One Bear Place #97026 • Waco, TX 76798-7026

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PERSPECTIVESA Publication for Baylor Parents

Volume XVII, Fall 2007

The goal of Baylor is not only to educate students, but also to prepare them for the future by teaching them to be Christian stewards—the Paul L. Foster Success Center exists to further this goal. Paul Foster embraced the vision of the Success Center after realizing not only the benefit it could have provided to him as a student, but the impact it will have on students for decades to come.

“The Success Center seemed appropriate to me because I was a student who showed up at Baylor many years ago alone and somewhat confused,” said Foster of El Paso. “A tool such as the Success Center would most definitely have helped me, not only upon my arrival, but also throughout my stay at Baylor, including my job search process as I approached graduation.”

Foster, who received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor in

1979, provided the lead gift for the Paul L. Foster Success Center, which brought the five departments of the Center—Academic Advisement, Academic Support Programs, Access & Learning Accommodation, Career Counseling and Career Services—under one roof in the newly renovated Sid Richardson Building.

“Having all the Success Center departments housed under one roof creates a wonderful synergistic relationship and provides an opportunity for intentional collaboration, since we are all working toward the same goal of supporting the academic, as well as the personal success of our students,” Brandon Miller, assistant vice president of student success, said.

The goal of the Foster Success Center is to enhance the academic success of all students and assist them in reaching their goals by focusing on their strengths rather

continued on page 2 continued on page 4

Forget about going the extra mile. When it comes to devoting themselves to the spiritual and academic growth of their children, Russell and Betty Pilcher of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, decided to run the whole marathon.

Named Baylor University’s 2007 Parents of the Year, the Pilchers (along with others who received this honor before) have held to one guiding principle: a child’s education begins long before college. It begins in what they learn from their parents in day-to-day life…at home.

“Every morning Morgan and I woke up to a bedside cup of coffee, a blessing and a mini Bible lesson from Daddy,” Meredith (BA ’07) said. “And Mama used the time driving us to school every morning to motivate us for the day while imparting some of her motherly wisdom.”

Even though Meredith and Morgan, a junior business administration major, moved almost a thousand miles away from home to attend Baylor, Russell and Betty’s persistent support in their high school years followed them right into college. “They were there for every event, special or not, whether in presence, prayer or thought,” Meredith said.

While this foundation of support has paved the way for both of the girls to have meaningful

Along with the five departments dedicated to helping students achieve their highest potential, students also have access to rooms dedicated to work on group projects, quiet study areas and computer labs in the Paul L. Foster Success Center.

LONG HAULLONG HAULIN IT FOR THE

Parents of the Year Honored

Laying a Foundation for SuccessResources for Students Available in a Central Location

“The doors to the

Success Center are

welcoming to every

student. Its location

allows us to feel more

comfortable walking right

inside because it’s in a

familiar place, the heart

of campus.”

-Chandler Jones, sophomore

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

Campus came to life once again this fall with the influx of thousands of students, and it was especially fun to welcome the Class of 2011—2,719 strong—as they made their way onto campus. They are now an integral part of our university community, joining more than 12,000 other students who are here to realize their goal of a Baylor education.

To the parents of our newest students, I want to say a hearty welcome. We are thrilled that your sons and daughters chose Baylor, and in the coming months, I hope

you have the opportunity to meet and interact with other Baylor parents who already share in the Baylor experience.

This semester marked an overwhelming interest in Parents League chapter activities. During the month of September, four new chapters were formed or revitalized. We are grateful to the parent volunteers who have stepped forward to lead their respective chapters. It is our goal to provide every Baylor parent the opportunity to connect with other Baylor families in their area.

Whether you are the parent of a new student or you are a “seasoned” Baylor parent, we hope that you find this issue of Perspectives to be helpful and informative. Our office is here for you, and we look forward to hearing from you if we can be of service.

Judy MaggardDirector, Parent Programs

FROM THE DIRECTOR

2

than weaknesses. The Foster Success Center provides guidance and support to students at all stages, not just those who are struggling. The assistance starts before they even move to campus with orientation, continues with tools and resources available throughout their undergraduate years and carries on through the process of helping students select an appropriate career and secure the ideal job.

