Letters
I was enthralled while, for the first time ever,áI readáthrough the Fall '05 edition of the Baylor Magazine. The entire piece was consistentáwitháall my previous impressions capturedáfrom the Baylor mission and 2012 Visionáduringámy campus visit two years ago with my high schooláson, through the orientation process this summer to his recentámove-in day at Penland. And yet in quite the contrast, I cannot help but be struck by the irony ofátaking Baylor and its mission for granted for so many yearsáas I would drive byá"hookin' em" down I-35 during my own college experience years ago.
Specifically, the Baylor higher education product is unique. Maybe it is now clearer to me dueáto all of those that I have so far encountered at Baylor who can articulateáwhat you are about. Or possibly, it is the amplification of the vision and mission simply, boldly and consistently spoken and lived out by faculty and staff against the wishy-washy backdrop ofá"such a time as this" in our nation's educational history.
To me, Baylor stands out because it is a place that endeavors to provide a congruent, truth-seeking Christian foundationáfor the pursuit andáacquisition of knowledge, while encouraging integrity, excellence and character development -- all within a Big 12 setting!
Whatever the reasons for my enlightenment on theáBaylor clarity-of-purpose, your magazine captures and communicatesáthe essence of the Baylorácalling to congruency! I felt truly informed on all matters ofáinterest from the "Presidential Update" to the presidential library bid to thefacebook network. The stories of faculty in "Seats of Honor" providedádeeper insights andáaffirmation of who is attracted to teach at Baylor. James Garvenáwon me over with his quote, "I think the students get a better deal here. We exist to serve students." Also noteworthy was the "Staying Power" article on retention, aámajor measurement of the quality of any university. An attainable yet lofty goal of a 93 percent retention rate is indeed significant.áThe interspersed inserts from the Freshman Survey and the stats on the freshman class are a testament to attracting students based on the Vision 2012 goal ofáincreasing academic excellence. Needless to say, I found theámagazineágreatly informative, and it inspired a meaty conversation betweenámy freshman son and meáabout Baylor happenings.ááá
The Baylor 2012 Vision captured my son's imagination and appealed to his mind.áAfter much deliberation and prayer, my son made his decision to attend Baylor. The Baylor Magazine appealed to my mind and heart with great reinforcement of a congruent message to the vision and Christian mission.áSo for me, I gladly give you my firstborn, and my financial investment, because you know what you areáabout and so do I!á
Doug Peters
Indianapolis, Ind.
I love the new section for students in the Baylor Magazine, but I am curious to know if the Baylor graduate students can be spotlighted, too? We are a part of the Baylor community and since the magazine goes to all alumni, maybe in the future a graduate student in leadership or one who has done some really interesting research could be written about. Is this possible?
Amy Myers, doctoral candidate in educational psychology
Huntsville, Ala.
Editor's note: Absolutely! We encourage submissions and suggestions from undergraduate and graduate students and will feature both.
Specifically, the Baylor higher education product is unique. Maybe it is now clearer to me dueáto all of those that I have so far encountered at Baylor who can articulateáwhat you are about. Or possibly, it is the amplification of the vision and mission simply, boldly and consistently spoken and lived out by faculty and staff against the wishy-washy backdrop ofá"such a time as this" in our nation's educational history.
To me, Baylor stands out because it is a place that endeavors to provide a congruent, truth-seeking Christian foundationáfor the pursuit andáacquisition of knowledge, while encouraging integrity, excellence and character development -- all within a Big 12 setting!
Whatever the reasons for my enlightenment on theáBaylor clarity-of-purpose, your magazine captures and communicatesáthe essence of the Baylorácalling to congruency! I felt truly informed on all matters ofáinterest from the "Presidential Update" to the presidential library bid to thefacebook network. The stories of faculty in "Seats of Honor" providedádeeper insights andáaffirmation of who is attracted to teach at Baylor. James Garvenáwon me over with his quote, "I think the students get a better deal here. We exist to serve students." Also noteworthy was the "Staying Power" article on retention, aámajor measurement of the quality of any university. An attainable yet lofty goal of a 93 percent retention rate is indeed significant.áThe interspersed inserts from the Freshman Survey and the stats on the freshman class are a testament to attracting students based on the Vision 2012 goal ofáincreasing academic excellence. Needless to say, I found theámagazineágreatly informative, and it inspired a meaty conversation betweenámy freshman son and meáabout Baylor happenings.ááá
The Baylor 2012 Vision captured my son's imagination and appealed to his mind.áAfter much deliberation and prayer, my son made his decision to attend Baylor. The Baylor Magazine appealed to my mind and heart with great reinforcement of a congruent message to the vision and Christian mission.áSo for me, I gladly give you my firstborn, and my financial investment, because you know what you areáabout and so do I!á
Doug Peters
Indianapolis, Ind.
I love the new section for students in the Baylor Magazine, but I am curious to know if the Baylor graduate students can be spotlighted, too? We are a part of the Baylor community and since the magazine goes to all alumni, maybe in the future a graduate student in leadership or one who has done some really interesting research could be written about. Is this possible?
Amy Myers, doctoral candidate in educational psychology
Huntsville, Ala.
Editor's note: Absolutely! We encourage submissions and suggestions from undergraduate and graduate students and will feature both.