Imperative VII
Provide outstanding academic facilities
Understanding that academic excellence relies in part on superior facilities, Baylor will construct a world-class science building that will host a full complement of natural science teaching, research and experimentation on campus. Our undergraduate and graduate programs in Museum Studies will find a permanent home in the Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center. Baylor will design an Academic Success Center, located prominently on campus, which will house a program aimed at increasing both student retention and graduation rates by 10 percent by the year 2012. Further, Baylor will augment its Fine Arts Programs by completing Phase II of the Music Building Project and, secondly, improve Engineering and Computer Science facilities by providing upgraded space for laboratories.
Progress Summary
- Construct a world-class science building
The Baylor Sciences Building was opened in fall 2004. The building was nominated for R&D Magazine's 2005 Laboratory of the Year Award.
- Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center
The Mayborn Museum Complex opened in May 2004, bringing together the resources of the Sue and Frank Mayborn Natural Science and Cultural History Museum Complex with the Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center.
- Paul L. Foster Success Center
The first floor and basement wings of the Sid Richardson Science Building were remodeled and reopened in fall 2007 to house the Paul L. Foster Success Center. The Department of Mathematics is now housed on the second and third floors.
- Phase II of the Music Building Project
The next phase of the McCrary Music Building was included in the plans for a new Arts District and is no longer being considered as a stand-alone project.
- Improve Engineering and Computer Science facilities
The Central Texas Technology and Research Park, which will house the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC), will provide graduate research space for the School of Engineering and Computer Science and for select Baylor interdisciplinary research centers and institutes. Phase 1 of the renovation of the former General Tire facility began in July 2010 and was completed in May 2012. Phase 2 of the renovation was approved by the Board of Regents in November 2011 and will be completed by December 2012.
- Other academic facilities
The School of Social Work moved into renovated offices in downtown Waco in December 2010, providing more academic space for faculty and students and strengthening Baylor's commitment to the revitalization of downtown Waco. Planning is under way and construction will start in the next fiscal year for renovating the Marrs McLean Science Building to provide additional academic space for departments.