Baylor University presented John and Marie Chiles of Dallas with one of the University's most distinguished awards--the Baylor University Founders Medallion--during the Founders Day ceremony Jan. 30 in Waco Hall.

The administrative offices of University Development will be open during the holiday season to assist with year-end gifts Monday, Dec. 26, through Friday, Dec. 30. The offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Jan. 2, 2012.

Baylor University has announced a significant naming gift from Baylor Regent Dr. Kenneth Q. Carlile and his wife, Celia, of Marshall, Texas, for the Carlile Equestrian Building. The new facility will strengthen Baylor Athletics' nationally recognized Equestrian program by providing a locker room, coaches offices and meeting space at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.

The Baylor University family grieves the loss of W. Dewey Presley of Dallas, who passed away Nov. 9 at the age of 93. A faithful steward and committed Christian, Presley has left a rich legacy that will not be forgotten by the Baylor community.

Baylor University today announced a gift of $3.6 million from Carl and Martha Lindner for the establishment of the Carl and Martha Lindner Global Mission Leadership Initiative Endowed Fund benefitting Baylor's School of Social Work. The Lindners' generous gift allows Baylor to continue this important program, the focus of which is to identify and educate global Christian leaders who are God-called and mission-driven to become catalysts for holistic change in international communities.

J. Harry Jeanes, Regent Emeritus, alumnus and faithful friend of Baylor University, passed away Sept. 22. A native Wacoan, Jeanes lived a humble life of service and philanthropy, garnering repute as a steadfast pillar in the community.

Baylor University announced today that the university received a significant naming gift from Waco residents Jim and Nell Hawkins for the Jim and Nell Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center, which will propel the Baylor Tennis program to new heights. Construction of the new facility was approved by the Baylor University Board of Regents during their July 21-22 meeting in Waco.

At its summer meeting today, the Baylor University Board of Regents set tuition and required fees for the 2012-2013 academic year and approved the design and construction of an indoor tennis practice facility for the university's championship tennis programs, improvements to the outdoor tennis center and the hiring of an architectural firm to design the renovation of the Marrs McLean Science Building.

A new graduate program and emphasis on sports chaplaincy will be established soon at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary to meet a growing need for ministry not only to professional athletes but also for youth athletic leagues, church recreation programs and missions outreach.

Baylor University today announced a generous commitment from the Callaway Foundation, benefiting students in the Hankamer School of Business and increasing the existing Callaway Foundation Endowed Scholars Fund scholarship to $1 million. The commitment also brings the total fundraising of The President's Scholarship Initiative -- a three-year effort Baylor launched in 2010 -- to more than $24 million.

Just six months after its launch, The President’s Scholarship Initiative -- a three-year, $100-million drive to fund endowed scholarships for Baylor students -- has passed the $20 million milestone. The Baylor family has responded well to President Ken Starr's challenge, working to support Baylor students and ease the financial burden of higher education for our [...]

After a national search, Baylor University President Ken Starr announced the appointment of Dr. Jerry T. Haag, BBA '88, MBA '89, and current president of Florida Baptist Children's Homes, as vice president for university development. Dr. Haag will assume his new position on April 18.

An alumnus who faithfully carried the torch of Baylor tradition, the life of Dr. John Wyatt Herndon of Houston, Texas, will forever be emblazoned on the memory of those at Baylor University. Dr. Herndon passed away on Feb. 8, at the age of 81.

Baylor University President Ken Starr and four others have been named to the Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees, Chair Marc J. Shapiro announced this week.

Baylor University alumni Charles and Mary Alice Wise of Gatesville, Texas, were presented with one of the university's most distinguished awards - the Baylor University Founders Medallion - during the Founders Day ceremony Jan. 31 in Waco Hall. Established in 1969, the Founders Medal is reserved for men and women whose service and contributions have been unusually significant to the life and future of the university.

Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing has been selected among the nation's top nursing schools to receive coveted scholarship funds for undergraduate nursing students. The grant, which comes from the Helene Fuld Health Trust, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., Trustee, will disburse $600,000 over three years to establish and maintain an endowed scholarship fund for current and future students enrolled in Baylor's undergraduate nursing program.

In anticipation of Baylor's appearance in the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston - the Bears' first bowl game since 1994 - Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett issued official proclamations today, declaring Dec. 29, 2010, as "Baylor Day" in Houston and "Baylor Bears 2010 Texas Bowl Day" in Harris County.

Baylor University graduate students Xiomara O'Neill, Beatriz Ramos, Andrew Trujillo and Emilie Ventura have been awarded scholarships from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health to support bilingual mental health services in Texas. All are students in the Baylor School of Social Work.

Baylor University has accepted an invitation to play in the 2010 Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston, snapping a 16-year bowl drought for the Bears football program. Baylor will face Illinois from the Big 10 Conference at 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Dec. 29. The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN.

Beloved alumna, retired professor and lifelong friend of Baylor University, Sadie Jo Black of Waco, Texas, passed away Sunday, Dec. 5, at the age of 80. A rare individual, whose commitment to the beautification of Baylor's campus was matched only by her desire to support Baylor students, Sadie Jo Black's presence and influence will continue to be felt by the Baylor family for generations to come.

Following a month of reflection initiated by Baylor University Provost Elizabeth Davis in her essay, "Envisioning Our Future," faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Baylor are now being invited to provide input to inform the direction of the university's next 10-year strategic plan. The community input portion of the strategic planning exercise will run from December 2010 through April 2011.

Baylor University will welcome home alumni from across the country for its annual Homecoming celebration Wednesday, Oct. 20, through Saturday, Oct. 23. This will mark the 101st year since Baylor began Homecoming in 1909, kicking off the next 100 years. This year, Baylor Homecoming again holds true to many of its traditions while also incorporating new opportunities.

Baylor University alumna Jane Hampton Cook, author of B is for Baylor, will be on campus Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, selling and signing copies of her book.

Baylor University's department of philosophy will host lecturer Victor Boutros from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in Morrison Hall, Room 100.

Baylor University will honor 10 members of the Baylor family for their contributions to the university and society, when the 2010-11 Baylor Meritorious Achievement Awards are presented at Homecoming later this month.

Seven members of the Baylor University vocal faculty will join with pianist Jeffrey Peterson to perform a commemorative recital entitled "A Celebration in Song" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, in Roxy Grove Hall in Waco Hall.

Dr. J. Gordon Melton, Distinguished Senior Fellow of Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion, will deliver a lecture at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Morrison Hall 100 on the Baylor campus.

A true friend and passionate supporter of Baylor University, the passing of Lucian Edward Morehead of Austin, Texas, is a loss to the entire Baylor community. Morehead passed away on Sept. 23, 2010, at the age of 99, but whose legacy of philanthropy and dedication will live on, as evidenced throughout Baylor's campus.

Dr. Judy Lott, dean of Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing, has been named one of 60 visionary leaders in nursing and health care by her alma mater, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing.

