Happy 5th Anniversary, President Starr!
Since that day, President Starr has focused his energies on advancing Baylor’s mission of an outstanding education that combines academic excellence and unwavering Christian commitment. Over the past five years, he has led the University and its students, faculty, staff and alumni to unprecedented heights in numerous areas.
Academics
- Highest U.S. News ranking at No. 71 since U.S. News began ranking institutions beyond the top 50 in 2002
- Adoption of Pro Futuris, the University’s strategic vision
- Established the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences and strengthening the partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Health, bolstering Baylor’s historic strength in health-related education and research
- Growth in doctoral programs from 33 to 40, including entrepreneurship (2015), K-12 educational leadership (2015) and environmental science (2014)
- Doubling of external funding for research to around $30 million a year
Admissions/Campus Life
- Record enrollment from 14,900 in fall 2010 to 16,263 in fall 2014, including the largest freshman classes in University history, record fall-to-fall retention rates and rising academic quality and diversity
- Establishment of the Baylor Bound program that will help students transfer more easily from partner institutions
- New construction, including the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation (housing the Hankamer School of Business), East Village Residential Community and Dining Commons, residence hall renovations as part of the University’s master plan to renovate 10 existing residence halls over eight years, renovation of Marrs McLean Science Building (housing the School of Education), Fifth Street renovations and addition of the Rosenbalm Memorial Fountain, and Elliston Chapel
- The purchase of the Baptist General Convention of Texas building in Dallas for use as the new home for Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing
- A Who’s Who of campus guests for On Topic with Ken Starr, including T. Boone Pickens, Condoleezza Rice, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Akhil Reed Amar, Sen. George J. Mitchell, Os Guinness, Alan Dershowitz, Juan Williams, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sen. Joe Lieberman, as well as an historic summit in Washington, D.C., on the challenges facing faith-based higher education with Catholic University of America President John Garvey and Yeshiva University President Richard Joel
- Establishment of Baylor In Washington to allow the University’s leadership, faculty, and alumni who are engaged in work shaping solutions to some of the nation’s most critical challenges, such as hunger, water quality and immigration, to capitalize on strategic partnerships
- Increased global and urban mission team opportunities for students to use the knowledge and skills they gain at Baylor to serve people in Waco and around the world
- For the fourth year in a row, named to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2014 Honor Roll as one of the country’s “Great Colleges to Work For”
Athletics
Fundraising
Community Partnerships