Regents Ratify Appointment Of Sloan As Chancellor; Authorize Establishment Of Presidential Search Committee
The Baylor University Board of Regents on Friday unanimously approved the appointment of President Robert B. Sloan Jr. as chancellor, effective June 1, and authorized establishment of a presidential search committee.
Sloan, who has served as Baylor's 12th president since June 1, 1995, announced on Jan. 21 that he and the board had mutually agreed to a transition whereby he would vacate the presidency on June 1 to assume the role of chancellor. Today's action by the board formalized that transition.
In his role as chancellor, Sloan will focus on fund-raising; student recruitment; networking with higher education leaders on the state, national and international levels; cultivating Baylor's relationships with denominational and Christian leaders and organizations; and otherwise promoting the Baylor 2012 vision to the university's constituents.
Regents also established a presidential search committee, effective upon appointment, that is charged with identifying and recommending to the full board candidates for Baylor's presidency. The committee will be appointed by Chairman Will Davis, in consultation with Vice Chair Jim Turner.
In addition to the regent search committee, the board also authorized the appointment of a presidential search advisory committee that will be composed of individuals representing a broad spectrum of Baylor constituents, including, but not limited to, alumni, students, faculty, staff and denominational representatives. The advisory committee will also be appointed by Davis, in consultation with Turner.
Davis said he expects to have both committees appointed prior to the next regents meeting on April 28-29. Their work will begin immediately upon appointment. The board also is expected to name an interim president at the April meeting.
In other action, Baylor regents approved a new degree to be offered through Baylor's Institute for Air Science. The international master's in environmental studies degree (IMES) will provide unique training in the field of environmental assessment, with Baylor students and faculty participating in an international exchange program with a six-school consortium of U.S. and European universities.
Funding is provided in part by the U.S. Department of Education's highly sought-after Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) and the European Union's Directorate-General Education and Culture Commission.
Curriculum will address social, economic and environmental issues, along with aircraft system design and development. The degree will provide a solid theoretical background in the related areas of air quality, energy and environment, combined with practical applications of advanced methodologies currently used to conduct research in these fields. The degree will produce students who grasp the complexity of global environmental problems and the need to implement cooperative programs among nations.
Baylor regents also approved a five-year, $90 million development campaign for Baylor athletics. For more information, go to Baylor Athletics.