Since 1902, Baylor University has introduced its new presidents in public ceremonies. On Friday, Sept. 17, before a welcoming and celebratory crowd in the Ferrell Center, Baylor University Regents officially installed Kenneth Winston Starr, JD, as only the 14th president in the university's storied 165-year history. The ceremony, which was held on Constitution Day, highlighted a week of academic, commemorative and community events relating to the inauguration and the United States Constitution.

Before an enthusiastic crowd of students, faculty and staff, and friends of the university, Baylor University President Ken Starr today announced a $100 million scholarship fundraising initiative, officially titled How Extraordinary the Stories: The President's Scholarship Initiative, the first fundraising priority announced by the president. President Starr, only the 14th president in Baylor's 165-year history, will be installed during an inauguration ceremony on Friday, Sept. 17.

Baylor University moved up one place to No. 79 among 262 institutions in the Best National Universities category, while engineering and entrepreneurship continue to be among the nation's top programs, in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges by U.S.News & World Report.

Honored as an Alumna Honoris Causa - the highest distinction awarded by Baylor University to individuals who did not graduate from the university - Mildred Carlile of Marshall, Texas, championed the cause of education by giving generously to Baylor. Carlile passed away Aug. 4 at the age of 86.

Esteemed economist, educator and civil servant Dr. Richard Benjamin Goode of Washington, D.C., passed away July 18 at the age of 93. Goode will be remembered not only for his extraordinary career and significant contributions to the field of economics but also for his generous philanthropic spirit and his deep loyalty to Baylor University and its students.

As a kid, I was fascinated with the story of Timothy in the New Testament. I remember a Sunday School teacher describing Timothy as a role model to us kids -- a young man who accomplished great things. That example came to mind when I read about two young Baylor graduates who were recently recognized [...]

A Baylor University researcher has been awarded an educational grant from the Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). It marks the first time the university has received a grant from the organization.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded two Baylor University researchers a $1.46 million grant to research and test new compounds that could help fight cancerous tumors.

Baylor University President Ken Starr released a statement today celebrating the perseverance of the Big 12 Conference and its historic rivalries. Starr expressed "great appreciation to our fellow Big 12 institutions for remaining committed to our partnership and the vision of this conference."

Baylor University's 2012 commitment to building strong, research-intensive graduate programs is producing impressive results in a relatively short time. The university significantly enhanced its graduate student stipends, which resulted in an increasing number of high-scoring graduate students seeking doctoral degrees at Baylor. And now, national data from Academic Analytics shows that the scholarly productivity for many of Baylor's graduate faculty - in fields ranging from physics, political science and preventive health to religion, sociology and philosophy - is among the strongest in the nation.

This has been a record-breaking year for the Martin Museum of Art at Baylor University in terms of art acquisitions and donated art done by well-known artists.

The Baylor community is saddened by the death of a faithful friend, Gene Aubrey Hargis Briscoe, who passed away May 31 in San Antonio at the age of 92. She was preceded in death by her husband, Judge Joe Briscoe. Although neither attended Baylor University, the couple took great interest in the university and gave generously of their time and resources, touching the lives of many students.

Dr. Virginia Mann Sugg Furrow, an alumna of Baylor University and Baylor College of Medicine, passed away April 25, 2010, at her home in Tucson, Ariz.

Over the years, I’ve come to understand the value of connections, particularly within the Baylor family. A few years back when I was looking for a new job, I found out just how handy my friends and acquaintances could be in landing an interview (and eventually being hired) for the job I wanted. It used [...]

Today marks the four-month anniversary of the earthquake that shook Haiti back in January. Since then, Baylor students, faculty and alumni have done all sorts of things to help out, from collecting t-shirts to raising money to going as missionaries (both short and long term) offering medical aid and practical assistance in the rebuilding process. [...]

After a comprehensive national search, Baylor University has named Dr. R. Brian Webb, Managing Director of UBS Global Asset Management in Dallas, as the university's Chief Investment Officer. He will join Baylor on June 1.

Baylor University graduate programs in business, law, the sciences, education and health disciplines were among those nationally ranked in the 2011 edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools," which are available in the May 2010 edition of U.S.News & World Report magazine.

Athletic success — be it the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball teams this spring, the volleyball team’s Sweet 16 run last fall, the tennis teams’ run of Big 12 dominance, or excellence in any other sport — can be a lot of fun as well as a a boost to the university in other areas [...]

Dr. Joyce Jones, The Joyce Oliver Bowden professor of music, professor of organ and organist in residence at Baylor University, has been named the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year. The award was presented during the annual Honors Convocation held April 14 at Baylor.

A new Baylor University study will look at land management strategies and specifically assess fire potential and impacts on two endangered bird species within the Austin city limits.

As many Schools of Music have reduced or dropped teaching the organ, competition for spots in Baylor’s organ program remains stiff — in large part due to the presence of Dr. Joyce Jones, the Joyce Oliver Bowden Professor of Music and Organist in Residence and this year’s recipient of the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of [...]

Dr. Steven Weinberg, professor of physics at the University of Texas at Austin and Nobel Laureate has been invited to speak at the Baylor Particle Physics Seminar presented by the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the department of physics.

Baylor Law School's Trial Advocacy program was ranked the fourth best in the nation in the law specialty rankings in U.S. News and World Report's 2011 edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools." Last year, the Baylor Law Trial Advocacy program ranked seventh.

Baylor University fashion majors Meg Quinius, Kaylyn Smith and Anna Morrison took home awards from Fashion Group International of Dallas' 42nd Annual Career Day on April 9 at Dallas Market Center's Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.

Two years ago, we wrote about a new technique for measuring blood glucose levels that used electromagnetic sensors (rather than needle pricks). The sensor, created by electrical and computer engineering professor Dr. Randall Jean, promised a noninvasive alternative for diabetics who have to monitor their blood sugar levels, but it was far from ready for [...]

Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy will throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the Baylor Bears' matchup with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, April 24 at Baylor Ballpark. The game is part of a free event, the Sixth Annual Heart of Texas Community Tailgate. DuPuy is an alumna of Baylor.

Baylor University graduates Kirsten Appleyard, Lisa Funkhouser and Carrie Wallis have been selected as the inaugural recipients of the F. Ray Wilson II Award for Best Thesis, which honors the life of the beloved Baylor professor of biology and Master Teacher, who directed 37 Honors theses during more than 30 years of teaching at the university.

As a child, Chet Garner, JD '06, toured Texas in his family's Suburban, stopping at most every small town museum and barbecue joint along the way. After graduating at the top of his class from Baylor Law School in 2006, Garner has returned to his first love as host and producer of "The Daytripper," airing [...]

Whether you live in Waco or Warsaw, Texas or Timbuktu, there are plenty of ways to stay connected to Baylor. Over 25,000 Bears have already become fans of Baylor on the University's official Facebook page, where you'll find news, videos, photo albums and more.
Still want more? There's also:

Twitter, where @BaylorProud is just one of many [...]

