Imperative VI
Guide all Baylor students through academic and student life programming to understand life as a stewardship and work as a vocation
Baylor's undergraduate programs emphasize the central importance of vocation and service in students' lives and help them explore their value and role in society. At a Christian university questions such as “Who am I?” and “How should I best use my talents?” should be taken seriously and should guide students as they make life's key decisions. To assist students in addressing such issues, Baylor will develop multiple opportunities, both curricular and co-curricular, for students to discern and understand their life work as a calling and all of life as a stewardship of service.
Progress Summary
- Life Work as a Calling
Several programs have been implemented or expanded to help students understand their life work as a calling. Baylor received a $2 million Theological Exploration of Vocation grant from the Lilly Endowment. The resident chaplain program and Chapel programming have both been expanded along with Strength based presentations. The Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement was established in 2004 and has partnered with the School of Education to establish a minor in leadership. In 2009-10, the division reviewed and reaffirmed calling as a critical component of its student development learning outcomes. The number of undergraduates expressing an interest in vocational ministry remains strong.
- Stewardship of Service
Several programs have been implemented to help students understand life as stewardship of service. These programs include discipline- and vocation-specific missions, University Missions, Baylor Line Camp, community ministries and academic partnerships, student organization leadership development, community service and other campus programs. The Baylor Interdisciplinary Poverty Initiative was established in June 2007. In 2008, Baylor was selected as the first Campus Kitchen in Texas. During spring 2011, 10,014 pounds of food were rescued, 11,688 meals were provided to three community partners, and 4,717 hours of community service were provided. In fall 2009, Baylor hosted its first AmeriCorps*VISTA in the Division of Student Life and held the first national conference on poverty. In 2010, Baylor gained the assistance of five representatives from AmeriCorps*VISTA.