Baylor Regents Approve Formation of College of Health and Human Sciences

• Faculty Senate leaders present certificates of appreciation to Baylor alumni Regents, donors

Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275

WACO, Texas (May 16, 2014) – At its spring meeting today, the Baylor University Board of Regents voted to establish the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) by uniting four existing health-related academic units and creating a forward-looking organizational structure to advance the University's commitment to health-related education and research.

The anchor units that will collaborate to form the HHS – Communication Sciences and Disorders, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health, Human Performance and Recreation and the Louise Herrington School of Nursing – all share a common purpose of improving the quality of life of individuals, families and communities. However, the HHS will be broader in scope than some universities that focus solely on preparing students for careers in the health professions.

The HHS will draw upon Baylor's Christian mission and tradition in health care to prepare scholars and leaders who can translate theory into practice and advance knowledge of health, human behavior and quality of life. The HHS will create curricula that promote a team-based approach to patient care, establish interdisciplinary research collaborations and form the infrastructure for future health-related graduate programs.

The establishment of the HHS represents the culmination of more than three years of evaluation and input from numerous stakeholders, including Regents, the Provost's Office, deans, faculty and staff, external entities including health care partners, and the national consulting firm Grant Thornton.

"Baylor's name has been synonymous with excellence in health care for decades," said Elizabeth B. Davis, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost at Baylor. "The creation of the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) at Baylor represents an important step forward strengthening our position in health and wellness-related education, research and community engagement, within the context of Baylor's commitment to integrate faith and academic excellence."

In addition, Davis noted that bringing these academic units together in closer conversation and partnership will provide greater coordination and oversight of most health/human sciences-related programming, education, innovation and research at the University.

"Curricula will be strengthened and opportunities for research, creative endeavors and clinical experiences at Baylor will increase with a more coordinated effort as programs work together with external partners," Davis said.

Davis announced that Shelley F. Conroy, Ed.D., currently dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, has been appointed to a two-year term as the inaugural dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. Rodney G. Bowden, Ph.D., professor of health, human performance and recreation and associate dean for graduate programs and research in the School of Education, has been appointed executive associate dean of the HHS. The provost also has convened an implementation team that will work together to address important issues associated with the introduction of the new College and create a timeline for the launch of the HHS.

Budget, Pro Futuris five-year goals approved

In other board action, Baylor Regents approved a 2014-2015 budget of $518.5 million that reflects an increase of $30.8 million or 6.3 percent over the current year budget. It includes an additional $11.8 million to support scholarships, graduate assistantships, scholarships for graduate and professional students, and Yellow Ribbon Program scholarships for military veterans. Personnel costs will increase by $15.3 million or 5.2 percent, which will support 11 new full-time faculty positions, 52 replacement faculty positions and 29 new staff positions. The budget also supports merit raises for faculty and staff, more competitive stipends for graduate assistants and increased funding for student workers. The budget takes effect June 1.

In February, the administration of Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr presented to Baylor Regents for consideration a set of specific University-level goals to undergird implementation of Pro Futuris, Baylor's strategic vision adopted in 2012.

After receiving feedback from the board and input from areas across the campus, the administration presented – and Baylor Regents today endorsed – a final set of detailed goals which represent a future course of action that will advance high-level aspirations of Pro Futuris over the course of the next five years. These goals, available online at https://www.baylor.edu/profuturis, will inform the way that Baylor focuses its institutional resources and energies in the years to come, and permit the University to meaningfully demonstrate and measure its forward progress.