“The Success Center offers a place where students can find help and peace of mind in making tough decisions, like choosing a career,” Chandler Jones, an Austin sophomore, said. “The doors to the Paul L. Foster Success Center are so welcoming to every student, and its location allows us to feel more comfortable walking right inside because it’s in a very familiar place, the heart of campus.”

Students, faculty and staff alike find the benefits of the Success Center to be first-class. “The Foster Success Center is a value-added benefit of a Baylor education. It is that extra assistance that we all need, especially in regards to learning how to leverage our strengths and utilize our God-given talents to help us succeed,” Miller said. “These are lessons and practical tools that students can take with them for the rest of their lives.”

For more information about the Paul L. Foster Success Center or to find out how to seek assistance, visit the website at www.baylor.edu/successcenter or call 254-710-8212.

continued from page 1

The Paul L. Foster Success Center was dedicated during a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 5. During the ceremony, a few students had the opportunity to address Foster and describe the “success” they’ve found in their own lives through the use of the Success Center.

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

2007-08 CALENDAR2007-08 CALENDARNoveMber 10 Steppin’ Out 21-25 Thanksgiving Holiday

DeceMber 3 Last day of classes 6-12 Final Examinations 13 Residence Halls close 15 Commencement

JaNUary 10 Residence Halls open 8-12 Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment 14 First day of classes 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

FebrUary 2 Winter Premiere 11 Last day to drop classes 21-23 All University Sing 28-29 All University Sing

March 1 All University Sing 8-16 Spring Break 21-24 Easter Holiday 29 Bearathon

aPriL 5 Steppin’ Out 17 Diadeloso

May 5 Last day of classes 8-14 Final Examinations 15 Residence Halls close 17 Commencement

sic’em!sic’em!

3

This fall, Baylor brought the five departments of the Paul L. Foster Success Center—Academic Advisement, Academic Support Programs, the Office of Access & Learning Accommodation, Career Counseling and Career Services—under one roof in the newly renovated Sid Richardson Building. The Foster Success Center offers guidance and resources for all students throughout every step of their academic career.

Learning the Ropes—Academic AdvisementAcademic advisors are available to aid students in selecting the courses

necessary for their major, as well as to point them to available resources to help them reach academic goals.

Holding it Together—Academic Support Programs

Academic Support Programs provide services and tools to any student seeking assistance with a course. Academic Support Programs provides free

individual tutoring for undergraduate students, as well as group tutoring, one-on-one mentoring and workshops on study skills and other topics.

Whatever It Takes—Office of Access and Learning Accommodation (OALA)

The OALA works with students, faculty and administration to identify and meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Guiding the Way—Career CounselingThe Success Center staff recommends undergoing career counseling during

a student’s first year at Baylor. The process allows students to explore possible majors, careers associated with specific majors and determine interests and personality traits.

Step into the Future—Career ServicesCareer Services exists to assist students in finding internships, as well as

finding careers upon graduating from Baylor. Career Services hosts a variety of events including career fairs, mock interviews, resume assistance and workshops.

For more information about the Paul L. Foster Success Center, please visit www.baylor.edu/successcenter.

The Paul L. Foster Success Center…Helping Every Step of the Way

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES4

Dr. Don Green, professor of geology, speaks with parents at the Faculty Coffee held on the Burleson Quadrangle during Parents Weekend.

Gone—or mostly gone—are the days of your teenage child asking to be dropped off around the corner so that their friends don’t have to see the family caravan. Instead, many are finding that parent trips and parent phone calls are a welcomed treat on college campuses.

In October, Baylor celebrated just that—parent trips to campus (AKA: Parents Weekend).

It was a time for Mom and Dad to meet professors at the Parent/Faculty Coffee, an annual event, and to take in a little of the Baylor lifestyle. Parents gained a sense of the community at Baylor with

campus tours that were led by the Baylor Chamber of Commerce. Family members also had the opportunity to “taste” some of Baylor’s tradition with Dr Pepper floats, following an exhibit of Baylor’s rich history at the Bill Daniel Student Center. Visitors were invited to witness the ever-expanding growth of campus as the Paul L. Foster Success Center was unveiled in the newly renovated Sid Richardson Building.

