Baylor Regents Set 2012-2013 Tuition/Fees, Also Approve Construction of the Jim and Nell Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center, Renovations to the Hurd Tennis Center

July 22, 2011

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Need-based scholarships for students entering in fall 2012 to be increased while Baylor Regents continue to invest in new scholarship program to lessen burden on continuing students in need of financial assistance

At its summer meeting today, the Baylor University Board of Regents set tuition and required fees for the 2012-2013 academic year and approved the design and construction of an indoor tennis practice facility for the university's championship tennis programs, improvements to the outdoor tennis center and the hiring of an architectural firm to design the renovation of the Marrs McLean Science Building.

Regents voted to increase undergraduate tuition by 6.5 percent, or $1,866, for 12 hours or more during the fall 2012 and spring 2013 academic year. With its flat-rate tuition plan, Baylor's tuition will be $15,293 per semester for 2012-2013. The general student fee will increase 6.53 percent, or $192, to $3,130 for the fall 2012 and spring 2013 semesters. Room and board rates for undergraduates will increase by 5.21 percent and 4.59 percent, respectively. Financial aid packaging, however, will offset actual education costs for students. Tuition for graduate programs will increase similarly.

The current budget also continues to ensure access to a Baylor education for families and students who demonstrate financial need. Baylor's total scholarships for 2012-2013 will increase 10.6 percent, or $15.9 million, to more than $165 million. This additional amount includes a 10.6 percent increase in need-based scholarships for freshmen who enter Baylor in fall 2012.

Affordability scholarships

In addition, Baylor's investments in affordability scholarships - a student-led initiative which Regents enacted last fall - will continue to lessen the financial burden on continuing students and their families who require financial assistance. The plan assumes that the out-of-pocket costs of successful continuing students with financial need are consistent with what they paid as freshmen.

Compared to other private institutions, Baylor's tuition and required fees remain lower than peer private institutions in Texas, including Rice, SMU, TCU and Trinity. Baylor's tuition also remains well below those of most private universities outside of Texas, such as Duke, Emory, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Pepperdine, Stanford, Tulane, USC, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.

Demand for the distinctive Baylor education has surged to record levels. Nearly 39,000 students submitted applications for a place in the university's incoming freshman class. Baylor's newest class of students will enter the university with the highest academic credentials in Baylor's history. In all, approximately 3,050 students will enroll as freshmen in fall 2011.

"In setting tuition and fees, the board very thoughtfully reviewed the financial resources required to deliver the distinct Baylor educational experience expected by our incoming students and their families," said Buddy Jones, BA '73, JD '75, chair of the Board of Regents. "We also considered carefully the financial impact that increased tuition and fees will have on Baylor families. In consideration of those facts, we have set what we believe to be a fair tuition rate, sustained by a higher level of financial aid than at any time in our past. This aid not only helps families needing financial assistance but will produce a student body of the highest academic ability in Baylor's history."

In addition to providing students with the highest quality education, delivered in the context of a caring, Christian community, the increase will allow Baylor to support its current operations, provide for important new faculty and staff hires, and enhance faculty research and graduate programs, as well as undergraduate programs in engineering, science, technology and math. These resources also will enable Baylor to continue to improve compensation levels consistent with national levels and with Baylor 2012.

Tennis program indoor, outdoor facilities

In other news, a new indoor tennis practice facility, approved by Regents, will be located across from the Ferrell Center on La Salle Avenue. The Jim and Nell Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center is named for Waco residents Jim, BBA '58, and Nell Hawkins, who generously provided a significant lead gift for this important project.

An integral part of Baylor athletics Victory with Integrity campaign, the facility will feature six indoor tennis courts and limited spectator seating. Construction of the indoor facility is expected to begin this fall.

In a related motion, the Board also approved renovations to Baylor's outdoor tennis facilities. The Baylor Tennis Center will receive enhancements to its 12 outdoor courts, including new scoreboards, shaded and VIP seating, video streaming capabilities and additional landscaping. The changes will allow Baylor to host national tennis events, including the NCAA National Championships. Made possible with gifts from Paula and Mark Hurd, the center will be renamed the Hurd Tennis Center in recognition of their continued support for Baylor tennis.

"This is a very exciting day for Baylor men's and women's tennis," said Ian McCaw, Baylor's Director of Athletics. "Through the generosity of Jim and Nell Hawkins and Mark and Paula Hurd, our student-athletes and coaches will enjoy state-of-the-art facilities to practice and compete. Baylor's tennis programs have earned the distinction of being among the nation's best and its facilities will soon be at the top of college tennis."

"Baylor is blessed to recruit many of the world's best players," Director of Tennis and Men's Coach Matt Knoll said. "It is exciting to provide them with top-notch facilities to practice, compete and bring home victories for Baylor. We are grateful to the Hawkins and the Hurds, who are making great things possible for our program."

"We could not be happier about the indoor tennis facility and improvements to our overall tennis complex," Head Women's Tennis Coach Joey Scrivano said. "As a team, we greatly appreciate the generosity of Jim and Nell Hawkins and Paula and Mark Hurd as they help meet the needs of Baylor tennis. We have an elite tennis program, and these additions will only increase our ability to remain at the top of our game."

Baylor men's and women's tennis continued their winning traditions during the 2010-2011 season, sweeping the Big 12 regular-season championships. Both programs finished No. 6 in the final 2011 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, giving the Bears their 10th straight year ranked in the top eight teams and the fourth consecutive season for the Lady Bear's to be ranked in the top six.

Renovation for Marrs McLean Science, resolution for MJ

In other business, Baylor Regents approved retaining an architectural firm to plan and design the renovation of the Marrs McLean Science Building. A renovation plan for the building - which was constructed in 1964 - is expected to be completed in April 2012.

Baylor Regents also adopted a resolution expressing congratulations to former Baylor women's basketball player Melissa Jones, who was named one of two 2010-11 Big 12 Sportspersons of the Year. The award recognizes student-athletes who displayed an extraordinary degree of sportsmanship and/or community service during the academic year.

Melissa is the third Baylor student-athlete to earn Sportsperson of the Year honors, joining fellow basketball players Jessika Stratton (2004) and Mamadou Diene (2008).

In addition, Regents heard from Baylor President Ken Starr, who delivered the annual State of the University report.

"Those who one day tell Baylor's story may well recognize this as one of the most significant and momentous periods in Baylor's storied history. We are recruiting and retaining faculty and students who are outstanding in both their Christian commitment and their scholarship, expanding our academic programs and focus, and moving forward thoughtfully and energetically in our strategic planning process," Starr said. "Baylor is moving forward in vitally important and meaningful ways. I am deeply grateful to the remarkably talented men and women on our Board of Regents who faithfully and enthusiastically answered the call to serve Baylor at this promising time in the university's history."

ABOUT BAYLOR
Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, classified as such with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions.

Media contact: Lori Fogleman, director of media communications, (254) 710-6275