Texas Tidbits: Baylor alums loyal

National study shows Baylor alumni loyalty. A new national survey by a leading academic survey research institute shows that large majorities of Baylor University alumni are “very proud” to be graduates and report a stronger bond than ever to their alma mater. The University of New Hampshire Survey Center polled a national sample of 609 randomly selected Baylor alumni. The alumni answered a variety of questions concerning their alma mater, including their level of connectedness to Baylor, the quality of education they received at the university, the likelihood they would recommend Baylor as a “top choice” university to their college-age children and their support for various alumni programming options. The survey found 98 percent reported a special bond or connection to Baylor, 96 percent of Baylor alumni said they are proud to be a graduate of Baylor University, and 91 percent said they are interested in maintaining a connection to Baylor. About eight in 10 alumni give Baylor an excellent rating, while a majority of alumni now say Baylor ranks among the best private universities in the nation, up from 35 percent in 2007. The survey revealed 88 percent of alumni said they would recommend Baylor as a “top choice” school to their college-age children. The scientific survey was conducted by the UNHSC using a random selection of alumni from a list provided by Baylor. The margin of sampling error for the random survey of 609 respondents is plus or minus 4 percent. The full report of the most recent alumni survey can be found here .

Baylor regents OK fund-raising for business school. Baylor University’s board of regents approved public fundraising for a 275,000-square-foot business school building that will expand the school’s size and reach by nearly 40 percent. The architectural design for the new Baylor Hankamer School of Business building includes a centerpiece atrium that will showcase some of the school’s signature classrooms, such as the Southwest Securities Financial Markets Center. It also includes a 350-seat auditorium to accommodate guest lectures and special events, and a variety of classroom spaces that will incorporate the latest technology for collaborative learning, innovation and problem solving. The project cost is estimated at $100 million. In addition to fund-raising for a new business school building, regents approved two projects—a $12 million refurbishment of South Russell Hall and a $1.75 million build-out at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative, which will create more than 7,500 square feet of symposium and training space.