founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Phi Mu...
, 1980 - Alpha Chi OmegaAlpha Chi OmegaAlpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity founded on October 15, 1885. Currently, there are 135 chapters of Alpha Chi Omega at colleges and universities across the United States and more than 200,000 lifetime members...
, 1978 - Chi OmegaChi OmegaChi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee....
, 1977 - Delta Delta DeltaDelta Delta DeltaDelta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.-History:...
, 1977 - Kappa Alpha ThetaKappa Alpha ThetaKappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
, 1976 - Kappa Kappa GammaKappa Kappa GammaKappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
, 1976 - Pi Beta PhiPi Beta PhiPi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
, 1976 - Zeta Tau AlphaZeta Tau AlphaZeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, 1977
No Longer Active but Previous Chapter at Baylor:
- Kappa DeltaKappa DeltaKappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university...
, 1983; inactive since 2010
NPHC Fraternities (Historic African American Fraternal groups)
- Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
- Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
- Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
- Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
NPHC Sororities (Historic African American Sorority groups)
- Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
- Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
- Zeta Phi BetaZeta Phi BetaZeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...
Local Fraternities (Only Exist at Baylor - No National chapters)
- Kappa Omega Tau, 1960
- Phi Kappa Chi, 1988
Local Sororities (Only Exists at Baylor - No National Chapters)
- Kappa Chi Alpha
Unlike most universities which allow "Greek systems", Baylor does not permit fraternities to have their own residences or fraternity houses.
Research and endowment
In 2005, the University was invited to join the Collider Detector at FermilabCollider Detector at Fermilab
The Collider Detector at Fermilab experimental collaboration studies high energy particle collisions at the Tevatron,the world's former highest-energy particle accelerator...
(CDF) collaboration at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois
Batavia, Illinois
Batavia was founded in 1833, and is the oldest city in Kane County, Illinois, with a small portion in DuPage County. During the Industrial Revolution, Batavia became known as ‘The Windmill City’ for being the largest windmill producer of the time...
. The project is one of the world's largest experimental physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
collaborations.
In 2006, the Carnegie Foundation
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of the United States Congress, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center, whose primary activities of research and writing have resulted in published reports on every level...
upgraded the university's classification
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is a framework for classifying, or grouping, colleges and universities in the United States. The primary purpose of the framework is for educational research and analysis, where it is often important to identify groups of roughly...
to "Research University" status with "High Research Activity," opening the door to many new research opportunities.
In October 2009, a group of state, county and city governments and organizations and higher educational institutions in Central Texas
Central Texas
Central Texas , is a region in the U.S. state of Texas. It is roughly bordered by San Marcos to Fredericksburg to Waco, and to Brenham, and includes the Austin–Round Rock, Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Bryan-College Station, and Waco metropolitan areas...
announced the creation of the Central Texas Technology and Research Park, and the park's first project, the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative
Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative
The Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative is the flagship project for the Central Texas Technology and Research Park, an initiative by organizations and higher educational institutions in Central Texas to develop, promote and market science and engineering technologies, university research...
(BRIC) to be housed in the former General Tire
General Tire
The General Tire and Rubber Company is an American manufacturer of tires for motor vehicles.General Tire was founded in 1915 in Akron, Ohio by William F. O'Neil. Products included the low-pressure "General Balloon Jumbo" and the "Dual 90" tire...
facility on South Loop Drive in Waco. Funding for the effort comes from the state of Texas and from Baylor University. Clifton Robinson donated the former General Tire facility to Baylor University to support the research collaborative.
Several former and present faculty at Baylor are involved in the intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
debate, most notably philosopher William Dembski, now at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
, Christian philosopher Francis Beckwith, and electrical engineer Robert J. Marks II
Robert J. Marks II
Robert Jackson Marks II is a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Baylor University and proponent of intelligent design. From 1977 to 2003, he was on the faculty of the University of Washington in Seattle...
.
The university's endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
passed $1 billion in 2007 and reached $1,055,478,000 on December 31, 2007. Despite the economic crisis of 2008, Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman reported that Baylor's endowment grew 5.1% in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008; the National Association of College and University Business Officials estimated that during that same period, the median return for the top 25% of college endowments decreased by 2.2%. Fogleman cited the university's long-term investments and diversified holdings as the cause of the endowment's recent success. As of December 2008, the Baylor endowment totaled less than $1 billion, down from a May high of $1.06 billion. A consulting firm hired by the university expressed concern that the disagreements within the Baylor community could hinder the endowment from continuing its four-year streak of increased endowment donation totals and its 2012 goal of a $2 billion endowment, though the current economy may also prevent both.
On March 4, 2010 "An anonymous longtime Baylor donor. . . set up an estate provision that will benefit the school to the tune of an estimated $200 million dollars. The gift will bolster Baylor's research on the issues of aging in multiple disciplines at the school". Citing the most recent data reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Baylor officials say the $200 million donation is the second-largest gift to a Texas college or university and ranks among the top 20 private gifts to higher education institutions in the country.
On September 15, 2010, Honorable Kenneth Starr stated he had no interest in sitting on the United States Supreme Court, well known for the successful prosecution and impeachment of former United States President Bill Clinton, Judge Kenneth Starr, now President of Baylor University, announced "How Extraordinary the Stories: The President's Scholarship Initiative".