As we noted last week, the Baylor family lost a good one last week when longtime professor Robert Reid passed away at the age of 88. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. this Thursday at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Waco, with a public graveside service the next day at 2 p.m. [...]

Two years ago, a Baylor University researcher developed an effective and accurate electromagnetic sensor that provides diabetics a noninvasive alternative to reading their blood glucose levels. There was just one problem: it was too big to carry around.

Baylor University lost one of its great ambassadors Thursday when longtime professor Robert Reid passed away a week after his 88th birthday.
Reid first came to Baylor in 1946, earning his master’s degree in history a year later. He then headed to Brown University for his doctoral work, but before he could complete it, he answered [...]

Juliana Feden, the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program winner, will teach Portuguese each semester for the 2010-2011 school year.

It's easy to find information on Judge Ken Starr's impressive professional career; as one friend noted, "his resume is on Wikipedia." Seeing him last week at the Baylor men's basketball Elite Eight game with a friend of his -- former President George H.W. Bush -- I started wondering what exactly led him to Baylor and [...]

The director of the Baylor University School of Social Work's doctoral program will receive the University of Hong Kong Young Scholar Award for Outstanding Abstract at the 2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development in June.

Two non-resident research fellows of the Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) - Dr. Jiexia (Elisa) Zhai and Dr. J. Gordon Melton - have been named recipients of a Pentecostal and Charismatic Research Initiative Grant from the University of Southern California's Center for Religion and Civic Culture. The grant will allow the ISR researchers to pursue a focused study of the True Jesus Church, the largest Pentecostal movement operating among Chinese Christians worldwide.

For years, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have been advertised as “two great tastes that taste great together.” The same could be said of a new Baylor research project that over the next three years will examine the impact of religious communities on entrepreneurial behavior.
After all, in Baylor you have one of the world’s foremost Christian [...]

The Official Baylor University Facebook page, the place for celebrating the good news about Baylor University and the entire Baylor family, hit 25,000 fans this month, giving the Baylor family even more reason to celebrate.

Three Baylor University juniors - Katie Jo Baumgardner of Louisburg, Kan., Saralyn Salisbury of Cypress and Kaitlin Speer of San Antonio - are among 176 finalists for the 2010 Truman Scholarship, which recognizes college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service.

Students at Baylor University will spread across the Waco community to celebrate a day of service with Baylor's biannual Steppin' Out at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 27. Steppin' Out brings together student organizations to give back to the Waco community, whether it's painting homes, picking up trash from the shores of Lake Waco or cleaning up local elementary schools.

Men who channeled positive thoughts into a five-week writing assignment about their testicular cancer showed signs of improved mental health afterward, in contrast to men who wrote negatively or neutrally about their condition, according to results of a Baylor University pilot study.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, rain coming down, and a strong north wind blowing about 30 mph, Student Foundation leaders had to make the difficult decision to cancel Saturday’s Bearathon. But that didn’t keep a hardy group of about 50 competitors from running the race — led by senior Matt Ison (pictured at right [...]

As Baylor football opened its spring football practice on March 16, the team's indoor practice facility has earned a major environmental rating. As a result, Baylor University's Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility has become the nation's first true football field house to be awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Rating by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in its New Construction rating system.

For years, Nancy Parrish, MA '80, has led the push to honor the Fly Girls of World War II -- female pilots who, after serving their country during WWII, were ignored for decades. If that story sounds familiar, you might be remembering an exhibit you saw at Baylor's Mayborn Museum, the cover story from the [...]

The McBride Center for International Business at Baylor University will host the Global Business Forum from Tuesday, March 23, to Friday, March 26 in the Cashion Academic Building of the Hankamer School of Business on the Baylor campus. The forum will include prominent international speakers, film presentations and panel discussions by international students. All lectures and activities will focus on the theme of "International Issues in Health Care."

It’s not every day you get to meet one of the world’s most successful businessmen, so Baylor students soaked in the experience during a recent trip to Omaha, Neb., where they joined several other college groups in meeting with multibillionaire investor Warren Buffett.
Buffett — recently recognized as the world’s third-richest man by Forbes, behind only [...]

It's been an interesting couple of years for Michelle Smith, BA '91.
Since 2001, Smith has worked for the Federal Reserve Board as Assistant to the Board and Director of the Office of Board Members. As such, she has served as the Federal Reserve Board's chief spokesperson, beginning during Alan Greenspan's tenure as chairman. Smith nearly [...]

A Baylor University researcher, who has conducted extensive research on how couples can best resolve relationship conflicts, has created a conflict resolution web site for couples totally based on his research.

Richard Wilbur, U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer-prize winner, will give this year's Albaugh Lecture, "An Evening with Richard Wilbur," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, in the Barfield Drawing Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center on the Baylor campus.

University officials announced Thursday that an anonymous Baylor graduate has pledged his or her estate, conservatively estimated to be in the $200 million range, to the University. The funds will benefit medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work, and other programs.
When numbers that large are tossed around, some [...]

Habitat for Humanity was founded in Georgia in 1976; eleven years later, Baylor Habitat became the first Habitat Campus Chapter in the world. Today, there are nearly 500 campus chapters at U.S. high schools and colleges, and Baylor’s — the granddaddy of them all, so to speak — is still going strong.
Baylor Habitat for Humanity [...]

Baylor University announced today what will be the largest gift in the university's history, an estate provision estimated to be valued in the range of $200 million to benefit medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work and other university programs. The gift is the second-largest gift made to a Texas college or university and ranks among the top 20 private gifts made to higher education in the United States.

Baylor University researchers have received a $250,000 grant from the Texas Environmental Health Institute to study water pollution from the San Jacinto River waste pits near the Houston Ship Channel. The Baylor researchers will study how the pollution, including cancer-causing compounds known as dioxins and furans, spread from the soil into the fish and ecosystem.

For over 20 years, Baylor has held a strong leadership role in the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), a global competition sponsored by IBM with over 22,000 participants from nearly 2,000 universities. Students from 82 countries on every continent but Antarctica participate in regional competitions that advance teams on to the annual ACM-ICPC World [...]

Alumnus and friend of Baylor University, Dr. William "Will" Bowman Long of Belton, Texas, died Feb. 23, 2010, at the age of 88. Visitation will be held at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton, on Friday, Feb. 26, from 5-7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church in Belton, on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m. Having established a lasting legacy of kindness and philanthropy, Long is survived by his wife, Mary (BA '44, MA '65) and their four children -- all Baylor graduates -- 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Baylor University's Bearathon on March 20 will be the nation's first cup-free half-marathon, an event that will promote greener racing in the running world.