New Regents elected

The Board also elected three new Regents and welcomed one new Regent appointed last fall by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The new Board members who will begin their terms on June 1 are:
• Mark Hurd, B.B.A. '79, of Atherton, Calif., president of Oracle Corp.
• Neal Jeffrey, B.B.A. '75, of Highland Village, associate pastor of Prestonwood Baptist in Dallas
• Mark E. Lovvorn, B.B.A. '76, B.Acc. '77, of Dallas, chairman and CEO of Providence Bancshares Corp. and chairman of Providence Bank of Texas
• Dr. Dennis Ray Wiles, B.A. '81 (University of Alabama in Birmingham), M.Div. '85, Ph.D. '92 (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), of Arlington, Texas, pastor of First Baptist Church of Arlington, who was elected by the BGCT

"We are blessed to be able to add to our Regent membership these extraordinarily talented and dedicated servant leaders who love Baylor and want to see the University prosper in its impact on the world and in the lives of our students," said Richard Willis, B.B.A. '81, M.B.A. '82, chair of the Baylor Board of Regents. "These individuals bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the board, as well as a deep understanding of and commitment to the University's mission and vision. We look forward to serving alongside them in support of Baylor's powerful upward trajectory under Pro Futuris."

In addition, Willis was reelected to serve another one-year term as chair, while Robert E. Beauchamp of Houston was re-elected vice-chair. Five current Regents were reelected to three-year terms: Mark A. McCollum, B.B.A. '80, of Houston; Clifton Robinson, B.B.A. '63, of Waco; Jerry Kay T. Clements, J.D. '81, of Spicewood; Dr. Kenneth Q. Carlile, B.A. '69, D.D.S. '73, Ph.D. '96, of Marshall; and Jay Allison, B.B.A. '78, M.S. '80, J.D. '81, of Frisco. Milton Hixson, B.B.A. '72, of Austin, was reelected by the BGCT to another three-year term.

Elected by the board to serve one-year terms respectively as non-voting Faculty and Student Regents are Todd D. Still, Ph.D., professor of Christian Scriptures and holder of The William M. Hinson Chair of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and Jay Fields, a sophomore University Scholar from Kingwood. Mr. Fields is serving as a Student Regent for the first time, while Dr. Still will serve as Faculty Regent for a third consecutive year.

The board also has elected non-voting Regent members of the "B" Association and the Bear Foundation to serve one-year terms. Phil Duren, B.B.A. '72, of Woodway, from the "B" Association, will attend the Athletics and Conference Affiliation Committee meeting, while Chris Manning, B.B.A. '84, of Dallas, from the Bear Foundation, will attend both the Athletics and Conference Affiliation Committee and the board meetings. Next year, the "B" Association non-voting Regent will attend the committee and board meetings, while the Bear Foundation non-voting Regent will attend the committee meeting only.

The Board also expressed its appreciation to Regents who have completed their terms of service: R. Dary Stone, J.D. '77, of Dallas, Ramiro Pena Jr., B.A. '88, of Waco, Dr. Duane Brooks, B.A. '84, Ph.D. '91, of Houston and Taylor Hoogendoorn, a senior Baylor Business Fellow from Elmhurst, Ill., who completed his one-year term as Student Regent on the Baylor board. Stone and Pena have served nine years on Baylor's Board of Regents, while Brooks served for 15 total years.

Faculty Senate presents certificates of appreciation

In addition, at this morning's Regents meeting, Jim H. Patton, Ph.D., professor of neuroscience, psychology and biomedical studies and chair of the Faculty Senate, and Lori E. Baker, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology and incoming chair of the Faculty Senate, presented certificates of appreciation voted on by Senators to former Baylor Regents Drayton McLane Jr. and Harold R. Cunningham, alumnus Paul L. Foster and Chairman Willis in "gratitude and appreciation for their extraordinary support of Baylor University."

"The Faculty Senate felt it was important at this time to take the initiative and reach out to these distinguished Baylor family members to express our gratitude and appreciation for their exceptional level of support of Baylor, its students and faculty," Patton said. "While on this occasion the Faculty Senate honored four specific individuals, all those who have given and have served in the past, and those who serve presently, should know how deeply appreciative faculty are for their efforts on behalf of Baylor and its mission."

"This is an extraordinary moment in the history of Baylor University as we continue to move forward boldly into the future through God's abundant grace, the judicious stewardship of our resources and a tireless dedication to our mission of academic excellence with Christian commitment," Willis said. "It continues to be a great time to be a Baylor Bear."

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.