Baylor University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
|
| Motto | Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana (Latin for "For Church, For Texas") |
|---|---|
| Established | 1845 |
| Type | Private, Baptist |
| Endowment | $860 million |
| President | Dr. John M. Lilley |
| Provost | Dr. Randall O'Brien |
| Faculty | 824 |
| Students | 13,886 |
| Undergraduates | 11,831 |
| Postgraduates | 2,055 |
| Location | Waco, Texas, USA |
| Address | One Bear Place, Waco, Texas, 76798 |
| Telephone | 1-800-BAYLOR-U |
| Campus | Urban, 735 acres (3 km²) |
| Sports | Baylor Bears |
| Colors | Green and Gold |
| Mascot |  Bears |
| Affiliations | Big 12, Southern Baptist Convention |
| Website | www.baylor.edu |
Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. It is the largest Baptist university in the world by enrollment. Founded in 1845, Baylor is the oldest university in Texas operating under its original name. Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools.
The Baylor University campus is located just southeast of downtown Waco, roughly bounded by IH-35, Speight Avenue, Eighth Street and the Brazos River.
The university is known for its programs in medicine, business, law, music, museum studies and theology. Bachelor's, master's, doctorate and professional degrees are offered through eleven degree-granting academic units.
Contents |
[edit] History
The university was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas under Republic President Anson Jones and opened at Independence, Texas, as an all-male institution. Its founders were Reverend William Milton Tryon and Judge Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor, the University's namesake.
Six years later, Baylor's second president Rufus Burleson decided to separate the men from the women, and thus the Baylor Female College branched off from the main university, while Baylor University became an all-male institution. The city of Independence began suffering a decline because of the rise of neighboring cities serviced by the Santa Fe Railroad. Beginning in 1885, Baylor University moved to Waco and merged with Waco University, where Baylor's former second president Rufus Burleson was serving as president. That same year, the Baylor Female College moved to Belton, Texas and would later become known as the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. A Baylor College Park still exists in Independence as a memory of the bygone era. Around 1887, Baylor University began readmitting women, becoming a coeducational institution once again.
During the American Civil War, the Baylor president was George Washington Baines, maternal great-grandfather of future U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Baines was also later a trustee of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
In 1900, three physicians founded the "University of Dallas Medical Department", in Dallas, despite the fact that a "University of Dallas" did not exist. In 1903, it was acquired by Baylor University and became known as the Baylor College of Medicine, 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 General Baptist Convention. Baylor refused, and with funding from the M. D. Anderson Foundation and others, the College of Medicine moved to Houston. In 1969, the Baylor College of Medicine became independent from Baylor University. However, Baylor University and Baylor College of Medicine have entered into an agreement through the Baylor2 program that provides five Baylor undergraduates with full tuition scholarships and acceptance into Baylor College of Medicine. Additionally, Baylor University President and CEO John M. Lilley is a member of the Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees.
Amidst concerns of a potential fundamentalist take-over, the university changed the terms of its charter in 1991 with the permission of the Texas legislature in order to establish a governance less directly dependent upon the Baptist General Convention of Texas, whilst retaining links with the convention, and its nationally affiliated body the Southern Baptist Convention.
[edit] Academic profile
According to annual rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, the University is currently tied for 81st place out of 248 national universities. [1] Highly ranked academic programs include the undergraduate engineering program at 21st place, the undergraduate business program at 38th place, and the entrepreneurship program at 14th place [2]. The University ranks in the top 15% of colleges and universities participating in the National Merit Scholarship program. [3]
Baylor 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.[4] The Baylor College of Medicine received accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1970.[5]
The University employs 824 full-time faculty members, of which just over 44% are tenured. [6]
[edit] Institutional organization
Baylor 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:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Hankamer School of Business
- Honors College
- School of Education
- School of Engineering and Computer Science
- Graduate School
- Law School
- Louise Herrington School of Nursing
- School of Music
- School of Social Work
Additionally, the George W. Truett Theological Seminary is a unit of Baylor university.
While they share the Baylor name, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Baylor College of Dentistry and the Baylor Health Care System in Dallas are no longer affiliated with Baylor University.
[edit] Leadership
During its more than 160 years of educational service, Baylor University has had 15 presidents, whose leadership has shaped the growth of the institution.
