NewsBriefs

Fashion Design program earns national ranking

Baylor University’s apparel design and product development program was recognized recently by Fashion-Schools.org as among the top fashion design programs in the nation. The website ranked the program 35th out of 75 schools surveyed in the U.S. and sixth among Southwest schools.

The program, housed in the family and consumer sciences department in the College of Health and Human Sciences, offers a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences for majors in apparel design and product management.

Dr. Rochelle Brunson, lecturer in family and consumer sciences, said the ranking was due, in part, to a newly donated $83,000 high-tech fabric printer they use in the Parker Design and Technology Center. The printer allows students to design their own patterns on fabric for use in their garment designs.

“It is one of the only ones of its brand and size at any university in the United States,” Brunson said.

In addition to the state-of-the-art technology center, the program was commended for the opportunities they provide students after they graduate.

“All of the design and merchandising majors have a required course credit internship which they complete either between their junior and senior years during the summer term, during the fall or spring of their senior year or as a capstone course after all their other coursework is complete,” Brunson said.

The Fashion Schools’ website recognizes Baylor’s program as competitive in the internships it provides with top designers such as Anna Sui, MTC, Betsey Johnson, Quick Silver, XOXO MTV, Haggar and Rampage. The program also offers 11- to 21-day study tours, which allow Baylor students to travel to different fashion houses around the world to gain knowledge of the industry.

“We have positive relationships with industry professionals and continuously work at expanding that network,” Brunson said.

Baylor Named a ‘Best Buy’ in 2015 Fiske Guide to Colleges

Baylor University has been named a Best Buy in the 2015 edition of the best-selling Fiske Guide to Colleges.

Baylor is one of only 44 public and private colleges and universities to be included on Fiske’s Best Buy list, which is based on four- or five-star academic rankings, affordable cost and high quality of student life on campus. Baylor was one of three Big 12 universities and six Texas institutions named to the list.

The authors of the new 2015 edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges selected Baylor as a Best Buy based on the quality of the university’s academic programs and campus experience in relation to the cost of attendance.

Baylor and Blinn College Announce Partnership on New ‘Baylor Bound’ Transfer Agreement

On Aug. 11, Baylor University and Blinn College announced creation of a formal Baylor Bound transfer agreement that will help students transfer more easily between the two institutions and continue to expand educational opportunities for young people all across Texas.

As one of its goals under the Pro Futuris strategic initiative, Baylor intends to create 10 Baylor Bound partnerships with strong Texas community colleges over the next five years. The Baylor-Blinn agreement is the third partnership, along with McLennan Community College in Waco and Tyler Junior College in Tyler.

The Baylor Bound program will serve highly motivated students who, upon meeting the program’s criteria, will transfer to Baylor toward the goal of completing their baccalaureate degrees. Students will be able to participate in Baylor Bound at Blinn starting in fall 2015, with the intent to transfer to Baylor in fall 2016.

Baylor University again named to Elite Honor Roll in Great Colleges to Work For List

For the fourth year in a row, Baylor University joined an elite group of universities named to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2014 Honor Roll as one of the country’s Great Colleges to Work For.

Of 42 national universities awarded Honor Roll status, Baylor is one of only two universities in the large university category (10,000 or more students) to achieve recognition in 11 of the 12 categories honoring specific best practices and policies.

“We are delighted to learn that Baylor has once again been recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a Great College to Work For,” said Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr. “What makes this honor so important is that it is based on the input provided by our own faculty and staff. As a result, this recognition confirms plainly and publicly what all of Baylor Nation already knows: Those who choose to work at Baylor University are extraordinary individuals, scholars and professionals who love what they do and who are motivated by the University’s significant mission, inspired by a calling and driven, as a community, to serve our students, one another and our hurting world.