President's Note

In a remarkable contribution to a Waco-area community, Baylor geologists have mapped the geological makeup of the City of Woodway. Led by Joe Yelderman, professor of geology, the research provides Woodway with only the second Web site in the state to have such interactive data available to the public.

This information will help residents as well as developers and city planners to identify the best areas to build everything from a personal home to utilities and streets. This is just the latest example of how Baylor contributes to making our community better. I know many of you also are involved in personal ways within the community, and I commend you for that effort.

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Community appreciates Baylor's presence

Equally important, is that area citizens see the value Baylor contributes to our community. A recent survey of McLennan County residents showed there is substantial goodwill among community members for Baylor. In fact, nine out of 10 people who responded to the survey had a favorable or highly favorable view of the University. This speaks well of the caliber of our staff and faculty members who are active citizens and the engagement of the University in the community.

A few highlights of the survey:

• 97 percent say it is important for the community to have opportunities for local students to attend a top-ranked university
• 95 percent think a world-class university is important to the community and it is important to have access to university facilities and programs
• University research that improves the local community is important to 94 percent
• Opportunities to attend world-class music and cultural events and major collegiate athletic events are important to 92 percent of respondents.

Dr. Charles Tolbert, chair of sociology, presented the results of the survey at the fall faculty meeting and the Waco Tribune-Herald published a very positive editorial about the findings of the survey.

This past year, the University has added a new focus on community relations to enhance a positive town-gown relationship. I am encouraged that the environment is fertile for that relationship to flourish.

Waco Tribune-Herald editorial »

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Baylor debate team Top 5 nationally

Congratulations to Kendall Artz, chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship in the business school. Baylor was recognized for having one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the country following a survey of 2,300 schools by Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review.

This truly is a remarkable achievement, one for which the University can be proud.

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Baylor entrepreneurship ranks No. 4 in nation

Congratulations to Kendall Artz, chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship in the business school. Baylor was recognized for having one of the best entrepreneurship programs in the country following a survey of 2,300 schools by Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review.

This truly is a remarkable achievement, one for which the University can be proud.

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Baylor accounting ranks No. 1, No. 6 and No. 9 nationally

Aspiring accounting professionals must pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam to become CPAs. I am proud to say that Baylor graduate students did exceedingly well on the recently released results from the 2008 exam. There are several sections to the exam that students must pass.

Baylor's 100 percent pass rate by graduate students on the "Business Environment and Concepts" section ranked first in the nation. With more than 83 percent passing the "Financial Accounting and Reporting" section, Baylor ranked sixth in the country. And with 82 percent passing the "Regulation" section, Baylor ranked ninth in the country.

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Baylor law students "most competitive"

In yet another ranking, this one by the Princeton Review, the annual law school rankings single out the Baylor Law School as having the "Most Competitive Students." The Baylor ranking was included in a press release promoting the Princeton Review along with the law schools at Northwestern, Texas, Virginia, Chicago and Yale. Not bad company at all!

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Five-year fundraising campaign sets new goal

I am proud to note that Baylor Athletics' five-year "Victory With Integrity" capital campaign is not only near its $90 million fundraising goal, but that Athletic Director Ian McCaw has set a new goal of reaching $100 million before the campaign ends.

The new athletic facilities on University Parks Drive are impressive and create great training and educational opportunities for our student athletes, but scholarships to assist our student athletes to attend Baylor has also been an important part of the campaign.

Such efforts are making a difference. In the last academic year, Baylor won five Big 12 Conference championships, which tied Oklahoma for the second-most championships behind Texas' league-leading seven titles this past year, and a school-record 14 teams participated in postseason play as Baylor placed 33rd in the Learfield Directors' Cup national all-sports standings.

And yet, at Baylor, we focus on helping our players with their academics, too. I can report that Baylor student-athletes are excelling in the classroom, producing a school-record 462 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selections in 2008-09 and leading the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate (84) for the third consecutive year.

Congratulations to all the staff and faculty who have played a role in developing such a superb athletic program and academically impressive students.

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