The Baylor University Libraries' Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, a popular download among the university's content available on iTunes U, is a digital record and catalog of the most at-risk music from the black gospel music tradition from the 1940s to the 1980s. Sixteen songs from the project are available as a free download on iTunes U, a dedicated area within the iTunes U Store.

Please join Baylor University Board of Regents Chair R. Dary Stone, J.D. '77, as he introduces Kenneth Winston Starr, J.D, as the 14th President of Baylor University, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Barfield Drawing Room of the Bill Daniel Student Center.

If you've been around Baylor for any length of time, you know of Drayton McLane Jr.'s long involvement with the University. The 1958 graduate served as a Baylor Trustee/Regent from 1988-2006, including a term as Chairman of the Board from 2002-04. During McLane's tenure as Chairman, Baylor's endowment grew significantly, its athletic programs took significant [...]

The Baylor University Board of Regents today approved a new research-oriented doctoral program - a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering - reflecting the university's commitment to the newly established Central Texas Technology and Research Park, and the park's first project, the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC).

Kenneth W. Starr, J.D., has had a distinguished career in academia, the law and public service. He has served since 2004 as the Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law at Pepperdine, where he teaches current constitutional issues and civil procedure. He also is of counsel to the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he was a partner from 1993 to 2004, specializing in appellate work, antitrust, federal courts, federal jurisdiction and constitutional law.

Baylor University announced today a significant gift from Bill and Mary Jo Robbins and the Robbins Foundation of Houston in support of the MBA Healthcare Program within Baylor's Hankamer School of Business. The Robbinses' generous gift will help the already successful program and position Baylor and its students as internationally recognized leaders in the fields of health policy, research and education.

When I worked in athletics, I lost track of the number of other schools that would come to play Baylor and marvel at our athletics complex along the Brazos River. Since then, Baylor has only continued to improve its athletic facilities, as venues like the Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility, the Alwin O. and Dorothy [...]

Baylor University students are organizing several ways the campus can help the people of Haiti and all those affected by the recent earthquake -- from Student Government collecting donations for immediate relief to the journalism department asking students to "Give the Shirt Off Your Back."

Baylor University offices and campus facilities will vary their operating hours during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. University administrative offices will be closed for the Christmas break Dec. 24-Jan 3.

A new half-hour weekly radio show airing on KWBU-FM features the great stories from Texas history found in the rich archives of the largest collection of Texana in the Lone Star State. "Treasures of The Texas Collection" airs on KWBU-FM 103.3 at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Baylor University announced today the naming of the Hurd Tennis Building within the Baylor Tennis Center. The Hurd Tennis Building honors the generosity of Mark V. and Paula R. Hurd's support of Baylor's national championship tennis program and facilities.

The Prichard Family Foundation has established the Lev H. Prichard III Traditional Black Music Restoration Endowed Fund, enhancing Baylor University's undertaking of a one-of-a-kind initiative to restore and preserve the profound influence of this genre of music.

The Baylor University Board of Regents approved the first doctoral program for the four-year old School of Social Work, which has grown from 75 students to more than 250 in its short history.

Baylor University is mourning the death of leading entrepreneur and unrelenting philanthropist, Paul J. Meyer of Waco, who passed away yesterday at the age of 81. A Baylor Alumnus Honoris Causa, Meyer established a legacy of generosity and forward thinking that will not be forgotten or cease to affect lives across the country and beyond.

WACO, TX--Donating $85,000 to Camp Success, Baylor University's summer literacy program, is only the tip of the iceberg for Waco Scottish Rite. Completely funded by Waco Scottish Rite, donations to Camp Success total nearly $500,000 over the past seven years. And the members of Scottish Rite also consistently give their time, energy and heart to the camp because they believe in the impact the program makes on each child involved.

From more than 2,300 schools surveyed by Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review, Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business has been recognized as having one of the top 50 entrepreneurship programs in the country. Baylor ranked No. 4 in the undergraduate category of the survey.

Baylor University's Accounting program is one of the best in the country, according to the results released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for first-time candidates who took the 2008 Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

The Baylor University Department of Religion will host the annual McGee Lecture Series, featuring scholars Wayne Flynt and Paul Fiddes, on Sept. 24 and Oct. 7 in Miller Chapel in the Tidwell Bible Building.

Baylor University's most recent facility is one that will enable the Baylor Football team to practice rain or shine -- preparing them for victory all year-round. The dedication ceremony for this facility, the Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility -- one of the finest indoor practice facilities in the Big 12 -- will be Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3:30 p.m.

Sandy and Gretchen McCormack of Katy, Texas, have been named Baylor University's Parents of the Year for 2009. The couple will be honored during the halftime ceremony of the Baylor vs. Connecticut football game Sept. 19 in Waco, Texas.

Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing dedicated the Barnabas Success Center and the Diane Roose Brinkman Study Room, facilities devoted to positioning Baylor nursing students for success in their academic and professional lives, on Friday, Sept. 11. The dedication is one in a series of events in celebration of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing's Centennial.

Despite a challenging economy, Baylor University has enrolled 14,614 students, the largest overall enrollment in university history, according to official 12th-day enrollment statistics compiled by the Office of Institutional Research and Testing. The university also enrolled its second largest and most diverse freshman class.

Are you one of the 2,500 Bears who have signed up on Facebook as fans of Baylor University? The official Baylor Facebook page launched a week ago with videos, photos, event listings and more. For instance, have you seen the new Baylor TV commercial that debuted this month? It’s on Facebook!
Scroll through photos of campus [...]

For the second consecutive year, Baylor University welcomed to campus its second-largest and most diverse freshman class in university history, as more than 3,000 students moved into university residence halls prior to the start of the fall semester. Although enrollment isn't official until the 12th class day, nearly 3,100 freshmen are attending classes at Baylor, only the third time ever that freshman enrollment has topped 3,000.

George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University will honor five people as honorary alumni during its fall convocation on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Baylor University announced Aug. 18 the completion of funding for the Baylor School of Social Work's first endowed faculty positions. The Diana R. Garland Endowed Chair in Child and Family Services in the School of Social Work and the Dorothy Barfield Kronzer Endowed Professorship in Family Studies will help attract and retain top-flight faculty, promoting the growth and prestige of Baylor's youngest school.

Members of the Baylor University Presidential Search Committee met July 22 to discuss the progress of the current search for the university's 14th president. With the help of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, and with the benefit of input provided during listening sessions with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members, the search committee has worked with Jerry Baker, principal of the national search firm of Baker and Associates of Atlanta, to develop the profile necessary for the next president of Baylor.

I was sorry to hear yesterday of the passing of Dr. Faber McMullen, a longtime Baylor supporter who, along with his wife Roxanna, made the McMullen-Connally Faculty Center possible just last year.
I got to meet Dr. McMullen (BS ‘53, MD ‘56) at the Faculty Center’s dedication last year, and he was quite an interesting man. [...]

Eighteen students were chosen recently to receive the initial endowment scholarships made possible through a $4 million gift from the estate of Baylor University benefactor Allene Hubler, who designated the money for Baylor's Ministry Guidance program.