After Dark, an All-University variety show, featured student performances ranging from musical theatre to

The Pilchers were honored at the Baylor Parents League Leadership Appreciation Breakfast. (from left) Meredith, Betty, Russell and Morgan Pilcher

continued from page 1

“They were

there for every

event, special

or not, whether

in presence,

prayer or

thought.”Meredith Pilcher,

BA ’07

Road Trip: For Parents!Moms and Dads Experience Baylor Firsthand

continued on page 5

and successful college years, the Pilchers aren’t finished when Morgan graduates. For Russell and Betty, their commitment to Baylor isn’t simply a sprint to see their daughters finish school; it’s a long-distance run of supporting Baylor students. They have—you might say—a spirit of adoption.

It started with adopting Baylor—both attended different colleges—as their own. After their initial visit to campus, their love affair (as Betty calls it) with the university began. What drew them to it? According to Betty, it was everything from Baylor’s spiritual leadership and the availability of the professors to the students, the beautiful campus and the hymns playing from the bell tower.

“They sic ’em with more energy than a student,” Meredith said of her parents, who are members of both the Denver chapter of the Parents League and the Endowed Scholarship Society. Betty also is an active member in the Baylor Women’s Council of Denver.

For the Pilchers it’s more than supporting the institution, though; it’s about investing in—or we could say adopting—the students of Baylor. Russell and Betty continue to live and give in a way that provides their own children—and those of others’—with “a hope and a future.”

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

Although they both graduated from Texas Christian University, Dave and Liz are now ardent supporters of Baylor and cannot imagine any place better for their daughters.

In support of their girls, the Thomases have attended every Parents Weekend for the past 10 years for Karen (2002), Christine (2004), Diane

(2006) and now Julie, who graduates this spring.

They are still amazed at what they find.“All of the professors know the students by

name, and they really care about them,” said Liz. “From Welcome Week when they open their homes at dinners to graduation, they’re there for our kids.”

Dave agrees, saying the atmosphere of the campus still impresses him.

“It’s almost like a throw-back to an earlier time,” he said. “Everybody’s looking out for each other, and they are so welcoming.”

Although part of his heart still belongs to his alma mater (Liz sewed him a special half-Baylor, half-TCU t-shirt for football match-ups), Dave knows that Baylor has been the best place for his daughters’ educations.

“It’s a Christ-based university where they were academically challenged and made lifelong friends,” he said. “How could you ask for more than that?”

5

A Family Affair10 Years + Four Sisters=One Bear Clan

The Thomas family of San Antonio does everything together. So it was no surprise that when oldest daughter, Karen, began looking at colleges, the entire family came along for the ride.

But when parents Dave and Liz packed up all four of their daughters for a Baylor campus visit, the surprise was that younger sister Diane (then in 8th grade), not Karen, was the first to declare Baylor as her college of choice.

“I completely fell in love with it,” says Diane, who can point to “Sic ’em Bears” diary entries to prove the date she chose Baylor, and now works at Baylor as an admissions counselor.

Karen’s decision quickly followed.“Baylor was the first place I visited, and

it became the benchmark,” she said. “Of course, there was no comparison. Nothing else came close.”

She became the first of four Thomas girls to attend Baylor, and says her family’s support, especially her parents, was what made all the difference.

Spilling over with Bear Pride: The Thomas family, (back row) Dave, Liz, Christine, (front row) Karen, Diane and Julie.

stand-up comedy. Dinner on the Grounds offered Baylor

parents a chance to relax with their students on Fountain Mall and hear from Baylor’s newly appointed University Chaplain and Dean for University Ministries, Burt Burleson.

The weekend wrapped up when the Bears

challenged the Colorado Buffaloes in their Big 12 Conference opener at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Parents Weekend has been a cherished tradition at Baylor since 1960 and continues to allow parents to catch a glimpse of the familial atmosphere of which their children are such an integral part.

continued from page 4

Parents Weekend Leadership Appreciation Breakfast

After Dark (All-University variety show)

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

“As parents, you’ve given your student a container to work with, and students will respond to that container in different ways. This is part of what needs to happen as students find their own way to God,” explained Burt Burleson, Baylor’s new university chaplain. “As students ask tough questions about their faith, parents should trust that God is drawing their children to Himself in a unique way. What you can pray for is that someone who is a stage or two ahead in the faith journey is walking alongside and guiding your student.”

