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The Four Standards of Excellence

The Department of Student Activities has developed Four Standards of Excellence upon which truly great student organizations should be or should strive to be built. The Four Standards of Excellence are used to help develop good student groups into great organizations. The Standards are also used to identify the Student Organization of the Year and Outstanding New Organization, distinctions established in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

SCHOLARSHIP

Great student organizations must encourage and stimulate the academic development of their members. Demonstration of academic excellence includes, but should not be limited to:

• Acceptable cumulative grade point average for the organization
• Recognized academic achievements as an organization
• Intentionally designed academic support for each member of the organization

LEADERSHIP

Great student organizations must be active in the life of the University by providing student leadership. Demonstration of excellence in leadership includes, but should not be limited to:

• Clearly defined goals and mission statement that are adhered to by the organization as a whole and are consistent with the mission of Baylor University
• Demonstrated governance of the organization
• Demonstrated collaboration among organization leaders and members and among/with other Baylor University student organizations
• Investment in the University community
• Clear vision for the future of the organization at Baylor University
• Intentional development of organization membership

CITIZENSHIP

Great student organizations must contribute to the good of the Baylor community as well as to the broader Waco, Texas and global communities. Demonstration of excellence in citizenship includes, but should not be limited to:

• Service to the Baylor community that is congruent with the stated purposes, goals and mission of the organization
• Service to the greater Waco community that is congruent with the stated purposes, goals and mission of the organization
• Consistent opportunities provided to membership for service and contribution to the Baylor and Waco communities
• Demonstrated understanding of diversity and campus issues and meaningful attempts to address those issues

FELLOWSHIP

Great student organizations must develop meaningful relationships among their membership. These are relationships that should last well beyond a student's time at the University. Demonstration of excellence in fellowship includes, but should not be limited to:

• Regular opportunities for social interactions among members that are consistent with the stated purposes, goals and mission of the organization
• Meaningful, well-designed education of new members as to the stated purposes, goals and mission of the organization
• Intentional involvement in University programming and events
• Social outreaches to communities and groups outside the organization

HISTORY OF THE FOUR STANDARDS

In 2006, the Department of Student Activities developed the Four Standards of Excellence drawing from The Social Change Model of Leadership Development, the University's original Standards of Excellence expectations for student organizations, student organization models from peer institutions in the Big XII, as well as other sources. The Department melded these sources together with the future directions and vision for student organizations at Baylor to develop the Four Standards of Excellence.

One year after the Student Organization of the Year award program was launched, a new award was developed by Student Activities: the Outstanding New Organization award. The Department of Student Activities recognized that new organizations face a different set of obstacles and challenges than those faced by groups with long-standing traditions with Baylor University. Therefore, the Department of Student Activities developed an award program for those organizations who have recently earned their University charter. Groups having been chartered within the past three academic years are eligible to compete for a single award of up to $500.