Baylor University alumnus Dr. Faber F. McMullen Jr. of Bellaire, Texas, passed away July 19. With his wife, Roxanna Connally McMullen, Dr. McMullen was an advocate for education as well as a lover of art, and he eagerly shared these passions with Baylor University.

A recent Baylor University music graduate from Copperas Cove has become the university's sixth recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 2009, bringing the total number of Baylor students who have received the honor to 20 since 2001.

Baylor University announced today a $500,000 gift from the DeBakey Medical Foundation, establishing the Michael E. DeBakey, Selma DeBakey and Lois DeBakey Endowed Scholarship Fund in Medical Humanities at Baylor University. The scholarship will allow recipients, who will be designated as DeBakey Scholars, to continue the legacy of a family that has revolutionized the field of medicine in many ways.

Baylor University's quality as a top choice for students has been recognized in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and more recently by The Fiske Guide to Colleges. Now, a national publication in the field of higher education has recognized Baylor University as a high quality employer. Baylor is cited in eight categories as a "Great College to Work For" by The Chronicle of Higher Education's annual survey, released today.

Baylor University is one of only 44 public and private colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Great Britain - and the only Texas Big 12 institution - named a "Best Buy" in the 2010 edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges, a best-selling independent source of information for college-bound students and their parents.

Baylor University announced today a significant gift from the estate of Lee and Millie Harris of Bartlesville, Okla., establishing the M. Lee and Millie Harris Endowed Scholarship Fund in the Hankamer School of Business. The scholarship honors the couple's three granddaughters who each earned degrees from Baylor's business school: Stacy Lessman (BBA '93) of Yukon, Okla., Lori Rodgers (BBA '97) of Frisco, Texas, and Kristi Blauser (BBA '00) of Rockwall, Texas.

Baylor University's Presidential Search Committee wrapped up its scheduled listening sessions this week with three events for alumni and friends.

The Baylor University Board of Regents at its spring meeting today approved a $389 million operating budget for 2009-2010. The board also elected new regents and approved the conversion of an existing master of science in education degree with specialization in health education to a master of public health degree with specialization in community health education (MPH-CHE).

Leaders in the Central Texas and Baylor University communities joined together to celebrate the Baylor/Waco Foundation's "Big 5-0" with an anniversary dinner on April 28. Gathering at Baylor's Mayborn Museum Complex, the organization commemorated its golden anniversary of serving as a hometown support group and stirred up excitement for the 50th anniversary campaign.

As the Class of 2009 prepares to graduate, these seniors are taking a moment to pass the torch to future generations of Baylor students and leave their legacy at the University they love. Students raised more than $20,000 to support the Senior Class Gift Endowed Scholarship and the addition of an Eternal Flame atop the Immortal Ten Memorial on campus.

Baylor University Alumnus Honoris Causa Lev H. Prichard III, 72, of Corpus Christi, passed away April 7. Prichard was initiated into the Baylor family through his wife, Ella, and friends and had long been an enthusiastic and generous supporter of the university.

One of the world's largest collections of American Children's Glass is on permanent display - several pieces at a time - in the Mayborn Museum Complex's newest Discovery Room in the Jeanes Discovery Center. "Aunt Blanche's Tea Room" was dedicated and opened to the public for the first time on March 7, becoming the museum's 17th Discovery Room that provides visitors with hands-on, interactive learning activities.

Baylor University Board of Regents Chair Dr. Howard K. Batson today announced the appointment of a Presidential Search Committee who will lead the national effort to select the university's 14th president.

Baylor University is mourning the death of Horton Foote, one of America's leading playwrights and screenwriters and Baylor's Visiting Distinguished Dramatist, who died Wednesday in Hartford, Conn., at the age of 92.

The Baylor University Board of Regents today approved a new doctoral program in curriculum and teaching in the School of Education that will address the growing need for more high quality university-based teacher educators to prepare the next generation of teachers for public, private and Christian school service.

Fred and Princess Cameron of Houston will receive one of the most distinguished awards given by Baylor University - the Founders Medallion - at a ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, during Chapel. Established in 1969, the Founders Medal is reserved for men and women whose service and contributions have been unusually significant to the life and future of the university.

Four Baylor University psychology professors have started the Baylor Addictions Research Consortium, a new community substance abuse and dependence education program that brings to the Waco area the first structured educational program taught by research experts in substance abuse and dependence.

For the second consecutive year, Baylor University has been ranked as one of the nation's top 50 "Best Values in Private Colleges and Universities," according to findings published in the February 2009 edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.

A Baylor University researcher has discovered a new species of pea existing in the Hill Country, adding to the nearly 300 species of legumes in the state.

Athletics Complex Brings Baylor Athletics to Forefront of Big 12 Training Facilities

Baylor University formally dedicated the much-anticipated Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center Friday, Dec. 12, during a ceremony in the center's Champions Gallery.

School's oldest living letterwinner passes away at 95.

Baylor University gained yards in its quest for gridiron glory with the Nov. 15 groundbreaking ceremony of the Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility. The facility provides a critical component of the vision for the Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and will provide Baylor student-athletes with a premier practice space as they strive for victory.

Baylor University's Class of 2009 has taken to heart W.B. Yeats' words, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." This year's Baylor senior class gift will light the fire of education, both figuratively and literally.

The Baylor University Board of Regents today announced that the university has received a significant naming gift from Baylor alumni Jay and Jenny Reid Allison of Frisco, Texas, for the Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility, which will complete the Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletic Complex. The announcement came at the conclusion of the board's annual Homecoming meeting.

Going forward, head coach Art Briles and the Baylor football program will receive a boost from today’s announcement of the lead gift for an indoor football practice facility. The Jay and Jenny Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility will be constructed adjacent to the Highers Athletics Complex, located between University Parks Drive and the Brazos River [...]

Baylor University will hold its 99th Homecoming celebration Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 with a variety of traditional events and activities for students and alumni.

Baylor University Alumnus Honoris Causa Harry Chavanne passed away Oct. 24 in Houston at the age of 96. Along with his wife, Baylor alumna Hazel Prince Chavanne, who preceded him in death, the couple was committed to serving students and promoting Christian ethics education at Baylor.

East Texas Baptist University today named Dr. Dub Oliver, vice president for student life at Baylor University, as ETBU's president, effective June 1, 2009. He will succeed current ETBU President Bob E. Riley, who will retire next summer after 17 years as the university's president.

Baylor University will host the 27th annual Missions Week from Oct. 13-17, allowing the Baylor community to interact with missionaries from around the world.

John and Jenny Grogan didn't realize just how much their lives would change when they adopted Marley, a tiny Labrador Retriever puppy. John Grogan's 2005 memoir of "life and love with the world's worst dog" struck a chord with animal lovers around the world who made the book number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Grogan's presentation at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 at Baylor University's Waco Hall is titled "Follow Your Dreams: Write What Is in Your Heart; Success Will Follow." The talk is hosted by Baylor University Libraries at the seventh annual Ferguson-Clark Author Lecture Series.

