Regents Authorize Increase in Tuition, Fees; Approve New Academic Programs, Construction of Faculty Center

October 20, 2006

Media contact: Lori Fogleman, director of media relations, (254) 710-6275
The Baylor University Board of Regents at its Homecoming meeting today set tuition and fees for 2007-08, while approving new academic programs and the construction of a faculty center.

Tuition will increase by 8 percent next year to $22,220 for 12 hours or more for the academic year (fall 2007, spring 2008), while the general student fee will increase 6.07 percent to $2,270 for next year. Room and board rates for undergraduates will increase by 5.02 percent and 3.61 percent, respectively.

In total, a freshman entering Baylor in fall 2007 will pay 6.98 percent more in tuition, fees, room and board than a freshman entering this year. Even with the increase, Baylor's tuition and fees remain lower than those of many of Baylor's peer private institutions.

Tuition for graduate students will increase by 7.93 percent. George W. Truett Theological Seminary students will experience a 7.96 percent increase. Law students in fall 2007 will see a 7.52 percent increase.

Baylor President John M. Lilley told the board the tuition increase will generate the revenue essential to support current programs as well as a variety of new initiatives that will emerge from the strategic planning activity launched this year. The programs and new initiatives will enhance educational quality at Baylor and continue to fuel progress on Baylor 2012.

"Baylor students and their families expect a top-quality education that includes outstanding teachers and scholars, a rich and vibrant student life experience in a distinctly Christian environment and access to the latest technology and classroom innovation delivered in world-class facilities," Lilley said. "It is our duty to meet and where possible exceed the expectations of students, and this tuition increase will allow us to do that."

Lilley said Baylor is committed to balancing fairly the twin demands of providing students the highest quality Christian education with keeping the university affordable for families. This year, nearly half of the entering freshman class received some form of need-based financial assistance, with total support averaging almost two-thirds of total need.

In addition to raising tuition, Baylor also is enhancing its resource base by strategically allocating resources and increasing private philanthropy.

In other action today, Baylor Regents approved a new dual master's degree program in theological studies and social work, the creation of two new research centers (real estate, nonprofit studies) in the Hankamer School of Business, and the return of the department of church-state studies to its traditional status as an institute.

Regents approved the master of theological studies/master of social work (MTS/MSW) dual degree to be offered through Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the School of Social Work. The MTS/MSW degree will provide an interdisciplinary option for students to develop competency in Christian scriptures and theology, global missions and Baptist identity, as well as in advanced social work practice in congregations and religiously affiliated organizations.

"An increasing number of graduate students are called to Christian vocation in community ministry and missions," said Dr. Diana R. Garland, dean of the Baylor School of Social Work. "The MTS/MSW dual degree program will provide students with an opportunity to prepare for community ministry through mastery of advanced social work knowledge and practice that is grounded in foundational Christian theology, scriptures, traditions, missions and Baptist identity."

Regents approved the establishment of The Keller Center and the Center for Nonprofit Studies, both at the Hankamer School of Business.

"The Keller Center will provide innovative research related to real estate buyers and sellers that will be of immediate benefit to stakeholders in the real estate industry," said Dr. Terry S. Maness, dean of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.

Housed in the department of marketing, The Keller Center will complement Baylor's program in professional selling by adding a track in real estate that will augment current offerings in corporate sales, sports sponsorship, and arts and entertainment. The center also will add a research component to the professional selling track.

The Center for Nonprofit Studies will contribute to the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by focusing research efforts on critical problems facing the nonprofit community, providing undergraduates with course sequences that can be added as minors to both business and non-business majors, and offering nonprofit managers access to best practices among such organizations.

"In the 160 years of Baylor University's existence, no other single effort has captured the heart of the institution more than that of preparing citizens for service to their communities through nonprofit organizations," said Dr. Charles S. Madden, The Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing at the Hankamer School of Business. "Baylor's deep historical commitment to organizations that are driven by ideals of service makes Baylor a perfect candidate to be the site for a concentrated center to research, teach and extend the body of thought concerning how nonprofit organizations effectively serve people."

In a move that will strengthen Baylor's historic commitment to the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies, Regents today also approved a recommendation returning the department of church-state studies to its traditional status as an institute. The oldest and most well established facility of its kind located in a university setting, the Dawson Institute is exclusively devoted to research in the broad field of church and state and the advancement of religious liberty around the world.

Under the new structure, the institute will strengthen the master's program - long considered the core of the institute's teaching mission - and implement a new program at the doctoral level with the institute's funding of "Dawson Fellows." These students will work toward a doctorate in a complementary discipline, such as religion, philosophy, political science or sociology, while taking a common 12-hour core in church-state studies. The change was endorsed by Alice Cheavens Baird, granddaughter of J.M. Dawson, who called the decision "a wise one."

Regents also approved the construction of the McMullen-Connally Family Faculty Center, named after Faber McMullen '53, MD '56 and Roxanna Connally McMullen '52, who have made a gift for the construction of the center. The McMullens gave the gift in honor of the great teaching legacy at Baylor, especially the influence that Dr. Cornelia Marschall Smith had on their lives. In addition to the gift to construct the building, the McMullens also are generously donating their art collection which will be displayed and housed in the faculty center.

The 10,900-square-foot facility is to be built adjacent to the Ed Crenshaw Student Foundation Center and Speight Avenue Parking Garage. The two-story building will provide daily dining services for up to 120 faculty in the main dining room and offer three small banquet rooms on the second floor for dinners or meetings. The facility also will include a faculty lounge area, library and full-service kitchen.

Following the meeting, Jim Turner, Chairman of the Board of Regents, commented on Baylor's progress implementing the 2012 initiative. "As a board, we are pleased with the work being done by President John Lilley, faculty, staff, students and alumni of Baylor. We take great pride in the University's many accomplishments as we continue to move forward in a deliberate and thoughtful fashion towards fulfillment of the bold vision of 2012," he said.

The Board of Regents will next meet on Feb. 8-9, 2007.

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