Four imperatives are interwoven across the Commitments.
Affordability, Value and Completion
The value of a Baylor education has never been higher; however, the University must remain vigilant to ensure it continues to be attainable for undergraduate and graduate students from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences. We must find new ways of supporting students with financial need and assuring timely graduation.
Health and Engineering
As a maturing R1 institution, Baylor must continue to grow its enrollment and research endeavors specifically in the areas of health, engineering and applied sciences to have a voice of influence in solving global challenges and to prepare graduates in high demand in Texas and beyond. As we continue to grow the faculty and students in these programs, we also must elevate our research and scholarship that shape the disciplines and graduate education we offer.
Human-Technology Interface
With the emergence of artificial intelligence and other technologies, the world faces new challenges which Baylor is uniquely positioned to address at the intersection of faith, ethics, humanities, education and research. As our faculty engage in important questions regarding emerging technologies, we also must prepare our students to live and work in a world where the ability to team with technology will be essential. Furthermore, as technology is increasingly able to do much more of the technical work once done by humans, we must develop students to be more fully human and guided by moral, intellectual and spiritual virtues.
Civil Discourse
In a world of increasing discord and conflict, Baylor must exercise its expertise, scope, scale and faith foundation to bring people together as part of God’s creation. Whether in our classrooms and labs, with colleagues, or throughout the student experiences, we welcome all and must live out our calling to know one another as made in the image of God. We will intentionally design opportunities that prepare our students – and the entire Baylor Family – to learn from people whose life experiences and ideas are different from their own, work across difference, lead through conflict and build bridges of understanding that help society flourish.