Marina Renovations, New Degree and Operating Budget Approved

This degree is designed to prepare students as ministers who can employ the latest educational philosophies, strategies and methods in congregational ministry environments, as well as in public and private educational settings.

The Board also approved $2 million to improve the electrical utility and technology infrastructure along Seventh Street on campus. The work will begin this fall and be completed in spring 2017.

In their May meeting, Regents announced a gift that will add new beauty and functionality to the Baylor Marina – a popular destination in the recreational life of the Baylor community.

This gift by Baylor regent Randy, BBA ’82, and Myra Pullin of Houston will lead to the addition of several new features to the on-campus marina. The facility will also be named the Pullin Family Marina, in honor of Randy Pullin’s parents, Walter and Alice Pullin.

Improvements to the Pullin Family Marina will include the addition of a shade canopy, aesthetic improvements to the marina facility, boat slip repairs and the creation of covered boat hoist slips, as well as a centerpiece fountain in the marina basin. Work on the facility is expected to begin in October.

The Regents also approved a $607 million operating budget for 2016-2017 at the May meeting. The budget reflects an increase of 4.1 percent over the previous year and includes an additional $13.5 million to support scholarships for undergraduate, graduate and professional students and graduate assistantships.

Personnel costs will increase by 5 percent, which will support 24 new full-time faculty positions, 43 replacement faculty positions and 58.5 new staff positions. The new staff positions include an investment of $6.3 million in initiatives focused on Student Counseling (14.5 new staff positions), Office of Title IX (three new staff positions) and Baylor Department of Public Safety (three new police officers). The budget also supports merit raises for faculty and staff, more competitive stipends for graduate assistants and increased funding for student workers. The budget took effect June 1.

Including the gift to create the Pullin Family Marina, the Board of Regents approved more than $6 million in capital projects at the May meeting. These include:

• $2.3 million for expansion of the Counseling Center into the Dutton Avenue Offices, which will provide the center an additional 7,630 square feet of space for counselor offices, a private waiting room, room to accommodate group sessions, a conference room and library. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed in Spring 2017.
• $1.95 million for renovation of the Paul L. Foster Success Center and Career and Professional Development, which will increase space for career placement, tutoring and advising and include elevator and ADA building modifications. Construction is expected to start this summer.
• $1.6 million for renovation designs for the BGCT Building in Dallas to accommodate future expansion of Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing.