Byword

I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with some of my college roommates during a conference in Atlanta. It was amazing how quickly we could revert back to personalities that we had grown out of over the past 15 years. At the same time, it was refreshing to see that while we had each changed a bit physically--gaining a little weight and losing a little hair--we could easily reengage the accountability and encouragement that had been so much a part of our relationships. 
As we passed around cell phones displaying our family pictures--I don't think any of us had a picture in his wallet--I was struck by how proud I was of this group of guys. Each was a committed family man and a leader in business and/or ministry. Each talked openly about the journey God was leading him on and his desire to pursue whatever task lay ahead, passionate about God's agenda and not his own. 
It made me glad to have been a part of a university that was unashamedly a community of faith and encouraged an active, vibrant walk with God in every part of the college experience. 
While I didn't attend Baylor, the weekend made me especially proud to now be a part of a University equally committed to the spiritual development of its students; a University committed to expanding and improving the way it educates students while also unapologetically caring how it feeds their souls.
Baylor 2012 reflects that intentional effort to impact and engage students on a deeper level. Now, at the midway point of the 10-year vision, we wanted to share some of the progress that has been made on a number of fronts relating to the imperatives that make up the vision and serve as a framework for marking success (listed below).
For instance, this year's impressive freshman class (see page 4) illustrates Baylor's progress on Imperative IV, "to attract and support a top-tier student body." The opening of the Paul L. Foster Success Center supports that goal as well as Imperative I, "to establish an environment where learning can flourish," and Imperative VII, "to provide outstanding academic facilities."
With the opening of Brooks Village, nearly 40 percent of undergraduates now live on campus--halfway to meeting Imperative II. And Imperative XI, "emphasize global education," is being accomplished through study abroad programs like the I5 trip that immersed 17 Baylor students and five professors into the world of international business during six weeks in Shanghai.
Stories like these abound at Baylor, and in the next issue, we plan to bring you even more examples of the progress the University is making towards accomplishing its 2012 goals.

Randy Morrison
Director, Baylor Magazine
randy_morrison@baylor.edu