Four generations of the Wolf-Sims family have attended Baylor University, and the family will be honored Oct. 10 with the 2008 First Family of Baylor Award given by the Baylor Alumni Association.

Jim and Joanna Heffington Nelson of Austin have been named Baylor University's Parents of the Year for 2008. The couple will be honored during the halftime ceremony of the Baylor vs. Iowa State football game Oct. 11 at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Faber and Roxanna Connally McMullen never forgot the stalwart commitment of Baylor faculty. After all, it was Baylor faculty who laid the groundwork for Dr. Faber McMullen Jr.'s career as a respected cardiologist. The McMullen-Connally Faculty Center, complete with the McMullen-Connally Family Art Collection, was dedicated Oct. 3, in tribute to the McMullens' parents, as well as professors who went the extra mile to serve students.

Parents can experience what life is like as a "Baylor Bear" through various traditions and activities as Baylor University hosts 2008 Parents Weekend on Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, on the Baylor campus.

The Baylor University Libraries dedicated the Ray I. Riley Digitization Center and the Dottie S. Riley Conference Room during a ceremony on Oct. 3. The facilities' completion marks a significant step forward in the digitization capabilities of Baylor Libraries.

Baylor Law School has awarded its prestigious Leon Jaworski Scholarship to Elena Cincione of Chicago. The full-tuition scholarship, named for the Baylor Law alumnus who served as Special Prosecutor during the Watergate crisis, is awarded to incoming law students who have outstanding records in advocacy programs, such as debate, mock trial and moot court.

Mike Blackman, a Baylor University journalism graduate and veteran reporter and editor, has joined his alma mater as the Fred Hartman Distinguished Professor of Journalism. As the newest addition to the journalism department, Blackman will bring in several prestigious speakers throughout the year.

Baylor University has enrolled 14,541 students, the largest overall enrollment in university history, according to official 12th-day enrollment statistics compiled by the Office of Institutional Research and Testing. The university also enrolled its second largest and most diverse freshman class, as well as record numbers of students in the Graduate School and George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Baylor University officials continue to closely monitor the path of Hurricane Ike, which is expected to strike along the Texas Gulf coast sometime early Saturday morning. As of Sept. 11, there are no plans to close the university. Hurricane-related announcements will be posted at a special website: http://www.baylor.edu/ike.

Dedicated Baylor University alumnus and former trustee Milfred Lewis of Missouri City, Texas, passed away Sept. 2 in Houston. A lifelong leader, he advanced Baylor through his generous philanthropy to the university, including the naming gift for the Lewis Art Building of the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center in the late 1970s, as well as nine years of service on the Board of Trustees.

The Baylor University Student Foundation recently was selected as the 2008 Association of Student Advancement Programs' (ASAP) Outstanding Student Foundation. The announcement was made during the 2008 ASAP Network Convention in Salt Lake City.

Baylor's new McMullen-Connally Faculty Center is open for business with the start of the fall 2008 semester, and the spacious structure serves a variety of functions.

Dr. Howard K. Batson, chairman of the Baylor University Board of Regents, announced today the appointment of Dr. David E. Garland as interim president of Baylor University. Garland will succeed Harold R. Cunningham, who has been acting president since July 2008.

Before America's Super Bowl every year, there's one question as anticipated as the game itself: who will sing the national anthem? So who will perform the national anthem (or anthems) before Sunday's finals of the European Soccer Championship, a worldwide stage that rivals the Super Bowl? Texas native and Baylor University graduate Eddie Gauntt will perform the German national anthem before Sunday's internationally televised match in Vienna between Germany and Spain.

Husband-and-wife deans at Baylor University, David and Diana Garland, have joined seminary and social work forces and been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to educate and equip indigenous church leaders for effective, holistic ministry in their home cultures.

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has introduced a groundbreaking bilingual scholarship program that will offer up to $1 million to Spanish-speaking students at accredited graduate social work programs in Texas in the next three years.

ExxonMobil's most recent matching gift to Baylor University brought the entity to more than $5 million in cumulative gifts given to the university through the ExxonMobil Foundation's Educational Matching Gift Program. More than $370,000 was given this year as a three-to-one match of gifts made by the company's employees and retirees.

A Baylor University language and literacy program has received a generous gift of $82,000 from Waco Scottish Rite.

Six inspirational projects, combined with support from more than 240 Central Texas businesses and individuals, helped lead to success for the 2008 Baylor/Waco Foundation fundraising campaign.

Three Baylor University students - including one who has been awarded the prestigious honor for the second consecutive year - have received Critical Language Scholarships to study in Russia during a two-month intensive program this summer.

Baylor University has received a $200,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to conduct the first national research on clergy sexual abuse of adults. The unprecedented initiative - announced by Dr. Diana Garland, dean of Baylor's School of Social Work and director of the study - will help communities and congregations develop new practices and policies to prevent clergy sexual abuse and ensure that survivors receive appropriate care.

The Baylor University Board of Regents at its spring meeting today approved a $366 million operating budget for 2008-09. The board also elected Dr. Howard K. Batson of Amarillo to serve a one-year term as chair, effective June 1. Donell Teaff of Waco was elected vice chair. Regents also approved two new degree programs - a bachelor of science in computing (BSC) degree and a nurse midwifery doctorate in nursing practice (NM/DNP) degree.

Two Baylor University seniors - Lauren Hughes of Cedar Creek Lake and Cleyera Martin of Kemp - have been selected to receive the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, bringing the number of Baylor students who have received the honor since 2001 to 14. The flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, the Fulbright Program is designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries."

Two recent Baylor Law graduates were among the top three scorers on the February 2008 Texas Bar Exam. Thomas Keane of Dallas received the second highest score on the exam, while Ashley DeForest of Houston received the third highest score. Stephen Shackelford Jr., who received his law degree from Harvard, was the top scorer.

The Martin Museum of Art at Baylor University has been chosen as the recipient of the 2008 Exhibition Award by the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art (CASETA). The announcement was made at the organization's annual symposium held April 12-13 in Fort Worth.

Residents in some rural Texas counties with a small population are less likely to be issued a severe thunderstorm warning by the National Weather Service than if they live in an urban county with a large population, even though the storm's intensity might be the same. That's just one of the findings from a Baylor University study looking at the issuance of severe weather reports and severe thunderstorm warnings over a 20-year period.

Baylor freshmen Amanda Mitchell and Samantha Stephenson won second place in the Spring 2008 Capsim Foundation(R) International Challenge, a global online business simulation competition designed to teach the essential elements of running a business. Each participating team ran a $40 million company for five to eight years in the online simulation, which emphasizes finance, cause and effect relationships between functional areas, competitive analysis and satisfying customer demand.

