Our Christian Mission

Faith and Learning Programs for Graduate Students

Sara Dolan, Associate Dean for Professional Development

The Graduate School has existing opportunities for students to foster spiritual growth and learn about integration of their faith into their education.  Three programs for students interested in strengthening their understanding of faith in their disciplines are supported by and housed within the Graduate School, owing to Baylor’s commitment to demonstrating our Christian commitment among our graduate students. 

The Conyers Scholars, led by Drs. Laine Scales, Professor of Social Work and Perry Glanzer, Professor of Education, began in 2010 and invites 10 to 14 students and one graduate student peer leader to engage in discussion of readings about the relationship between Christian faith and the students’ academic disciplines.  The Conyers Scholars program was named for George W. Truett Theological Seminary founding faculty member A. J. “Chip” Conyers, and the program supports the development and nurturing of vocation among graduate students interested in faith and learning in higher education. 

The 22 year-old Baptist College and University (BCU) Scholars program, led by Dr. Beth Allison Barr, and the Ramm Scholars, led by Associate Dean Chris Rios and Drs. Kimlyn Bender, Professor of Christian Theology and Rebecca Sheesley, Professor of Environmental Science, offer time for interdisciplinary discussion of faith in higher education.  The BCU Scholars are Baylor doctoral (or MFA) students who graduated from International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities (IABCU) member schools, and the program aims to prepare future faculty to increase the number of Baptist-educated graduate students joining faculties at Baptist universities.  The Scholars meet regularly with Baylor faculty and receive mentorship from administrators at IABCU member institutions, and they are invited to attend the annual meeting of the IABCU to interact with Baptist higher education administrators from across the country.  While our relationship with the IABCU has been strong, we also plan to strengthen our relationships with other Baptist organizations. 

With our growing online and professional programs, there is new opportunity to infuse Baylor’s Christian mission into the education of the clinical and educational professional leaders of the future.  Many of our online and professional programs discuss care of the body and the spirit as a natural part of their training, and the Graduate School will continue to look for ways to foster the integration of faith into online education.