- 1846 - 1851: Henry Lee Graves, President
- 1851 - 1861: Rufus C. Burleson, President
- 1861 - 1863: George Washington Baines, President
- 1864 - 1885: William Carey Crane, President
- 1885 - 1886: Reddin Andrews, President
- 1886 - 1897: Rufus C. Burleson, President
- 1899 - 1902: Oscar Henry Cooper, President
- 1902 - 1931: Samuel Palmer Brooks, President
- 1932 - 1947: Pat Morris Neff, President
- 1948 - 1961: William R. White, President
- 1961 - 1981: Abner Vernon McCall, President
- 1981 - 1995: Herbert H. Reynolds, President
- 1995 - 2005: Robert B. Sloan, Jr., President
- 2005 - 2006: William D. Underwood, Interim President
- 2006 - present: John M. Lilley, President
[edit] Baylor 2012
In 2000, the university sought to expand its vision of a scholarly institution with a strong sense of Christianity. Baylor, under then President Robert Sloan Jr., created a written statement to detail the exact goals of this vision. This statement was appropriately titled, Baylor 2012, the year by which the school hopes to achieve its aims. The university intends to "enter the top tier of American universities while reaffirming and deepening its distinctive Christian mission." [7] It was presented in September 2001, and approved by the Board of Regents shortly afterwards. The Vision is based upon twelve key imperatives designed to create a more fulfilling educational experience in a unique Christian environment. The twelve imperatives are:
- Establish an environment where learning can flourish
- Create a truly residential campus
- Develop a world-class faculty
- Attract and support a top-tier student body
- Initiate outstanding new academic programs in selected areas
- Guide all Baylor students, through academic and student life programming, to understand life as a stewardship and work as a vocation
- Provide outstanding academic facilities
- Construct useful and aesthetically pleasing physical spaces
- Enhance involvement of the entire Baylor family
- Build with integrity a winning athletic tradition in all sports
- Emphasize global education
- Achieve a two-billion dollar endowment
Baylor 2012 has encountered opposition since its inception. Some allege that the Vision led to a polarization of faculty opinion that culminated in the resignation of President Robert Sloan Jr. in June 2005 (it should be noted that Baylor's Faculty Senate has unanimously endorsed Vision 2012 each time it has come before it). Opponents argue that the Vision will limit academic freedom and hinder intellectual growth due to an excessive focus on Christian interpretation. Others predict that rising tuition costs needed to implement the Vision will reduce enrollment and render many middle class families unable to afford a Baylor education.
However, Baylor's administration has countered that increased tuition costs are comparable to those of other private universities and that preserving and strengthening Christian values at the university is of paramount importance. As of February 2006, the university has received a record number of applications from both freshmen and transfer students. [8]
[edit] Student life
Baylor University has about 11,825 undergraduate and 2,150 graduate and professional students in more than 240 academic programs, including 21 doctoral programs. Baylor enrollment typically includes students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and approximately 90 foreign countries.
[edit] Housing
Baylor currently offers several choices for on-campus living. As part of Vision 2012, Baylor strives to have a large percentage of students living on campus, but due to the rapid growth of the university, Baylor cannot keep up with the construction projects needed to accommodate the fast-growing student body. Currently, Baylor offers seven dormitories for incoming freshmen, and eleven dormitories in all - all of which are single-sex. In addition to the dormitories, Baylor currently owns and operates four co-ed apartment complexes in the rear part of campus that are available for upperclassmen.
The first residence community to be built in over forty years was completed in 2004 as part of the Vision 2012. North Village, which currently houses 600 students of the Engineering School as well as upperclassmen, offers a more apartment style option for students in three adjacent buildings. The community features a courtyard area with a garden area and community center/study area and cafe.
In 2006, Brooks Hall, the oldest dormitory on campus, was demolished to make room for the new Brooks Village which will house 716 students, more than three times as many as the former hall. The new facility will feature a new dining hall, a chapel, and a new field for student activity use. In addition, a new 800 car parking garage will be built across the street from the facility to accommodate students living on the southern part of campus.
Due to the exploding growth of Baylor University, the current student percentage of those living on campus is only 35 percent, with all residence facilities at capacity.
