The Baylor University Board of Regents met today to welcome new board members and approve both the 2012-2013 budget and the next strategic plan, Pro Futuris.

Pro Futuris is named to link Baylor’s plan for its future with its motto, Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, a commitment to both its Christian mission and aspiration for global impact. The document will guide the administration for the next 10 years beginning June 1. Beginning in 2010, the strategic themes committee sought input from Baylor students, faculty, alumni and supporters, both before the draft plan was created and before it was revised.

The final approved version of Pro Futuris has few specific goals, though this is by design. Dr. Elizabeth Davis, executive vice president and provost, previously stated that Baylor 2012, the concluding strategic plan, featured some specific goals “that six, seven years later didn’t make sense. … so that’s what we want to avoid.” Baylor 2012, while falling short of many of its quantifiable goals, was seen as generally successful in expanding Baylor’s facilities, endowment, and research level.

The four “aspirational statements” of Pro Futuris focus on renewing Baylor’s focus on quality academics in both fields of learning and quality of teaching, expanding faculty and student research, furthering the university’s commitment of Christian service to society and fostering commitment from and financial partnership with the Baylor family, especially alumni.

Baylor’s newly approved 2012-2013 budget of $444.3 million, which will go into effect on June 1, is 3.7 percent larger than the 2011-2012 budget. Student scholarship allocations increased by a significant $19.6 million, while a $12.7 million (4.8 percent) increase in faculty and staff costs support eight new faculty positions, 32 new staff positions, and raises and increased stipends and funds for faculty, staff and students.

Three new regents were appointed by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which selects one-quarter of the board. A fourth new regent was installed by the board and a current regent was reappointed.

The board also created one single-year non-voting position each to represent students and faculty.

Zach Rogers, the 2011-2012 student body president, campaigned on the issue of encouraging student representation on the Board of Regents in last year’s student body elections. Kelly Rapp, Rogers’ successor, was selected for the student post; he previously served as a student liason for the board.

Dr. Todd Still, Truett professor of Christian Scriptures and new Chair of the Faculty Senate, was selected for the faculty post. In recent years, Baylor faculty have stressed their general concern over communication with campus administration.

Below is the university’s release on the board meeting actions.

Baylor Regents Approve Pro Futuris, New Strategic Vision To Guide University Progress in Coming Decade

Board also approves operating budget for 2012-2013, elects new board members and officers, adds faculty and student body members to board

WACO, Texas (May 11, 2012) – After nearly two years of planning that included the active participation of faculty, students, staff, alumni and a community of friends throughout the nation, Baylor University Regents today unanimously approved a new strategic vision named Pro Futuris that will guide the University’s path over the next decade. The vision will go into effect on June 1, 2012.

The result of an open and participatory planning process led by Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Davis, Pro Futuris follows on the heels of Baylor 2012, which ushered in a decade of unprecedented growth and development at Baylor impacting every area of University life. As approved today by Baylor Regents, the new strategic vision builds upon that remarkable progress, connecting Pro Futuris – “for our future” – with the University’s foundational motto – Pro Ecclesia (“for Church”), Pro Texana (“for Texas” and for the world).

“As we stand at the threshold of a new period in Baylor’s storied history, we understand the deeply significant work to which we have been called. We must impact the world from Baylor’s strong position at the crossroads of academic excellence and Christian faith,” said Baylor President Ken Starr. “This strategic vision is rooted in what we at Baylor have always considered non-negotiable – educational excellence, the pursuit of new knowledge, a caring community with a profound commitment to service and an active Christian faith. With the launch of our new vision, we have made clear that these characteristics will continue to define us for the duration of Pro Futuris – and ‘for all ages to come.’ I commend Baylor Regents, Provost Davis, the Executive Council and all of Baylor Nation for the valuable contribution of our new vision.”

Pro Futuris includes five aspirational statements that define the University’s principal direction. As developed in partnership with the entire University family, Baylor will be a community recognized for:

Transformational Education – where academic excellence and life-changing experiences ignite leadership potential that increases Baylor students’ desire for wisdom, understanding of calling and preparation for service in a diverse and interconnected global society;
Compelling Scholarship – where research discoveries illuminate solutions to significant challenges confronting the world and where creative endeavors reflect the breadth of God’s creation;
Informed Engagement – where Christian faith, in conjunction with Baylor’s expertise and resources, inspires a desire to address systemic problems facing the community, both local and global, and renews a dedication to improvement of self and service to others;
Committed Constituents – where the dedication of alumni and friends advances Baylor through sustained involvement and philanthropy;
Judicious Stewardship – where the value generated by and derived from a Baylor experience is supported through a diversity of revenues, prudent management of resources and the pursuit of outstanding quality and character in every area of University life.

