About the Crane Scholars Program
What is the Crane Scholars Program?
Qualifications for Entrance into the Program
What Is the Crane Scholars Program?
Named in honor of William Carey Crane, the fourth president of Baylor, the Crane Scholars Program is an intensive program for Baylor undergraduates sponsored by the Institute for Faith and Learning that encourages and supports gifted students who are interested in connections between knowledge, learning, and Christian faith. The program seeks to identify and mentor students who are considering graduate school and careers in academic life in particular, though not all Cranes pursue a vocation in the academy. Whether a student's path leads to higher education or some other profession, the aim is to help cultivate the next generation of Christian scholars and professionals with a sense of vocation.
The program convenes dinners, seminars, and retreats in an effort to foster intellectually rich discussions about faith and scholarly inquiry as students are introduced to leading Christian scholars and their writings. In addition, the program seeks to provide resources and guidance to students applying to graduate programs in a variety of academic disciplines.
Above all, the Crane Scholars Program invites students to think of an academic or professional career as a form of Christian service or a vocatio, a religious vocation. Christian historian Nathan Hatch has written, "College faculty and administrators have no greater responsibility than to nurture a new generation of Christian thinkers. This means going the second mile to shepherd the young people who have the potential to be the next generation of Christian scholars. In an age when fewer of our very best students are willing to make the sacrifices required of an academic career, we must lead them to take up the calling of teaching and scholarship." No less is this true for those whose vocation leads outside of the academy. The Crane Scholars Program seeks to fulfill Baylor's responsibility to provide its best students an opportunity to explore and prepare for service in the Christian academy and to the world.
Students who elect to enter the program must meet high academic standards and develop habits of study and research.
Who Was William Carey Crane?
William Carey Crane, the fourth president of Baylor, was the best prepared, most widely read Baylor educator before the twentieth century. As a young man, he dedicated his life to the church and to Baptist higher education. Classically trained at some of the country's finest institutions, he was respected for his intelligence, erudition, and energy by political, religious, and educational leaders in Texas and beyond. A tireless worker, Crane virtually single-handedly saved Baylor from extinction during the dark days of the Civil War and Reconstruction. When not lecturing, writing, and speaking, he mended fences, painted buildings, and performed other menial tasks around Baylor. At night he tutored African-American students over his kitchen table. An eloquent speaker, Crane spoke regularly at churches, government bodies, teachers' conventions, and private organizations in addition to giving daily class lectures. A prolific writer, he wrote volumes of material that are now contained in the Texas Collection.
Familiar with the best English literature, philosophy, science, theological and biblical work of his day, Carey sought to relate the best of human learning to the best of the Christian faith. It is fitting, then, to honor William Carey Crane by identifying him as a model for today's Christian scholars at Baylor. The William Carey Crane Scholars Program endeavors to inspire young scholars to follow Crane's example of rigorous scholarship in service to the church. As the inscription on his tombstone reads, "He gave his life for the cause of education and religion."
Program Leaders
Dr. Lori Baker
Associate Professor of Anthropology, Forensic Science, and Archaeology
Senior Class Co-Leader
Dr. Todd Buras
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Sophomore Class Co-Leader
Dr. Elizabeth Corey
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Honors Program
Sophomore Class Co-Leader
Dr. Darin Davis
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Director, Institute for Faith and Learning
Senior Class Co-Leader
Dr. Michael Foley
Associate Professor of Patristics, Honors College
Junior Class Co-Leader
Dr. Scott Moore
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Great Texts
Junior Class Co-Leader
Dr. Michael Stegemoller
Associate Professor of Finance
Senior Class Co-Leader
Dr. Jason Whitt
Associate Director, Institute for Faith and Learning
Sophomore Class Co-Leader
Program Activities
- Friday Symposium: Students gather in the homes of faculty leaders several times during the semester for dinner and discussion that focuses on the relationship between the life of the mind and Christian faith.
- Conference Participation: Students periodically participate in conferences exploring faith and learning at Baylor as well as programs sponsored by peer institutes and centers. Students also may apply for support to attend academic conferences where they will present their own scholarly work.
- Annual Spring Retreat: Crane Scholars gather each Spring for a weekend retreat off campus, featuring shared worship, dining, recreation, and presentations from invited scholars that address the nature and importance of Christian vocation in the academy and beyond.
- On-campus lectures: Selected lectures featuring both members of Baylor's faculty and other institutions are chosen for group attendance.
- Book provision: Crane Scholars are provided books at no cost to themselves for use in group discussions.
Qualifications for Entrance into the Program
Since it is the express purpose of this program to prepare young scholars for entrance into the best graduate schools, only the finest students at Baylor may enter the program. Students must have and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5. Students also must demonstrate an interest in faith-informed scholarship.
For Further Information...
Contact Dr. Darin Davis by calling 254-710-4805 or email IFL@baylor.edu.