Current traditional dorm-style residences are as follows:
- Alexander (male)
- Allen (male)
- Collins (female)
- Dawson (female)
- Kokernot (female)
- Martin (male)
- Memorial (female)
- North Russell (female)
- Penland (male)
- South Russell (female)
Apartment-style living options on campus are comprised of:
- The Arbors
- Baylor Plaza
- Brooks Village (opening 2007)
- North Village
- Speight-Jenkins
[edit] Greek organizations
There are 22 fraternities and 18 sororities. Many of the fraternities were local clubs until 1977 when Baylor allowed national affiliations. Baylor has the highest rate of male participation in Texas, with roughly 25% of males participating in fraternities. The oldest and most prominent greeks on campus are Pi Beta Phi (Alpha Omega, Baylor's first women's club), Kappa Kappa Gamma (Athenian Club), Chi Omega (Phi Alpha Lambda), Kappa Alpha Theta (Delta Alpha Pi -DAPs), and Delta Delta Delta (Peer Club/Kappa Theta). For the men Phi Delta Theta (The Tryon Coterie, Baylor's oldest men's club), Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Chapter (Alpha Delta Chi), Kappa Omega Tau (still local), Kappa Sigma (Kappa Nu), and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (originally Alpha Phi Omega then became local Phi Kappa Alpha after APO mandated female membership). Pi Beta Phi (Alpha Omega) and Phi Delta Theta (The Tryon Coterie) are the two oldest on-campus greek organizations at Baylor University.
[edit] Research and endowment
Although the University was founded as a teaching institution, research has long been an important part of its academic life. The University is also working to strengthen the current research environment as part of Baylor 2012. To that end, the University recently completed construction of a 500,000 square foot science complex that will facilitate research on a variety of subjects.
In 2005, the University was invited to join the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) collaboration at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. [9] 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.
As of May 31, 2006, the University's endowment has a market value of approximately $870 million.
[edit] 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 NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference. Prior to joining the Big 12, Baylor was a member of the Southwest Conference from the conference's charter in 1914 until its dissolution in 1996. Baylor has carried over its rivalries from the now-defunct Southwest Conference, the most important of which are with Texas A&M University and with the University of Texas at Austin.
Baylor won its first team NCAA title in 2004 as the men's tennis team defeated UCLA in the championship game.
[edit] Track and field
Baylor's most notable sports program is perhaps its track and field team, producing 466 All-Americans under the 42-year tenure of head coach Clyde Hart. The greatest standout of the track program has been its men's 4x400 relay team, which has sent teams to the NCAA finals in each of the past 27 years and produced three Olympic gold medalists: Michael Johnson, Jeremy Wariner and Darold Williamson. In 2005, Clyde Hart became Director of Track & Field, and Todd Harbour took over as head coach of Baylor's track and field and cross country squads.
[edit] Baseball
Baylor's baseball team is one of the most successful athletic programs at Baylor. Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, Baylor has carried the best conference record at 137-83 (.623) under head coach Steve Smith, and the Bears now play on campus at Baylor Ballpark.
The 2005 Bears played one of the toughest schedules in the nation and went all the way to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, where they finally lost to the University of Texas, whom they had beaten all four times the teams played during Big 12 play and in the conference tournament. The Bears' strength was their pitching, with a weekend rotation of Trey Taylor, Cory VanAllen, and Mark McCormick with closers Abe Woody and Ryan LaMotta. Nine players from this team were drafted in the June 2005 draft.
Five Baylor student-athletes were drafted in the 2006 Major League Baseall First-Year Player Draft. Cory VanAllen, Seth Fortenberry, Zach Dillon, Kevin Russo and Ryan LaMotta all were selected. At least one Baylor player has been drafted every year since 1991. A total of 56 Baylor players have been drafted since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1997, the most of any program in the conference.
[edit] Basketball
The Baylor Lady Bears won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship in 2005. Coached by Kim Mulkey-Robertson, the Lady Bears defeated the Spartans of Michigan State University 84-62. Mulkey-Robertson became the first women's coach and only the third coach in history to win an NCAA basketball championship as both a player and a coach, joining Dean Smith and Bob Knight.
The men's basketball program was plagued by scandal in 2003. Patrick Dennehy, a player for the team, was murdered by a former player for the team, and then-coach Dave Bliss was forced to resign amidst allegations that he had made improper financial payments to players and planned to cover his actions by characterizing Dennehy as a drug dealer. The school placed itself on probation, limited itself to 7 scholarships for two years and imposed a post-season ban for one year. Additionally, the NCAA further punished the team by initiating a non-conference ban for the 2005-2006 season and extending the probationary period during which the school would have limited recruiting privileges.
The 2005 Bears were hindered by only having 7 scholarship players and recorded only one win in conference play. In spite of these challenges, head coach Scott Drew was able to put together a 2005 signing class ranked No. 7 nationally by HoopScoop. The 2006 Bears include Aaron Bruce, the highest scoring freshman in the NCAA in 2005, and Mamadou Diene, rated one of the top 10 centers for the 2007 NBA draft.