Within these aspirational statements are areas of specification that codify broader themes and acts of determination, which reflect the aspiration and through a variety of original ideas will become operational plans. Davis noted that this structure enables contributions to the vision and to University progress from all members of the Baylor community. Some projects and initiatives already under way are noted to demonstrate the bridge connecting Baylor 2012 and Pro Futuris.

“It has been my honor and privilege to help guide and shepherd the development of Pro Futuris, which reflects the very best thinking of so many who love Baylor and wish to see our University prosper, both now and in the future,” Davis said. “I’m grateful for the active collaboration of the Board during the entire visioning process, for the many dedicated faculty and staff on our campus who developed thoughtful recommendations, and to alumni and friends both locally and nationally who spent hours engaged in serious conversation about the development of our future vision.

“We hold firm to the conviction that the world needs a preeminent research University that is unambiguously Christian; where such a commitment does not imply a lack of scholarly inquiry, but rather requires scholarship and creative endeavors at the highest levels of quality to complement and inform its teaching and service,” Davis said. “Pro Futuris serves as a compass for our future, a guide that clearly points us toward our destination while inviting creativity in determining the paths by which we will arrive. As we launch Pro Futuris, we are thankful for all that our University has been, and look forward to the promise of Baylor’s next decade of progress.”

“Anyone connected with Baylor University has been aware of our extraordinary positive momentum over the last 10 years, and the Board has long acknowledged our responsibility to continue to move Baylor forward into the next decade,” said Ronald D. Murff, BBA ’75, chair of the Regent committee appointed by the board to work with University administration in the development of the new plan. “For the past two years, I have been privileged to work alongside Provost Davis and the Executive Council as we considered all the very good input that has informed our new vision. Baylor Regents join the rest of the Baylor family in celebrating the launch of this inspirational vision for our future.”

In other business, Baylor Regents approved the 2012-2013 budget that reflects an increase of $15.8 million or 3.7 percent over the original 2011-2012 budget adopted by Baylor Regents last year. It includes an increase of $19.6 million to support merit and need-based scholarships, graduate assistantships and scholarships for graduate and professional students.

Personnel costs will increase by $12.7 million or 4.8 percent, which will support approximately eight new full-time faculty positions, 45 replacement faculty positions and 22 new staff positions. The budget also supports merit raises for faculty and staff, more competitive stipends for graduate assistants and increased funding for student workers. The budget takes effect June 1.

“Through God’s abundant grace and the continued prudent stewardship of our resources, Baylor continues to thrive today, as it will in the future,” said Buddy Jones, BA ’73, JD ’75, chair of the Baylor Board of Regents. “As we enroll students of high academic quality, we also are focused on helping ensure educational access to families with need. Because of careful management of the resources that have been entrusted to us, our budget provides more merit and need-based scholarship aid to help students realize the dream of a Baylor education. As we enter a new decade of progress at Baylor, we remain committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff, providing more work-study opportunities for our undergraduates and increasing the academic caliber of our graduate students by enhancing stipends for graduate assistantships.”

The Board also elected one new Regent and welcomed three new Regents appointed in November by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The new Board members who will begin their terms on June 1 are:

Joel T. Allison, BA ’70, of Dallas, president and chief executive officer of Baylor Health Care System, elected by the BGCT
Judge Jennifer W. Elrod, BS ’88, of Houston, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, elected by the BGCT
James Cary Gray, BA ’79, BACC ’80, JD ’83, of Houston, attorney, president and managing director of Looper Reed and McGraw P.C., elected by the Board
Dr. Kenneth L. Hall of Longview, retired president and CEO of Buckner International, elected by the BGCT

The Board re-elected current Regent Gary Elliston of Dallas to a third three-year term.

Regents also voted to appoint a member of the faculty and student body to a one-year term as non-voting members of the Board. As the new fiscal year begins shortly, Regents have invited to serve in these roles in the coming year the new Chair of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Todd Still, and the new Student Body President, Kelly Rapp.

“Our new Regents are faithful servant leaders who bring a range of perspective and expertise to our Board,” Jones said. “They are passionate supporters of the University and its Christian mission. We are honored to welcome them to the Board and know they will serve Baylor wisely and well.”

Elected to serve as Board officers were Richard S Willis of Colleyville, Texas, as chair, and Robert E. Beauchamp of Houston, who was re-elected as vice-chair. The officers will begin their service on June 1.

The Board also expressed its appreciation to Regents who have completed their terms: Bobby C. Dagnel of Lubbock and Dr. John C. Reimers of Beaumont.