Tending to students as they navigate their spiritual journey is one of Burleson’s primary goals—and his area of expertise—as he begins his work at Baylor. Burleson, a 1980 Baylor graduate who was most recently pastor of DaySpring Baptist Church in Waco, earned his doctor of ministry degree with a concentration in Christian nurture. He also gets to practice his trade at home. He and his wife, Julie, have two children (one a recent Texas A&M graduate, the other a student at William Jewell College).

“In my mind, the central job of the chaplain’s office is pastoral care. If a student needs someone to talk to, that’s my calling. I want to become a pastor to the campus, someone who speaks into the lives of people.”

Burleson also hopes to challenge students as he helps guide them. He is excited to be a part of the university’s commitment to creating a community that promotes faith and learning, and he plans to extend that principle to create Chapel programs that go beyond what meets students’ felt needs.

“I want them to have a bit of an ecumenical experience while affirming what is unique about the Baptist tradition,” he said. “Baylor is working to cultivate opportunities in which the Christian tradition intersects the academic disciplines. That’s something students find at Baylor that they’re not going to get anywhere else. I look forward to the opportunity not only to give back to Baylor but to be part of something that is significant in our community and our world.”

6

SPIRITUALJOURNEYSPIRITUALJOURNEY

NAvIGATING THE

Baylor approaches spirituality

purposefully. From our new university

chaplain to the well-established resident

chaplain program, we strive to help

students develop not only in their

academic studies but also in their faith

journeys. However, Baylor’s efforts

are not limited to students. Programs

such as 1st Call to Prayer reach out to

the parents in the Baylor community,

promoting their spiritual growth as well.

Read on to learn more about a few efforts

to support spiritual well-being at Baylor.

As a resident chaplain, Collin Bullard’s home is also his office. Whether a Brooks resident comes by with a question about the Bible, or if someone has a family emergency in the middle of the night, Collin is always available for pastoral care.

New Man on Campus: Learning to Navigate

“As students ask

tough questions

about their faith,

parents should

trust that God

is drawing their

children to Himself

in a unique way.”

-Burt Burleson,

Baylor University Chaplain

and Dean for University

Ministries

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES 7

The reviews? “Off the charts.” “Beyond our expectations.” “Amazing.” The event? 1st Call to Prayer.

The first Tuesday of every month, something special happens to Baylor: parents across the country come together with the common purpose of praying for the entire Baylor community. And they use the superlatives above to describe the rewarding experience.

“Jesus tells us that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He’s present,” Allen Dogger, who leads the North Dallas 1st Call group with his wife, Barbara, pointed out. “I find it very encouraging to know there are other people who share my heart and my concerns.”

“I think being an intercessor is one of the most important commitments we make as believers,” Cathy Johnson, who works with her husband, Larry (MHA ’84), to lead San Antonio’s group, said. “Whether it’s interceding for our

children or for Baylor, it’s to be taken seriously, and 1st Call is an excellent way to stay connected to Baylor.”

1st Call also helps maintain intentionality in parents’ prayer life. Though every group operates differently, many gather prayer requests via e-mail. The

monthly prayer focus, which can be found on the Parents League website, guides their prayer objectives for each meeting.

“You can just feel God’s presence in the room,” exclaimed Dan Silverman, the Chicagoland 1st Call leader with his wife, Linda. “It raises you to a new spiritual level and brings forth the knowledge of God’s real being.”

“Three years ago, I was really struggling—I didn’t want to send my son off to school, even though I knew it was the right place for him,” Larry Johnson recalled. “It’s remarkable what peace of mind 1st Call gave us.”

To find out about 1st Call groups in your area, visit www.baylor.edu/parentsleague or call the Parents League helpline at 1-888-287-5557.

Gathering in His Name

“I’m having a really difficult week. I have a ton of tests on the horizon, I had a disagreement with my roommate and since I haven’t found a church here yet, I don’t know where to go for help.”

You probably have been on the receiving end of a phone call like this. Your parental instincts might have propelled you to your feet, ready to drive, fly or do whatever it took to be by your student’s side. But you can sit back down. Each of Baylor’s residence halls has a resident chaplain, a George W. Truett Theological Seminary student who lives in the residence halls and provides pastoral care to students. Whether your student needs help finding a church home, a shoulder to cry on after a bad day or just someone to talk to, the chaplains are there to help.

“There are lots of well-being issues in college—spiritual, emotional, academic—and it’s very easy to get stressed,” Meredith Pillion, resident

chaplain for North Russell Hall, noted. “Having a resident chaplain creates a supportive atmosphere in the building, showing how intentional Baylor is in wanting to help students in their college experience.”