[edit] Football
The Baylor football team plays at Floyd Casey Stadium, located 3 miles from campus. The stadium was created in 1950 and currently seats more than 50,000 fans. The largest crowd in Floyd Casey Stadium history was 51,385, set on October 28, 2006 against Texas A&M University.
Since joining the Big 12 conference in 1996, Baylor has held a 9-35 record in regular season play, with its best season coming in 2005. The current head coach, Guy Morriss, came to Baylor from Kentucky in 2003. In 2004, Baylor defeated its first ranked opponent since 1998, #16 ranked Texas A&M, by a score of 35-34 in overtime on a two-point conversion [10]. In 2005 the team opened 3-0 for the first time since 1996 and finished 5-6; Baylor also won its first Big 12 road game in school history at Iowa State, ending a 37-game Big 12 road game losing streak.
During the 2006 campaign, the Bears notched a 3-5 record in the Big 12, it's best since the Big 12 Conference was created. The record included wins over Kansas State University, Kansas University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder, all teams of the conference's northern division. The Bear's five losses were all to the Big 12 South Division, which included the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University. Baylor recorded the third largest comeback in it's history against the Kansas Jayhawks by scoring 19 points in the 4th quarter to win the contest 36-35. The game also marked Baylor's first homecoming victory since beating Texas in 1997.
[edit] Traditions
[edit] Homecoming
Baylor celebrated its first Homecoming in 1909 and it has become an annual event since then. Traditional activities include Pigskin Revue, a song and dance featuring the top acts from the previous spring's All University Sing; Freshman Mass Meeting, where freshmen hear the story of the Immortal Ten and are charged with guarding the Eternal Flame until the building of the bonfire; and a pep rally and bonfire on Friday evening. Baylor is also home to the oldest and longest collegiate homecoming parade in the United States. [11] Since the mid 1930s, the Baylor Chamber has been responsible for funding, coordinating and executing the majority of the aspects of Baylor's Homecoming activities.
[edit] Diadeloso
Every spring since 1934, Baylor takes a day off from classes for Diadeloso (day of the bear; oso is Spanish for bear). The Baylor University Chamber of Commerce organizes the event which consists of entertainment of all types - tug o' war contests, 3-on-3 basketball, ping pong, indoor soccer, board game tournaments, comedians, an all-University dance, multi-player console games, gospel choirs, etc. This tradition often baffles new professors, who then require quite a bit of convincing to not hold class (or worse, give an exam) on a seemingly arbitrary Thursday in April.
[edit] Golden Wave Marching Band
The Baylor University Golden Wave Marching Band (BUGWB) is the current halftime entertainment for Baylor football. The band attends every home football game at Floyd Casey Stadium, as well as travels with the team to provide support at rival schools. The band also attends all pep rallies in the fall, as well as marches in the annual Homecoming Parade and other Homecoming events. With a current membership of 275 members, the Golden Wave Marching Band is the largest student organization on campus, and is dedicated to enhancing the Baylor Spirit.
[edit] Mascot
The school mascot is the bear, and Baylor hosts live mascots on campus. The first live bear was donated by local businessman Herbert E. Mayr in 1917 after winning the bear in a poker game[citation needed] with members of the 107th Engineer Battallion. Mayr had kept a bear cub as a pet and was often seen walking the cub near "The Circle" in Waco before he donated the animal to Baylor University. Each bear is named "Judge" in honor of Judge R.E.B. Baylor. The Baylor University Chamber of Commerce is responsible for all aspects of the program including care, facility upkeep, and training. Currently there are two American black bears on campus named Judge Joy Reynolds and Judge Sue Sloan; students affectionately refer to them as Joy and Lady.
The university recently finished renovation of the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, a $1 million facility which includes a 13-foot waterfall, 3 pools, 2 dens, grass, and eye-level viewing. The facility is a USDA licensed Class C Zoo and is held to the same standards as any other zoological exhibit. Visitors can see the bears up close and learn more about North American black bears. The bear habitat is a favorite spot for visitors and students of all ages.
[edit] The NoZe Brotherhood
The NoZe Brotherhood, an unofficial fraternal organization founded in 1924, provides the university with unusual public pranks and satirical writings in their newspaper The Rope. When in public as a NoZe brother, members wear traditional Groucho Marx-style mask disguises and outlandish costumes to keep their student identities secret. Faculty and students outside of the organization are typically split on their opinion of the group's humor. In some cases, the NoZe Brotherhood's actions and publications have been considered highly offensive and controversial by the Baylor community. Traditionally during commencement, NoZe Brothers will leave their masks on their chairs as they receive their diploma to signify that they partook in the society.