The goal of the project is to raise $100 million for student scholarship endowment by the end of May 2013 as an immediate goal in lessening the financial burden on current and future Baylor students. Judge Starr and his wife, Alice, donated $100,000 of their money to project. More than 80% of Baylor University students receive financial assistance, but there is a need to do more. Judge Starr is grateful that Baylor has grown and prospered, but in recent years tuition levels have continued to rise significantly, “As a moral imperative, we must address the fundamental question of the rapidly escalating cost of higher education,” he said. The hope is that this ambitious program will engage the alumni family to contribute to President’s Scholarship Initiative.
Athletics
Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and the women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division I.
Baylor was a charter member of the Southwest Conference and remained a member until its dissolution in 1996. Baylor is now a member of the Big 12 Conference along with former SWC members Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, and Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. Baylor has 42 Big XII conference titles, primarily in men's and women's tennis (31 total). These 42 titles place Baylor in sixth place among Big XII member schools, behind Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State.
Baylor has won two NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
titles. In 2004, the men's tennis team defeated UCLA in the championship match. In 2005, the Baylor Lady Bears basketball
Baylor Lady Bears basketball
The Baylor Lady Bears basketball team represents Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in NCAA Division I women's basketball competition. They currently compete in the Big 12 Conference...
team beat Michigan State in the championship game.
Baylor was the only private school in the current incarnation of what is now known as the Big 12 Conference, which as the Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
had several private schools as members. However, in 1928, the private schools were kicked out of the conference, and no private school joined until 1996, when Baylor was added. Baylor will be joined by Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
as a private school in the Big 12 starting in 2012. TCU was also a member of the Southwest Conference before 1996.
The Baylor Line
The Baylor Line is a tradition which started in 1970 at Baylor University. It is made entirely of freshmen and is at the heart of building Baylor spirit and tradition for new students. Freshmen wear a football jersey with the number of their proposed graduation year and a nickname on the back.All University Sing
All University Sing is an annual spring semester variety show featuring clubs and organizations on campus. In 1958, Pigskin Revue was added as a Homecoming event that featured the best acts from the previous spring's competition. Up until 1963 the event was primarily groups singing in the style of a choir on a riser. Since then the event has grown to the include high energy Broadway style song and dance numbers. In 2003, Baylor celebrated 50 Years of Sing with commemorative books, DVDs and reunions.Alma mater
Baylor's alma mater is That Good Old Baylor Line. In 1906 a student penned humorous words to the tune of "In the Good Old Summer TimeIn the Good Old Summer Time
"In the Good Old Summer Time" is an American Tin Pan Alley song first published in 1902 with music by George Evans and lyrics by Ren Shields.Shields and Evans were at first unsuccessfully trying to sell the song to one of New York's big sheet music publishers. The publishers thought the topic of...
" and they became generally accepted among the student body as the school fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
. However, in 1931, Enid Eastland Markham, wife of music professor Robert Markham, feeling the words were not dignified enough nor representative of the total University, wrote new lyrics which were presented in chapel in November and soon sanctioned as the official school song. The Good Old Summer Time tune was later arranged to fit Mrs. Markham's "Baylor Line" through the work of Jack Goode, Donald I. Moore and Charles F. Brown.
Diadeloso
Every spring since 1934, Baylor takes a Thursday off from classes for a spring holiday which since 1966 has been known as Diadeloso (Spanish for day of the bear). The Baylor University Chamber of CommerceBaylor University Chamber of Commerce
The Baylor University Chamber of Commerce is the oldest student organization at Baylor University, founded in 1919, .-Purpose:...
organizes the event which consists of entertainment of all types. Events on campus include: tug-o-war, free food, dog shows and concerts.
Golden Wave Marching Band
The Baylor University Golden Wave Band (BUGWB) is the current halftime entertainment for Baylor football. The band attends every home football game at Floyd Casey Stadium.Immortal Ten
In January 1927 a bus carrying the Baylor basketball team collided with a speeding train in Round RockRound Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
, Texas. Ten members of the traveling party were killed and many others were injured in the accident. Each year at homecoming the story of the Immortal Ten is told again to the new freshman class at the Freshman Mass Meeting. The names of the ten are called out. In 1996, the senior class provided initial funding to create and place an Immortal Ten statue on campus. Fund raising and discussions about where to place the statues continued off and on over the ensuing years. Finally, on June 22, 2007, the statues were unveiled. The Immortal Ten memorial was officially dedicated during the 2007 Baylor Homecoming on November 2 in Traditions Square.
Mascot
The school mascot is the American black bearAmerican black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
. Baylor University houses two live American black bears on campus. They are named Judge Joy Reynolds and Judge Sue Sloan, affectionately referred to as "Joy" and "Lady", respectively. In the fall of 2005, the university finished renovation and construction of the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, a $1 million facility which includes a thirteen-foot (four-metre) waterfall, three pools, two dens, grass, and eye-level viewing. The facility is a United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
- licensed Class C Zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
. It was formally dedicated on October 28, 2005.
The NoZe Brotherhood
The NoZe Brotherhood, an unofficial fraternal organization founded in 1924, provides the university with unusual public pranks and satirical writings in its newspaper, The Rope.University Mace
During the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Cyrus Baylor, brother of R.E.B. Baylor, was cited for his bravery with the presentation of a gold sword by President Jackson. In 1957 it was given to the university. In 1974, Baylor president Abner V. McCall suggested that the sword be used to form the focal point of a ceremonial "symbol of authority". A timber from one of Old Main's towers was used to construct a base and center pole. Walking canes of former Baylor President Rufus C. Burleson and General Sam Houston, who had been baptized by Burleson and had been a supporter of the university, were linked to the sword to form the Mace. It is used at all university commencement exercises and at other special ceremonies.