The Provost's Scholars Program

A Collaborative of Baylor's Office of the Provost and Office of Engaged Learning

A common thread across the Baylor undergraduate educational experience—from business to nursing, arts to sciences, education to social work—is that students are eager to bridge their classroom learning to the world beyond it.

I am pleased to announce the creation of the Provost’s Scholars program to both highlight and support ambitious undergraduates who wish to excel, over the course of their undergraduate careers, in research, civic, and ambassadorial endeavors. A collaborative effort between my office and the Office of Engaged Learning (OEL), the purpose of this program is to inspire and guide students toward excellence in each of these domains and to cultivate an intellectual community that promotes a vision of excellence that is pursued together—for and with others.

Graduate admissions, employment searches, and applications for major fellowships and awards such as the Fulbright, Marshall, Truman, and Rhodes are often crowded and competitive. As we at Baylor prepare students for worldwide leadership and service, we believe it is essential, and indeed transformational, to help our students gain access to such opportunities. Yet, as we do, we are committed to forming them for leadership and service marked by commitments to the discovery of truth, love of neighbor, and flourishing of humanity. 

Open to students in any program of study, Provost’s Scholars are those who deepen and sustain these commitments over the duration of their Baylor careers, developing an ability to integrate and effectively apply their scholarship, leadership, and service to the common good. Becoming a Provost’s Scholar is both a recognition and a responsibility. As we celebrate the achievements of these excellent students, we will also rely on their leadership in our ongoing efforts to create a culture of inclusive excellence at Baylor.

Through the submission of an E-Portfolio, documenting this integration, Provost’s Scholars must show that they are scholar-citizen-leaders and are prepared to pursue and translate their scholarly efforts in service of the world.

A committee of faculty and staff in the Office of Engaged Learning make final determinations after reviewing ePortfolios, and confer Scholar status at the annual OEL awards celebration.  Students who achieve scholar status will be part of an intellectual community, explore contemporary civic and social issues, and contribute to the academic environment at Baylor. Provost's Scholars are actively major fellowships and awards or graduate school during their Scholar year. 

All the best,

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.

Provost, Baylor University