Baylor University is an independent Baptist institution of higher learning
located in Waco, Texas and is the oldest university in Texas (although
Southwestern University is the oldest tirtiary intitution). The university was chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas. The university is known
for its law school and the George W. Truett Theological Seminary. It is the largest Baptist university in the world. Until 1991, when it became an independent
school under the terms of its charter from the state of Texas, it was closely affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Some conservative
Christian detractors argue that Baylor has become so secularized that it should be referred to as a BINO (Baptist in name only)
college.Academically, the school is divided into two colleges (the College of Arts and Sciences and the Honors College) eight schools
(School of Education, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate School, Hankamer School of Business, Law School,
Louise Herrington School of Nursing, School of Music, and School of Social Work), and one seminary (George W. Truett Theological
Seminary). While they share the Baylor name, the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, TX, are
no longer affiliated with Baylor University.The school's sports teams are called the Bears. They participate in the NCAA's Division
I-A, and in the Big Twelve Conference. Prior to joining
the Big 12, Baylor participated in the Southwest Conference
from the conference's charter in 1914 until its dissolution in 1996. In 2003, the school's
basketball team was embroiled in a major scandal following the death of player Patrick Dennehy. For more
information, see Baylor
University basketball scandal.Every year since 1909, Baylor celebrates Homecoming. Homecoming activities include Pigskin Revue, a song and dance
featuring the top acts from the previous spring's All University Sing; the Freshman Mass Meeting; the oldest and longest collegiate parade in the
United States.Every spring since 1934, Baylor takes a day off from classes for "
Diadeloso 
." The Baylor University Chamber of Commerce organizes the event which consists of
entertainment of all types - tug o' war contests, 3-on-3 basketball, ping pong, indoor soccer, board game tournaments, comedians,
an all-University dance, multi-player console games, gospel choirs, etc. This tradition often baffles new professors, who then
require quite a bit of convincing to not hold class (or worse, give an exam) on a seemingly arbitrary Thursday in April.In 2004, Baylor won its first national sports
title ever, in men's NCAA Division I tennis, defeating UCLA, 4-0.In 1982, a team from Baylor comprised of Terry Talley, Jennifer Harmon, Patrick Keane, and Keith Hall and coached by Dr.
Donald L. Gaitros were the world champions of the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM/ICPC).In 2004, Baylor reported enrollment on its recruiting website as follows:
- 11,712 undergraduate students
- 2,225 graduate and professional students
Campus events are chronicled in Baylor's student periodical,
The Lariat .