In this April 29, 2012, photo provided by SpaceX, a SpaceX Dragon capsule on the company'€™s Falcon 9 rocket is transported to a launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, announced the latest delay Friday, setting May 19 as the new launch date. A Falcon rocket carrying a Dragon capsule was supposed to blast off from Cape Canaveral on May 7, but additional software testing was ordered. The test flight is already three months late.
Associated Press

Company owns 700-acre rocket test facility in McGregor

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private U.S. company has set a new date for launching a cargo ship to the International Space Station.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, said Friday it was now aiming for a May 19 liftoff of its Falcon rocket and Dragon capsule. It will be the first commercial cargo run to the space station.

The launch of the supply ship had been scheduled for Monday but was delayed for more software testing. The test flight is already three months late.

NASA used to stockpile the space station through the shuttles, but the fleet was retired last summer. The space agency wants commercial providers to carry up supplies and eventually astronauts.

In the meantime, NASA is paying Russia to ferry astronauts to the space station.

Adam Davis, Baylor’s associate director for athletic performance, was announced Tuesday by the University of Tulsa as the next Hurricane director of strength and conditioning. Davis is listed on Baylor’s website as director of the Iron Bear Club, a booster group for the department of athletic performance.

File: Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby attends a news conference in Stanford, Calif. on Jan. 13, 2011. Bowlsby has accepted the Big 12 Conference commissioner job to replace the ousted Dan Beebe, people with direct knowledge of the situation said Thursday, May 3, 2012.
Associated Press

By Antonio Gonzalez
Associated Press Sports Writer

A teary-eyed Bob Bowlsby walked out of a Stanford auditorium to a roaring ovation from coaches and staff members Thursday, leaving behind one of the nation’s top athletics program for a conference in desperate need of a strong leader.

Bowlsby informed his staff and a room jam-packed with Cardinal coaches that he will become the Big 12 Conference commissioner, according to at least three people with direct knowledge of the 10-minute meeting. Bowlsby said he will remain with the Cardinal until June.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Stanford nor the Big 12 has discussed the hire, which could be announced later Thursday. Bowlsby, who is expected to be formally introduced by the Big 12 on Friday, declined comment when he walked out of the meeting.

After more than six years at Stanford, Bowlsby will take over a BCS conference that seems to have found some stability after losing four schools over the past two years. The league will head into this fall with 10 members, including new additions TCU and West Virginia.

The 60-year-old Bowlsby, who had passed up several chances to leave Stanford over the years, replaces the ousted Dan Beebe, who was replaced on an interim basis by Chuck Neinas, a former Big Eight commissioner.

Bowlsby is a nationally respected college administrator who was hired away from Iowa in 2006 after 15 years spent running the Hawkeyes’ athletic department.

Of all the decisions he made at Stanford, fans will forever remember his hiring of Jim Harbaugh in 2006. Harbaugh built the football program into a national power, winning the Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech in 2011 and finishing fourth in the final AP poll.

It was the program’s best ranking since the unbeaten 1940 team finished No. 2.

Bowlsby also hired offensive coordinator David Shaw last year to replace Harbaugh, who departed to the San Francisco 49ers. Shaw kept the Cardinal on track, going 11-2, including an overtime loss in the Fiesta Bowl to Oklahoma State. Andrew Luck also finished Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons.

Stanford’s rigorous academic standards present unique circumstances, yet the school has won the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup 17 straight years. The award is given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the program with the most success in all sports.

Stanford is also one of the country’s largest programs with 35 sports, including 19 for women. Stanford sent more athletes to the 2008 Beijing Olympics than any other college in the U.S, winning 25 Olympic medals. If Stanford were a country, it would have ranked 11th — tying with Japan — in total medals.

Bigger challenges lie ahead for Bowlsby in the Midwest.

The Big 12 was hit hard two years ago and wound up losing Nebraska to the Big Ten, Colorado to the Pac-12 and, as of July 1, Texas A&M and Missouri to the Southeastern Conference. Beebe was fired in September as Oklahoma, Texas and others were flirting with the Pac-12 and the Big 12 seemed on the brink of falling apart.

The conference is reportedly working toward a new television deal with ESPN, and Neinas was pushing members to agree to a long-term grant of media rights to the league that would make it all but impossible for schools to bolt. No deal has been struck yet, but that will likely be among the first items on the agenda for the next commissioner.

After reaching a 12-year contract worth about $3 billion last year with Fox and ESPN, the Pac-12 announced plans to launch a new conference-owned network to supplement coverage and create more exposure for Pac-12 athletes. Bowlsby had a role in the venture, which will launch this fall with the national cable network, six regional networks and a digital network.

