While Baylor’s athletic teams have a history that dates back to the early 1900s, the organization that services and is served by former student-athletes was not an official part of the University for more than 70 years. That changed June 7, 2013, when the Baylor “B” Association officially became an entity of the University.

When the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) takes place in mid-November in Waco, hundreds of Baptists from around the state will bring their zeal for the Gospel and their diverse perspectives and interests as gifts to share with one another and to contribute to the collective work of the church. And as a longtime partner with the BGCT, Baylor will be ready to welcome them.

In the latest rankings released by U.S. News & World Report, Baylor University climbed to No. 71 among National Universities, achieving the University’s best rating since the publication began ranking institutions beyond the top 50 in 2002. Baylor was ranked 75th by U.S. News in 2013.

Baylor’s Board of Regents increased in size June 1 when four members completed their terms of service and seven new regents were welcomed as participants in the University’s governance.

Baylor’s largest construction project recently was completed when McLane Stadium hosted the first home football game of the 2014 season. But that does not mean the sounds of workers welding and hammering and the sight of cranes swinging through the skies have faded from campus life.

Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr made two executive staff appointments during the summer. Starr named Tommye Lou Davis as Chief of Staff to the President and Juan Alejandro Jr., Ed.D., as Interim Vice President of Governance and Risk and Chief Compliance Officer. Both currently serve on the President’s Executive Council.

Baylor University set new records for freshman, undergraduate and overall enrollment and achieved all-time highs across the board for fall-to-fall retention numbers, according to statistics from Baylor’s Office of Institutional Research and Testing.

Upon taking the helm of the Texas Hunger Initiative in 2009, Jeremy Everett, M.Div. ’01, said, “With some organization and creativity, hunger in Texas can be alleviated, and I think we’ll be well on our way to that within six years.” He was right, and federal legislators are taking notice.

Baylor faculty and staff publications, presentations and honors compiled in the Fall 2014 issue of BaylorNews.

In mid-March of this year, after having selected Dr. David Garland to serve as Interim Provost and after having asked me to chair the Search Committee to assist in identifying Dr. Elizabeth Davis’s successor, President and Chancellor Ken Starr announced the Provost Search Committee. The selection of this Committee was no mean feat, given that there were over 150 different people nominated by the university community to serve in this capacity.

In 2014, Baylor Missions commissioned 405 students, faculty, staff and alumni to serve in 13 countries as part of 25 different mission teams.

Research grants awarded April 2014 totaling $93,310.45.

Research grants awarded July 2014 totaling $125,081.

Research grants awarded June 2014 totaling $1,075,766.

Research grants awarded May 2014 totaling $1,444,483.50.

Landing a great job after graduation takes work. Baylor University now offers a class that prepares students for that process.

One of the pillars of Baylor’s success over the years has been the excellence of its academic leadership. The University currently is conducting national searches for deans in three of its academic areas to continue that legacy.