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Baylor University is an independent Baptist institution of higher learning located in Waco, Texas and is the oldest university in Texas. The university was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas. The university is known for its law school and the George W. Truett Theological Seminary. It is the largest Baptist university in the world. Until 1991, when it became an independent school under the terms of its charter from the state of Texas, it was closely affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Academically, the school is divided into two colleges (the College of Arts and Sciences and the Honors College) eight schools (School of Education, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate School, Hankamer School of Business, Law School, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, School of Music, and School of Social Work), and one seminary (George W. Truett Theological Seminary). While they share the Baylor name, the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, TX, are no longer affiliated with Baylor University.
The school's sports teams are called the Bears. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A, and in the Big Twelve Conference. Prior to joining the Big 12, Baylor participated in the Southwest Conference from the conference's charter in 1914 until its dissolution in 1996. In 2003, the school's basketball team was embroiled in a major scandal following the death of player Patrick Dennehy. For more information, see Baylor University basketball scandal.
Every year since 1909, Baylor celebrates Homecoming. Homecoming activities include Pigskin Revue, a song and dance featuring the top acts from the previous spring's All University Sing; the Freshman Mass Meeting; the oldest and longest collegiate parade in the United States.
Every spring since 1934, Baylor takes a day off from classes for "Diadeloso (http://www.baylor.edu/diadeloso/)." The campus hosts entertainment of all types - tug o' war contests, 3-on-3 basketball, ping pong, indoor soccer, board game tournaments, comedians, an all-University dance, multi-player console games, gospel choirs, etc. This tradition often baffles new professors, who then require quite a bit of convincing to not hold class (or worse, give an exam) on a seemingly arbitrary Thursday in April.
In 2004, Baylor won its first national sports title ever, in men's NCAA Division I tennis, defeating UCLA, 4-0.
In 1982, a team from Baylor comprised of Terry Talley, Jennifer Harmon, Patrick Keane, and Keith Hall and coached by Dr. Donald L. Gaitros were the world champions of the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM/ICPC).
In 2004, Baylor reported enrollment on its recruiting website as follows:
- 11,712 undergraduate students
- 2,225 graduate and professional students
Campus events are chronicled in Baylor's student periodical, The Lariat (http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat).
Notable alumni
- Leon Jaworski (Baylor Law School) - special prosecutor during the Watergate Scandal
- "Samurai" Mike Singletary - former NFL linebacker
- David Wesley - shooting guard for Houston Rockets (NBA)
- Robert Fulghum - best-selling author, philosopher
- Thomas Harris - best-selling author of Silence of the Lambs
- Ann Richards - former governor of the State of Texas
- Kevin Reynolds (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0721817/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9a2V2aW4gcmV5bm9sZHN8aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=4;fm=1) - director of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Waterworld, and The Count of Monte Cristo; son of Herbert Reynolds, chancellor emeritus of Baylor.
- John Lee Hancock (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359387/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9Sm9obiBMZWUgSGFuY29ja3xodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=13) - director of The Alamo; producer of My Dog Skip
- Michael Johnson - Olympic gold medalist
Other notable trivia
- Baylor is home to the Armstrong Browning Library, which is home of the largest collection of materials related to the English poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
- The Armstrong Browning Library is also believed to be the home of the largest collection of secular stained glass windows in the world.
- Country music singer Willie Nelson attended Baylor for one year.
- Home of the oldest and longest collegiate parade (started in 1909).
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