The Conyers Graduate Scholars Program

What is the Conyers Graduate Scholars Program?

The Conyers Graduate Scholars program is an intensive program for Baylor doctoral students sponsored by the Graduate School and the Institute for Faith and Learning that encourages and supports gifted students who are interested in connections between faith, learning, and vocation.

The program convenes dinners and seminars in an effort to foster intellectually rich discussions about faith and scholarly inquiry as students are introduced to the writings of first-rate Christian scholars.

Named in honor of A.J. "Chip" Conyers (1944-2004), an esteemed and beloved professor of theology at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor, the Conyers Scholars program invites students to think of an academic career as a form of Christian service or a vocatio, a religious vocation. The Conyers Scholars program seeks to fulfill Baylor's responsibility to provide its students an opportunity to explore and prepare for service in the academy.

Students who are accepted into the program must meet high academic standards and demonstrate strong habits of study and research.

Program Activities

• Friday Symposium: Students gather at the home of faculty or pastoral leaders two to three times during the semester for a dinner and discussion of assigned readings that focuses on the relationship between scholarly disciplines and the Christian faith. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and is followed by a discussion from 7:00 to 8:30.
• On-campus lectures: Selected lectures featuring both members of Baylor's faculty and other institutions are chosen for group attendance.
• Book provision: Conyers Scholars are provided books and articles at no cost to themselves for use in group discussions.

Qualifications for Entrance into the Program

For the 2013-14 academic year, the invitation will be open to all doctoral programs.

Students must have completed one year of doctoral study and be in good standing within their academic programs. Students must also demonstrate an interest in faith-informed scholarship.

For application information, please send an email to Dr. Laine Scales.