Catherine Sykes, a Baylor University graduate student in social work from Glen Allen, Va., received inspiration for her research project while sitting at breakfast one morning. Because she had at one time suffered from an eating disorder, and saw many of her friends still suffering, she wondered what she could do to address the situation. Her cereal box gave her the answer.

Two Baylor Law School students who will clerk for the Texas Supreme Court will take part in commencement exercises this Saturday. Josh Fogelman and Jeff Watters, who will begin their clerkships in the fall, are part of a graduating class of 70 students who will receive their juris doctor degrees at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, in Jones Concert Hall at the Glennis McCrary Music Building on the Baylor campus.

Dr. Robert Darden, associate professor of journalism at Baylor University, has been selected for the 2008 Baylor Centennial Professor award, which will allow him to research black gospel artists and the effects of their music on the Civil Rights Movement. The award coincides with Darden's work on Baylor's Black Gospel Music Restoration Project.

Baylor University's Board of Regents approved a new doctoral degree program in information systems, the first Ph.D. program to be offered at Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.

The Baylor University Board of Regents at its February meeting today approved plans to construct the Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center, a $34 million complex that will integrate the Baylor athletics department and football program into the campus environment for the first time in the modern era.

Baylor University's Board of Regents today approved the construction of the $1.3 million Carlile Geology Research Building, which will be built adjacent to the Baylor Sciences Building. Regents today also approved a new research institute and two doctoral degree programs, as the university continues to add to its research infrastructure.

Dr. Bill Petty teaches more than numbers in his entrepreneurial finance course. Petty, Professor of Finance and the W.W. Caruth Chair of Entrepreneurship, has received the national Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year award from the Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence, a nonprofit organization that trains and inspires entrepreneur- teachers to assist aspiring entrepreneurs of the future.

Baylor University alumna and former Baylor First Lady Mary Russell McCall was presented with one of the university's most distinguished awards - the Baylor University Founders Medallion - during the Jan. 28 Founders Day ceremony in Waco Hall. Established in 1969, the Founders Medal is reserved for men and women whose service and contributions have been unusually significant to the life and future of the university.

This news release was generated by Baylor and picked up by many outlets such as The Waco Tribune-Herald, KWTX-TV in Waco, AOL Money and Finance, (a site that receives 15,635,000 visitors per day), Forbes.com, ADVFN.com, Bolsamania Web Financial Group, Breitbart.com, EarthTimes.org, East Bay Business Times, Inside Collin County Business, MarketWatch, MySan.de, RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., RCR Wireless News, Sacramento Business Journal, San Francisco Business Times, San Jose Business Journal, State House News Service, Biloxi Sun Herald, TheStreetInsider.com, etc.

Baylor University has named Dr. Stephen D. Davis, Distinguished Professor of Biology at Pepperdine University, as the 2008 recipient of the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, the only national teaching award - with the single largest monetary reward of $200,000 - presented by a college or university to an individual for exceptional teaching.

Baylor University offices and campus facilities will vary their regular operating hours during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. University administrative offices, with the exception of the development office and other essential services, will be closed for the Christmas break Dec. 22-Jan. 1.

Baylor University's Class of 2008 represents students from different backgrounds, majors, organizations and ambitions. However, these students are united by more than a common graduation year, as more than 84 percent of Baylor students receive financial aid of some kind to attend Baylor. Starting this year, Baylor's senior class gift will establish and support an endowed scholarship fund that will allow more students to experience Baylor, thanks to Baylor students who went before them.

After nearly a decade in the making, the 9-foot-tall, 1,200-pound Pyfer bear sculpture has a new home in front of Baylor University's McLane Student Life Center. The bronze sculpture, created by Dr. Douglas W. Crow, professor of German and sculptor-in-residence at Baylor, and funded through a generous gift by Carol (Trice) and John F. Pyfer of Lancaster, Pa., was installed Nov. 12 in the island circle in front of the SLC.

Baylor University announced today a $5 million gift from Clifton and Betsy Robinson of Waco that will provide the financial means for some of the nation's highest achieving high school students to obtain a top education at Baylor.

Russell and Betty Pilcher of Highlands Ranch, Colo., were honored as Baylor University's Parents of the Year for 2007, during the halftime ceremony of the Baylor vs. Colorado football game Oct. 6 in Waco, Texas.

Athletics--check. Ronan Tynan has won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records. Medicine--check. To be exact, he is a physician specializing in orthopedic sports injuries. Performing arts--check. From winning the International Operatic Singing Competition, to performing as one of the Irish Tenors, to cutting a gold record, Tynan is accomplished in this arena too. And then there's the memoir, so he's a published author as well.

Longtime Baylor University supporter and Alumna Honoris Causa Eula Mae Baugh passed away Aug. 29 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 89. Baugh and her late husband, John F. Baugh, were ardent supporters of Baylor. From serving in volunteer and leadership roles for the university to generous financial support, the Baughs left an indelible impression on the University and the Texas Baptist community.

Baylor University's Habitat for Humanity chapter will mark its 20th anniversary with Project Build Hope, a venture that will bring together Baylor freshmen on a project like few before. The class of 2011 will start its Baylor experience together by framing out a Habitat house on campus during Welcome Week.

The Baylor University Board of Regents concluded its three-day July retreat on Friday, approving the formation of the Baylor Advanced Research Institute (BARI) and upgrading the medical humanities program, and announced Baylor's plans to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the first Baptist churches with a year-long celebration beginning in fall 2008.

Baylor University announced today a $1.2 million gift from the estate of John Reagan Harris of Center, Texas, that will establish the John Reagan Harris Endowed Scholarship Fund, as well as the John Reagan Harris Endowed Music Ministry Excellence Fund within the Baylor School of Music's Center for Christian Music Studies.

Jack Folmar, a former Baylor University trustee and regent designated an Alumnus Honoris Causa for his dedication to the university, died Monday, July 9, in Dallas. A memorial service for Folmar will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 13, at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, with a reception immediately following.

Dr. David Garland, dean of Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, has announced the appointment of Dr. Dennis Tucker, associate professor of Christian scripture, as associate dean of the seminary.

Baylor University is among the most productive research universities in the nation, according to a new study released by Academic Analytics, a corporation based in Stony Brook, N.Y. that measures faculty scholarly productivity. Baylor also placed in the top 10 among large research universities in Texas, defined as institutions with 15 or more Ph.D. programs across multiple disciplines.

A physical monument is in place for the first time in Baylor University history to honor the memory of 10 students, known as the Immortal Ten, who died in a tragic accident near Austin more than 80 years ago.

Baylor University has added another Fulbright Scholar to its growing number of students who have received the prestigious honor. Joy McCullough, a recent University Scholar graduate from Los Alamos, N.M., will study aquatic toxicology in Finland beginning this fall on a Fulbright Scholarship.