From facilitating programming such as weekly prayer meetings and Bible studies to just hanging out with students in the residence hall common areas, the resident chaplains make it their job to build community, be readily available and set a good example for students.

Of course, sometimes the undergraduates provide the challenge for the Truett students.

“If I advise someone to practice spiritual disciplines, I need to be doing the same thing,” Collin Bullard, resident chaplain for Brooks Residential College, said. “That’s what community is about, I think. We are here to challenge and encourage one another.”

Is There a Chaplain in the House?

As a resident chaplain, Collin Bullard’s home is also his office. Whether a Brooks resident comes by with a question about the Bible, or if someone has a family emergency in the middle of the night, Collin is always available for pastoral care.

“As students ask

tough questions

about their faith,

parents should

trust that God

is drawing their

children to Himself

in a unique way.”

-Burt Burleson,

Baylor University Chaplain

and Dean for University

Ministries

In large cities like Dallas, there are often several Parents League chapters with 1st Call meetings. Here, the North Dallas 1st Call group gathers for a photo after sharing prayer and a potluck dinner.

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

“First Step” Leaves a Big Impact

They removed the graffiti scrawled on the walls of downtown Waco businesses. They cleared away debris from the floodwaters of the Brazos River, vastly improving walking paths in a scenic part of the city. And they laid the foundation for their collective Baylor experience by framing a Habitat for Humanity house for a local family. In one morning, Baylor University’s freshman class of more than 2,700 students was introduced to the central importance of service and

vocation in their lives as they participated in the First Step community service project Aug. 18 during Welcome Week.

“Students worked hard, laughed a lot and were able to connect with one another and with members of the Waco community. The upperclassmen student leaders involved said it was the best First Step experience Baylor has facilitated in years,” Karin Klinger, associate director for student activities, said.

Baylor Addresses Poverty

Baylor University students, faculty and staff from across the university began a groundbreaking interdisciplinary poverty studies program this fall. Only the third undergraduate program of its kind, the Shepherd Poverty Program at Baylor is based on Washington and Lee University’s nationally recognized Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability.

“The Shepherd Poverty Program represents a wonderful opportunity for Baylor University to partner with the community to address issues of poverty, civic engagement and social and economic justice

through discipline-based service learning, internships, research and evaluation,” Rosemary Townsend, director of business affairs and coordinator of Baylor’s Shepherd Poverty Program, said.

Initiatives for Baylor’s program include establishing a Poverty, Civic Engagement and Social and Economic Justice minor, providing grants and launching regional, national and discipline-based international internship projects.

Ministry Guidance Program Gets a Boost

Baylor received an approximately $4 million gift from the estate of Allene Hubler that will establish an endowed chair, an endowed professorship and an endowed scholarship in the Ministry Guidance program within Baylor’s department of religion.

“When a program has endowed positions, that tells the world, ‘This is an important discipline and we give priority to it at our university,’” Dr. Jeter Basden, professor of religion and director of Ministry Guidance at Baylor, said. “Mrs. Hubler’s gift will not only strengthen the work of Ministry Guidance at Baylor but will ultimately strengthen the work of churches, literally around the world. Her generosity is multiplied by this gift.”

The Ministry Guidance program seeks to assist undergraduate students who feel called to vocational Christian ministry, including preaching, missions,

music, religious education, youth and recreation, as well as various other ministries. In the 2006-07 school year, more than 2,200 Baylor students expressed interest in some form of ministry.

Text Messaging Added to Emergency Notification System

Baylor recently added text messaging capabilities to its fast multi-modal communication service that provides campus leaders and security professionals the ability to reach all students with information and updates during unforeseen events or emergencies. With Connect-ED, students will receive within minutes updates via phone calls, e-mails, text messages and messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired.

The text messaging feature of this emergency notification system requires that Baylor students OPT-IN for emergency text messages. After students provide a text-enabled phone number via BearWeb, the BEARS-Connect-ED service automatically sends a text message to that phone with a confirmation request during business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST). The student will be instructed to reply to the text message. Contact information included in the emergency notification system will only be used for campus emergency notifications and will not be made available to any other service.

Students framed a Habitat for Humanity house on Baylor’s campus as a part of Welcome Week’s First Step community service project.