College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo in New York and AP Sports Writers Janie McCauley in San Francisco, Betsy Blaney in Lubbock, Texas, and Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.

Former Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, left, speaks with Baylor University president Ken Starr, right, right, during a symposium on civics education, Monday, April 30, 2012, in Waco, Texas.
Associated Press

Daniel C. Houston
Staff Writer

Sandra Day O’Connor regaled a Baylor audience Monday with the story of her struggle to succeed as a woman in a male-dominated law field, highlighting how the profession has shifted since her selection as the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice.

O’Connor said she faced active discrimination in her attempt to find her first job in law, offering to work for her first employer for no pay because he was the only party interested in hiring her but could not afford to pay her salary. Eventually, through hard work and good fortune, she said she was able to land a salary and develop in her legal career, culminating in former president Ronald Reagan’s decision to nominate her to the Supreme Court.

Dr. Elizabeth Davis, executive vice president and provost, introduced O’Connor and thanked her for her role as a symbol for the expansion of women’s opportunities in the workplace. Davis said she did not have to go through the same difficulties O’Connor did, in large part because of her work.

O’Connor’s remarks were the third in President Ken Starr’s “On Topic” series of discussions with prominent public figures. Past guests have included former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens.

Click the image to visit the website for iCivics, a series of online games intended to increase student understanding about the structure of American government and the legal rights of citizens.

Among other discussion topics, Starr gave O’Connor a chance to advertise her new educational program, iCivics, a series of online games intended to increase student understanding about the structure of American government and the legal rights of citizens.

“When we got public schools in America,” O’Connor said, “it was with the argument that the framers had designed this good new form of government that was ingenious, wonderful, but we have to teach it to all of our citizens so then [they would learn] how this government works. And in the early years, the reason we founded public schools was to teach civics.”

Now, O’Connor said, some states are focusing so narrowly on mathematics and writing that they are cutting civics out of public school curriculum altogether.

But Baylor has partnered with several local schools to implement and research O’Connor’s iCivics program. Starr observed one of the iCivics sessions at a local high school last week, saying he saw the students forge a deeper connection with the government offices they studied through the program.

“[At] Waco High School this last week,” Starr said, “a number of us participated in a classroom observing students, and they were role-playing. They were members of the Congress, they were members of the Senate, they were presidents, they were judges and justices of the Supreme Court, and one of the comments by one of the students was, ‘being president is hard.’”

The Bears celebrate junior Logan Vick's three-run home run in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against New Mexico State. Baylor won, 15-5.
Chris Derrett | Contributor

By Chris Derrett
Contributor

Baylor swept an Aggie team for the second straight weekend, this time stealing home and blasting three home runs to defeat New Mexico State, 15-5, in eight innings on Saturday. Baylor completed the two-game sweep of New Mexico State after beating the Aggies 7-5 on Friday night.

Freshman Ryan Smith, son of head coach Steve Smith, held New Mexico State (30-11) scoreless over the final 3.1 innings and improved to 4-0 on the season.

Smith sported a No. 47 jersey on Saturday after his usual No. 6 uniform went missing.

“I guess the beaver took it. We couldn’t find it,” Ryan Smith joked after the game.

Smith was of course referring to the beaver living in the Brazos River beyond the outfield fence, the beaver that has become the rallying cry for Baylor (38-8, 18-0) as they’ve now won 27 of their last 28 games, 20 consecutive at home and 18 straight conference matchups.

Senior Dan Evatt, junior Logan Vick and freshman Adam Toth all homered to “feed the beaver” on Saturday. Toth also used his speed to steal home in the fourth and spark a five-run inning in which the Bears took the lead for good.

“I think what’s different about this team, for me, is that I don’t see any difference in them when we’re ahead, behind, early in the game, late in the game,” Steve Smith said. “I think they’re pretty much the same all the time.”

After reaching on a fielder’s choice earlier in the fourth inning, Toth stole second, nabbed third and reached home on freshman Nathan Orf’s perfectly executed delayed steal of second base. Toth’s steal cut the Aggies’ lead to 4-3.

“That’s my favorite part about playing, stealing those bases,” Toth said. “Coach [Steve] Johnigan called [the delayed steal], then as soon as the catcher let go of the ball, I took off.”

Junior Max Muncy later added an RBI-single, and senior Josh Ludy followed with a one-run double to push Baylor ahead 5-4 and chase New Mexico State starter Adam Mott. Mott picked up the loss, giving up seven runs, six earned and walking four batters in 3.1 innings.