Baylor University held a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony for the McMullen-Connally Faculty Center on Friday, May 11, at the construction site on South Fifth Street between Speight and Bagby Avenues.

Baylor University ceremonially broke ground for the Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center on Thursday, May 10, at the construction site on University Parks Drive. The main focus of the Victory with Integrity campaign for Baylor athletics, this $34 million facility will enhance both Baylor football and the development of all student-athletes.

Baylor University President John M. Lilley released the following statement today about the passing of Ruth Graham, wife of renowned evangelist Billy Graham and mother of Baylor regent Anne Graham Lotz.

Love letters written by a Civil War soldier in the early 1860s have crossed into the digital age, thanks to a local physician and the Baylor University Electronic Library.

A $250,000 gift from Don A. and Ruth Vernon Buchholz of Dallas brought Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing Simulator Fund halfway to its goal - and comes with a challenge for other School of Nursing supporters to fully fund the $500,000 project.

Longtime Baylor University supporter Anna Elizabeth Sturgis Jeanes died at her home in Waco on June 6. Jeanes was a beloved wife, friend, community leader and member of the Baylor family.

Baylor University announced today that the Baylor University's Martin Museum of Art and the Mayborn Museum's Traveling Exhibit Program will benefit from an endowment funded by the Virginia Frances Webb estate.

Following services this morning at First Baptist Church of Waco for Baylor University President Emeritus Herbert H. Reynolds, the funeral procession of vehicles will proceed during the noon hour through the Baylor campus. The procession will travel along on Fifth Street to Oakwood Cemetery.

The Texas House of Representatives honored Baylor University President Emeritus Herbert H. Reynolds on Saturday, May 26, with a memorial resolution, HCR 277 by Rep. Jim Dunnam (BBA '86, JD '87). Both the House and Senate then adjourned in Reynolds' honor.

Baylor University President Emeritus Herbert H. Reynolds, the 11th president of Texas' oldest continuously operating university, died suddenly May 25 in Angel Fire, N.M. He was 77.

Baylor University's Mayborn Museum Complex is pleased to announce its 2007 summer traveling exhibit - Wrapped in Tradition: The Chihuly Collection of American Indian Trade Blankets - which will be on display in the Thomas E. and Emilyne Weed Anding Traveling Exhibit Gallery at the museum from May 20-Aug. 18.

The Baylor University Board of Regents at its spring meeting today approved a $345 million operating budget for 2007-08. The board also elected officers, heard an alumni report and celebrated the groundbreakings of two significant facilities to be built on the Baylor campus.

Baylor University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the McMullen-Connally Faculty Center at 2 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the construction site on South Fifth Street between Speight and Bagby Avenues. A reception will follow immediately in the Ed Crenshaw Student Foundation Center.

Baylor University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the $34 million Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the construction site on University Parks Drive, near the Baylor Marina, bringing Baylor's football operations back to campus for the first time in the modern era.

Raising a five-figure dollar amount is a challenge. Raising it in small increments, at a suggested $25 per gift, is even more difficult. However, that is exactly what the Baylor class of 2007 did, and on April 24, they dedicated their senior class gift - landscaping the Draper/Old Main Complex courtyards.

In recognition of their vision, leadership and generosity to the university, Baylor University honored Ken and Celia Carlile of Marshall with the dedication of the Ken and Celia Carlile Atrium in the Baylor Sciences Building during a ceremony on April 25.

Longtime Baylor University servant-leader Dorothy Barfield Kronzer died April 14 at the age of 84. Kronzer's 67-year relationship with Baylor was characterized by her dedication to leadership positions on the Board of Trustees and Alumni Association executive board and her faithful philanthropy to the university.

Baylor University announced today that the university's Martin Museum of Art and Mayborn Museum's Traveling Exhibit Program will benefit from an endowment funded by the Virginia Frances Webb estate.

Bidding in the 1st Annual S3 Sports Memorabilia Auction will begin November 20 and continue into December. Each of the 16 professional sports teams on the Sports Sponsorship & Sales advisory board have contributed authentic game jerseys, helmets, and balls with your favorite players autographs to the fundraising event. The items will be auctioned on eBay.

Baylor University President John M. Lilley announced today that the Board of Regents has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Dennis A. Prescott, as Baylor's vice president for development. Prescott, a native Texan, currently serves as vice president for external affairs for Mississippi State University and chief executive officer of the MSU Foundation. He will assume his position at Baylor on Jan. 8, 2007.

The Baylor University School of Social Work is remembering friend and mentor C. Anne Davis who passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006. Davis was a pioneer of Christian social work. Alumni and friends of Dr. Davis have established a scholarship in her memory.

Baylor University President John M. Lilley announced today the appointment of Dr. Karla Leeper as chief of staff, effective June 1. Leeper, who currently serves as associate professor and acting chair of the department of communication studies, will succeed Professor Michael D. Morrison, who is returning to teaching duties at Baylor Law School.

Under the landmark Brooks arch, with nine members of the Samuel Palmer Brooks family looking on, Baylor University broke ground May 12 on Brooks Village, the university's newest residential community that is expected to open in fall 2007.

Baylor University will hold two dedication ceremonies today (Friday, April 28).

Professor Robert Darden's passion for the preservation of black gospel music inspires a major donation.

View the floor plans for Baylor Athletics' newest facility project.

The Baylor University Board of Regents at its spring meeting today approved a $317 million operating budget for 2006-07 and authorized the construction of a new facility off of University Parks Drive for the university's intercollegiate equestrian program.

Baylor University President John M. Lilley announced today the appointment of Dr. J. Randall O'Brien as executive vice president and provost, effective immediately. O'Brien has served as interim vice president for academic affairs and provost since June 1, 2005.

John Mark Lilley was inaugurated as Baylor University's thirteenth president Friday, April 21, in the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus. The event is available online here.

With all the tradition and pageantry of a time-honored ceremony, Baylor University inaugurated John Mark Lilley as the institution's 13th president April 21 in the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus. The ceremony, which included performances from the School of Music and a keynote address from Newsweek Managing Editor Jon Meacham, is available via streaming video at BaylorTV.com.

Baylor University presented the 2006 Milton T. Gregory Distinguished Service Award to Carroll and Aline Groner Webb of Waco, during the April 8 meeting of the Baylor Development Council.

James L. (Skip) Rutherford, the "major mover" behind the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark., will visit Baylor University on Wednesday, May 3, to discuss the value and impact of a presidential library on a local community.

In appreciation of his loyal support and commitment to Baylor University, Troy M. Mays of Amarillo, Texas, received one of the most distinguished awards given by Baylor - the 2006 Founders Medal - at a ceremony Jan. 30 at Baylor.

Willis Family Equestrian Center announced for equestrian team.

Baylor University's investment return rate of 14.2 percent on its endowment for fiscal year 2005 ranked the university in the top 6 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities (44th out of nearly 750 institutions), according to information released Jan. 23 by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).