IF YOU KnOW STUDEnTS in your area who deserve their own Baylor experience and would actively recruit them, you may want to become a Bear Hunter. Bear Hunters are volunteers—alumni, parents and friends of Baylor University—who “fling their green and gold afar” by sharing their own Baylor story with prospective students. Bear Hunters have access to materials to aid in their efforts including brochures, newsletters and even an official shirt. There are many ways to become involved with Bear Hunters.

Share the Bear spirit!Share the Bear spirit!

YOU CAN:

• REFERABEAR: Send the names and pertinent information of high school students to the Office of Admission Services.• SPOTABEAR:RepresentBaylorbyattendingCollegeFairsinyourcommunity.• SERVEABEAR: Take Baylor information packets to local high school counselors or youth ministers and maintain relationships with them on behalf of Baylor.• HOSTABEAR:HelptheOfficeofAdmissionServiceswithspecialrecruitingeventsin your area.

For more information on becoming a Bear Hunter, visit www.baylor.edu/bearhunters

PERSPECTIVE points

8

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

Baylor University welcomed four new deans to campus this fall. Their strong faith and desire to help the university achieve the goals of Baylor 2012, the university’s 10-year vision, are ideals all four share, and all have lofty goals in mind for their new roles at Baylor.

Pattie Orr, Vice President for Information Technology and Dean of University Libraries

Native Texan Pattie Orr felt esteemed and a tremendous sense of responsibility when she learned she was appointed vice president for information technology and dean of libraries.

“As Baylor moves toward excellence in academics and faith, it will be an honor to work with the university community to ensure we have the resources needed in the library and in information technology,” Orr said.

Orr, who came to Baylor from Wellesley College, has many aspirations

for the Baylor libraries. Among them are the desire to build a library that will support and encourage undergraduate research in ways such as increasing the university’s online resources and the goal to make Baylor more environmentally friendly.

New initiatives already launched in support of Orr’s ambitious goals include a new “IM a Baylor Librarian” initiative that enables students to text message a librarian for information from their phones or portable devices; the “Librarians on the Loose” program where librarians are positioned within study areas that are not part of the library buildings in order to be more accessible to students or faculty; and the reconfiguration of printers in the libraries and public computing spaces to print double-sided automatically in order to conserve paper. To support this final initiative, Orr has asked faculty to accept assignments printed double-sided whenever possible.

Lee nordt, Dean for College of Arts and SciencesLee Nordt’s two highly effective years

as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences equipped him to be the leading candidate to assume the position on a more permanent basis.

“I am deeply honored to be the dean of the largest academic unit at Baylor, but with it comes tremendous responsibility tending to the needs of both the arts and sciences departments and providing vision and leadership to take us to another level of excellence,” Nordt explained.

Nordt, who joined the Baylor faculty as an associate professor of geology in 1996, has outlined goals for the College that include a commitment to

improving teaching and research. He would like to continue an emphasis on providing excellent undergraduate education, expand research efforts in graduate programs and secure additional space for teaching and research as the College continues to grow.

Jon Engelhardt, Dean for School of EducationWith more than 30 years of experience

helping schools of education around the country develop and grow, including his most recent stint at Wichita State University, Jon Engelhardt was an ideal candidate for dean of Baylor’s School of Education.

“The opportunity to provide leadership and help an institution go to the next level was very appealing to me,” Engelhardt stated. “I also was drawn to the fact that at Baylor you can be more transparent about how your faith guides what you do.”

Engelhardt looks forward to assisting Baylor in achieving the goals of 2012 and to ensuring that the School of Education is an important piece of the puzzle. He hopes to continue the development of world-class undergraduate and graduate programs with a special emphasis on developing cutting-edge doctoral programs. Other goals for the School of Education include increasing its research capacity and preparing students to be successful in an increasingly global environment.

While Engelhardt has ambitious goals, he hopes to maintain Baylor’s caring environment and vows to keep students at the center of his aspirations.

David Garland, Dean for George W. Truett Theological Seminary

His love for educating students for a lifetime of service almost kept David Garland from the position of dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

“I love teaching students who are preparing for ministry and I enjoy my research and writing, so I did not apply for the job. But I yielded to the unanimous will of the faculty,” Garland said.

He began his tenure at the seminary in 1997 as professor of Christian scriptures and was appointed associate dean for academic affairs at Truett in 2001.