Relievers Robert Kraft and Evan Mott didn’t fare much better. Kraft allowed both runners inherited from Adam Mott to score and loaded the bases in the fifth without retiring a batter.

With Baylor ahead 9-5 in the fifth, Vick sent Evan Mott’s 0-2 pitch over the right field wall, Vick’s second long ball of the year. Evatt piled on another run two pitches into his at-bat with a bomb over the left field fence, and Baylor led 13-5.

“The hitters are in the biggest groove right now that I’ve seen in a while,” Ryan Smith said.

The Bears notched one final run on junior Jake Miller’s RBI-single in the seventh.

Baylor called upon Ryan Smith earlier than expected. The Bears’ starter, Trent Blank, went just 4.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on a season-high 10 hits.

Baylor supplied Blank with a run in the first on Mott’s wild pitch, and Toth’s solo home run in the second brought the Bears a 2-0 advantage.

New Mexico State countered and pulled ahead 3-2 in the top of the third on Tanner Waite’s two-run double. Waite doubled again in the fourth to plate another run, and Zach Voight’s solo home run in the fifth inning brought the score to cut Baylor’s lead to 7-5.

The Bears have a 10-day break before heading to Texas State on May 9. From there, Baylor travels to Oklahoma for a three-game series starting May 11 and welcomes UTSA, the only team to beat Baylor in its last 28 games, to Baylor Ballpark on May 15. Baylor’s regular season ends with a three-game series against Texas starting May 17.

Baylor holds a seven-game lead over second-place Texas in the Big 12 standings.

The Avengers

What: “The Avengers” release
When: May 4
Who: Director Joss Whedon leads Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner (the “Incredible Hulk”), Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Where: Movie theaters around the world.

What: A Recital for Ring Out
When: 4:00 p.m. May 1

What: A Recital in Honor of the May 2012 Graduates
When: 5:00 p.m. May 11

Both recitals are led by Carillonneur Lynnette Geary, who recommends Founder’s Mall as the best place to listen and advises to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

Dr. Alvin Plantinga speaks on Thursday in Armstrong Browning to a crowd of students and faculty.
Chris Derrett | Lariat Editor-in-Chief

By Daniel C. Houston
Staff Writer

One of the country’s most prominent philosophers claimed Thursday it is science and naturalism — not science and religion — that conflict with one another in front of a packed room of Baylor students and faculty.

Dr. Alvin Plantinga, professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, said some atheist intellectuals like Richard Dawkins argue Christianity is fundamentally incompatible with the theory of evolution, and many Christians buy into this notion, because they believe evolution requires species adaptation be considered “unguided.”

Plantinga, however, said these critics of Christianity fail to prove the evolutionary process couldn’t be guided according to a particular design.

He went on to argue that believing both in a world in which all actions are determined by material biology, as well as in the theory of evolution, is irrational.

“Naturalism is, in fact, a kind of religion, and if it’s incompatible with evolution, then it’s incompatible with science,” Plantinga said. “So I agree that science and religion — or science and quasi-religion — conflict, all right, but it’s a conflict between naturalism and science, and not a conflict between Christianity or theism and science.”

To defend the claim that naturalism conflicts with evolutionary theory, Plantinga said a person who believes in both naturalism and evolution has reason to believe human cognition itself is not reliable.

This, he said, would undermine a person’s ability to believe his or her mind comes to true conclusions more often than not, which would also undermine the original belief of the compatibility of naturalism and evolution. Thus, Plantinga concluded, the belief in naturalism and evolution is self-defeating.

Not all audience members thought his argument was convincing. Several students, including Miami senior Alan Swindoll, raised objections to Plantinga’s arguments during a question-and-answer period following his lecture.

“I agree with him personally, but this is the main thing that [critics] talk about,” Swindoll told the Lariat after the event. “Why should we believe that these natural creatures wouldn’t have true beliefs? I was trying to point out that if you have true beliefs, that might help you in a natural environment. But he’s saying that doesn’t have anything to do with it because natural selection only cares about behavior, [not beliefs].”

Swindoll said he thought Plantinga responded convincingly to his objection.

Other audience members questioned whether it really was irrational to hold a belief solely because that belief is improbable.

Dr. Trent Dougherty, professor of religion at Baylor, introduced Plantinga and said his defense of theism in the academic world has helped make it acceptable to be a Christian philosopher in academia, something that was not always taken for granted.

“What it is like for me to be a Christian philosopher when I came up through grad school [in the 2000s] is different because of the efforts of this man in his early career, forging a path that people like me were later privileged to walk,” Dougherty said.