Baylor University Earns an “A” in Assessment by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni

Baylor is one of only 23 of more than 1,100 colleges and universities to earn the rating

Contact: Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-644-4155
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WACO, Texas (Oct. 5, 2020) — Baylor University has received an “A” in the annual “What Will They Learn?” report of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).

Baylor is one of only 23 schools to earn an “A” rating in this assessment of the general education programs at more than 1,100 colleges and universities.

Ratings are based on how many of seven core subjects are included in the curriculum: composition, literature, intermediate-level foreign language, United States government or history, economics, mathematics and natural science. Baylor — which routinely has earned an “A” in the report — is committed to a rigorous core curriculum rooted in the liberal arts and Western tradition.

The College of Arts & Sciences recently expanded from five to seven core subjects in each of its four bachelor’s degree programs. That core provides a foundation of shared religious and civic knowledge and the opportunity to develop skills central to Baylor’s mission of preparing students for worldwide leadership and service through Christian commitment.

“I am grateful to the leadership and faculty in Arts and Sciences for the countless hours invested in assuring a rigorous and worthwhile liberal arts core,” said Baylor University Provost Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D. “Our focus is now on the implementation of this new core that remains faithful to our educational aspirations and commitment to student formation. The outcome is a student experience that is distinctively Baylor.”

Lee Nordt, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, also expressed pride at the recognition.

“We are very proud of the continued recognition of the A&S core curriculum by the ACTA,” Nordt said. “Our new unified core, now in its second year, continues the tradition of providing an excellent liberal arts and sciences education while allowing even more flexibility for students to take minors and secondary majors.

“Both the depth and breadth of our core indeed help prepare our students for worldwide leadership,” he said.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 18,000 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 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and eight academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit baylor.edu/artsandsciences.