Garland’s vision for the seminary includes increasing the number of endowed scholarships in order to enable more students to pursue a career in the ministry, developing a doctoral program in preaching and enhancing the global missions and spiritual formation programs.

Baylor Welcomes New Members to the Baylor Family

9

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES

The Baylor Network provides opportunities for Baylor parents to connect with their children’s Baylor experience and the University. One arm of

the Baylor Network, the Baylor Women’s Network, undertakes a program called “Project Bear Care.”

“Our women’s groups enjoy activities that help them connect with Baylor students from their hometowns,” said Carol Kent, director of the Baylor Women’s Network. “Project Bear Care might include picture postcards to remind students

of their hometowns with messages of encouragement written by the women—while others create survival kits to give students a little boost during finals.”

“We welcome Baylor parents to our events. It’s really terrific to hold an event in Oklahoma, Washington, D.C., San Antonio or in any of our locales and to see our parents and grads getting to know each other,” Kent said. In this way, the various divisions of the network

strive to engage parents. The Network also serves as a valuable forum

for recent graduates. “Parents often bring their Baylor students to Network events to introduce them to this resource,” said Brenda Morris, senior executive director of the Baylor Network. “With groups from coast to coast, Baylor alums and parents alike have the opportunity to connect with the Baylor family on a social, professional and spiritual level.”

The Network also serves as an information source for parents. “Sometimes a Baylor parent may just want to talk to a Baylor graduate to see what it is their own students are so excited about,” Kent said. “For instance, Diadeloso and Pigskin Revue are unique terms that hold a special meaning to Baylor students, but may baffle a Baylor parent.” By organizing events where the two groups can mingle, the Network offers Baylor parents a connection to information and to the Baylor family.

For more information about The Baylor Network and events in your community, please visit www.baylor.edu/network.

Connecting with the Baylor Family

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El Paso Parents Find Ways to Connect While Students Are Away

There are those who say Texas is like a whole different country. For parents in El Paso, it feels like they’ve sent their kids across the country.

Pam Thomasson graduated from Baylor in 1978 and was thrilled when her daughter, Mallory, decided to attend. Even though they live 12 hours away, Pam appreciated the fine education and Christian environment she knew Baylor would provide.

During her time at Baylor, Pam was in Student Foundation and traveled with Parents League throughout Texas. So she was stunned to learn El Paso did not have a Parents League chapter. “Kids usually go to other schools in the area,” Pam said. “But there are 127 students from El Paso at Baylor. That’s huge.”

With such representation, Pam knew Parents League would be the perfect way to unite families with each other and Baylor. When more than 100 people attended their Send-off Party, Pam knew a fire was lit. She received numerous requests to get involved, and they’ve responded.

“It’s not like we can come to Baylor and cook for our students during finals. And they can’t come home for the weekend and do laundry,” she said. “Parents League provides a real connection.”

Bonding with other Baylor parents also benefits the students who are so far away.

“I had one parent call and ask if we needed to send anything to Mallory because she was making the trip. That helps because when you’re so far away, you have to mail a lot,” Pam said. “One family arrived at Baylor last year and realized that the only shoes the son packed were the flip flops on his feet. His mom had to mail the rest of his shoes.”

With these unique challenges, Pam is hopeful that the new Parents League chapter in El Paso will take off.

“With Parents League, you are not alone having your child hundreds of miles away,” she said.

For more information about events in El Paso, or to look up Parents League events in your own area, visit www.baylor.edu/parentsleague.

Members of the newly established El Paso Parents League chapter recently met to discuss plans for the upcoming year. Parents involved included:

Back row:Roberto RodriguezBarb SpencerMarsi GramzayRobert FarahAnne Farah

Front Row:Judy WebbPam ThomassenMichelle McDuffie

From softball games to professional networking, the Baylor network offers a variety of events for Baylor alumni and friends.

Baylor Parents League PERSPECTIVES 11

2007 SEND-OFF PARTIES2007 SEND-OFF PARTIES

Bryan/College Station La Jolla, California Kansas City

Southwest Dallas San Antonio Memphis

Georgetown, Texas Northwest Houston Southern Louisiana

With more than 60 Send-off Parties scheduled during the summer, the Baylor Parents League welcomed new students and their parents to the Baylor family.