[edit] Alma Mater
Baylor University'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 Time" and they became generally accepted among the student body as the school song. However, in 1931, Mrs. 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.
That Good Old Baylor Line,
That Good Old Baylor Line,
We'll march forever down the years,
As long as stars shall shine.
We'll fling our Green and Gold afar
To light the ways of time,
And guide us as we onward go:
That Good Old Baylor Line!
[edit] Fight Song
Old Fite
Bear down you Bears of old Baylor U. We're all for you, GO BEARS!
We're gonna show dear old Baylor spirit through and through
We're gonna fight them with all our might, you Bruins bold
And win all our victories for the Green and Gold.
(repeat)
B-A-Y-L-O-R, Baylor Bears Fight.
[edit] Controversy and Criticisms
Baylor came under fire from both sides of the evolution debate for the hiring of intelligent design advocate William Dembski and the subsequent decision not to renew his contract.[12]
Baylor has also been criticized for its policy regarding homosexual students; the student handbook explicitly prohibits homosexual activity, and same-sex partner benefits are not offered to employees. Baylor University is ranked number three on the list of the top 10 "Colleges with Low Acceptance of Gays," a list ranked by students.[13]
[edit] Other notable facts
- Baylor is home to the Armstrong Browning Library, which houses the world's largest and finest collection of items and manuscripts related to the Victorian era poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and is believed to be home to the largest collection of secular stained glass in the world.
- The IBM sponsored ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is headquartered at Baylor's School of Engineering and Computer Science. The contest shines the spotlight on the brightest students of computing in the world, and past finalists are found in most of the world's information technology research and development centers.
- Dr. Vivian Malone-Mayes, the fifth African-American woman to ever receive a Ph.D. in mathematics in the United States and the first at the University of Texas, was the first African-American faculty member at Baylor starting in 1966 after being denied a position by the university in 1961 solely on the grounds of her race. She retired in 1994 due to poor health.
- This first official dance on Baylor's campus was held on April 18, 1996. Although Baylor's student handbook had never officially prohibited dancing, there were no on-campus dances as a matter of tradition for the first 151 years of the university's existence. [14] Dance societies now meet weekly on campus, and classes are taught in social dance.
- During the War of 1812, 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 Baylor 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.
[edit] Photo Gallery
 Pat Neff in the Spring |
 Bill Daniel Student Center from the side |
 Bill Daniel Student Center during Christmas |
 Tidwell Bible Building |
 Baylor Science Building |
 Truett Seminary |
 Mayborn Museum |
 Burleson Quadrangle |
 Old Main and Pat Neff Hall |
 Corner of Pat Neff Hall |
 Pat Neff Hall looking west |
 Armstrong Browning Library from the outside |
 Inside the Armstrong Browning Library |
 Statue of Judge Baylor |
 Another view of Burleson Quadrangle |
 Another view of the Baylor Science Building |
[edit] See also
[edit] Notable people
There are over 110,000 living Baylor alumni. Alumni and others associated with the university have had success in the fields of politics, arts, athletics, scholarship and more.
[edit] External links
[edit] Official Websites
[edit] Departmental Websites
- Baylor University Libraries
- College of Arts & Sciences
- George W. Truett Theological Seminary
- Graduate School
- Hankamer School of Business
- Honors College
- Law School
- Louise Herrington School of Nursing
- School of Education
- School of Engineering & Computer Science
- School of Music
- School of Social Work
- Baylor University Alumni Association
- Additional Centers & Programs
[edit] Publications
- Baylor University Press
- Baylor University Official News
- Baylor Magazine
- Baylor Line (Alumni Magazine)
- The Baylor Lariat (Official Student Newspaper)
[edit] References
- History of Baylor University
- History of Baylor College of Medicine
- History of Independence, Texas
- History of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
| Big 12 Conference |
|---|
| North Division: Colorado Buffaloes • Iowa State Cyclones • Kansas Jayhawks • Kansas State Wildcats • Missouri Tigers • Nebraska Cornhuskers South Division: Baylor Bears • Oklahoma Sooners • Oklahoma State Cowboys • Texas Longhorns • Texas A&M Aggies • Texas Tech Red Raiders |
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Big 12 Conference | Baylor University | Universities and colleges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area | Universities and colleges affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas | Christian universities and colleges | Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
