WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University regents concluded a three-day summer retreat by reaffirming Baylor 2012 — the long-range plan designed to make Baylor one of the top schools of its kind in the nation — and the university's commitment to its historic Baptist heritage.
Regents emerged from their retreat, which focused on the relationship of faith and learning and on the role of teaching and research, by issuing a five-sentence resolution, presented by Chairman Will Davis of Austin and Interim President Bill Underwood.
The resolution stated: “Resolved, that the board of regents of Baylor University reaffirms its commitment to Baylor 2012. In furtherance of Baylor's commitment to outstanding teaching, Baylor will continue to enhance opportunities for research and scholarship among its faculty. Baylor will continue to recruit and hire highly qualified faculty who are committed Christians, including Christian scholars and scholars who are Christians. We expect every faculty member to examine and consider how his or her faith impacts his or her professional life. The Baylor board of regents reaffirms its commitment to the university's historic Baptist heritage.”
Davis acknowledged to reporters that the integration of faith and learning — as well as the relationship between classroom teaching and academic research — had been a subject of debate on the Baylor campus.
In fact, Underwood participated in that public discussion last October when he debated Provost David Lyle Jeffrey on the proper role of academic freedom at a religious university. During his first day on the job as interim president, Underwood dismissed Jeffrey as provost, naming Randall O'Brien interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Underwood characterized the regents' discussion as “helpful and positive,” adding that the dialogue deepened his understanding of the issues.
Pressed to explain what it means to “enhance opportunities for research and scholarship” among faculty, he replied, “We are going to continue exploring ways to adjust teaching loads as appropriate to provide faculty members with the resources necessary to engage in research and scholarship in (their) field.”
When asked if long-term faculty would focus more on teaching and research would be left to new faculty, he responded: “Great teaching is expected of every member of our faculty. And we believe that providing our faculty with more opportunities for research and reflection and writing they can become even better teachers than they already are.”
Regarding progress on the search for Baylor's president, Davis said the search committee had moved from the research phase to the interview process, but there is no finalist yet.
“We are interviewing candidates and there is no favorite candidate — nobody has gotten ahead of the rest of the pack,” he said.
In other action, regents authorized the administration to hire an architectural firm to create a design and programming study for the university's second new residential complex, Brooks Village.
The board's next meeting will be Sept. 8-9.