As part of the strategic planning process, 10 key institutional metric categories were identified to track the University’s progress related to the Imperatives, Commitments and Strategies outlined within the Strategic Plan. Performance on these metrics will be reported to the Board of Regents on a regular basis, and improvement will occur during the life of this plan.
Faith and Character Development
Baylor’s Faith and Character Study provides undergraduate student data on a range of faith and character measures such as humility, patience, forgiveness, gratitude and social altruism. Tracking these measures is one way for us to assess the important formation we do with our students.
Chapel will be consistently identified by a majority of student participants as having contributed to their spiritual development.
A majority of students will report having maintained or increased in virtue development, including patience and social altruism, as measured in the Baylor Faith and Character Study.
Affordability and Value
We want to assure that students who matriculate into Baylor have the financial resources to complete their degree and fully benefit from the value of a Baylor education. Thus, Baylor will, over the life of this strategic plan, meet a greater percentage of unmet student financial need.
Four-Year Graduation Rate
This metric is the gold standard for private universities. It is not only a good measure of a well-run academic enterprise, it also is extremely important in reducing student debt load and enhancing Baylor’s affordability over a student’s undergraduate experience. Our four- year graduation rate will continue to consistently improve.
Graduate Student Degree Completion
Graduate students are key to our overall strategy of advancing the growth and impact of Baylor’s research. Our number of master’s, professional and research doctoral degrees conferred will grow.
Placement Rates
The value of a Baylor degree can be determined in part by the degree to which it enables students to live out their vocational callings. We will improve the placement in jobs and in professional and graduate schools.
Global Impact
To assess our global impact, we need to measure the global activities of both students and faculty. We will increase the number of international undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Baylor. We will increase student participation in study abroad programs, and we will increase faculty engagement in international activities.
Research Growth
Research activity is commonly measured in terms of research expenditures. Growing research expenditures requires ongoing investment in tenured and tenure-track faculty. It is essential to increase the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty and research expenditures as an R1 institution.
Fundraising
The successful conclusion of the Give Light campaign, well surpassing its original $1.1 billion goal, has elevated the importance of philanthropy across the University. To position Baylor to continue to increase philanthropic outcomes, the university will conduct post (Give Light) campaign analysis and initiate campaign planning studies that will inform our strategy and timeline in publicly launching the University’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign.
Endowment Growth
Growing our endowment — both in gifts and performance — will assist Baylor in becoming less dependent upon undergraduate tuition revenue and in enhancing academic quality. Baylor’s endowment will increase.
Faculty and Staff Wellbeing
Baylor works diligently to be a stellar employer that reflects a Christian mission with a highly competitive benefits program, wellness and wellbeing resources, and a caring community for faculty, staff and students, while also striving to improve in all areas of the employment life cycle. Campus-wide surveys will indicate a strong sense of faculty and staff wellbeing.