|
|
|
One Bear Place #97116
Waco, Texas 76798
1-888-710-1859
Phone: (254) 710-1121
Fax: (254) 710-1096 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Responses in Support of Baylor University's ProposalOctober 6, 2009
To send your own comments, e-mail BaylorLine@BaylorAlumniAssociation.com.
I received your e-mail today requesting our input as Baylor alumni. I support this request by the Baylor Regents.
Gary Rhodes '81
Woodway
I have read the timeline and the proposal from Baylor. After reading
the material and doing some quick research, it is apparent that an
official alumni association should be under the umbrella of the
university it is serving—period. Having a stand-alone alumni
association only serves to create dysfunction. The relationship between
BU and BAA proves the point all too poignantly.
If you truly want what’s best for Baylor, the BAA will agree to the
proposal and come under the Baylor umbrella. However, if you want to
perpetuate dysfunction and disharmony among Baylor alums, remain
independent. It really is that simple.
John C. Bentley '81
Scottsdale, Arizona
I support the university's recommendation to merge the alumni association into Baylor.
Mark Barfield '79
Colleyville
I am tired of hearing and reading about the conflicts between the
university and the alumni association. The only purpose of the alumni
association is to support the university in its efforts to engage its
alumni. Rather than serving this purpose, the BAA has put itself in a
“watchdog” position, which I find unnecessary and, ultimately, tiresome.
You have dragged your alumni through too much of this for too many
years. Take this opportunity to dissolve the association, merge with
the university’s alumni and development efforts, and become a part of
making Baylor the best it can be. Baylor is a better institution than
your actions over the last several years indicate. Its alumni (as well
as its future alumni) deserve your joint efforts to ensure that they
are proud to be a part of the Baylor family and, further, that the
Baylor family is a great one to be a part of.
Marianne Baker Piepenburg '79
I haven't yet read Baylor's proposal, but I love the idea of the BAA
being under the university's oversight. We've had to deal with serious
drama overload for a number of years now, and my initial thought is
that this would help to alleviate at least some of it.
Melissa Walker '82
Austin
After reading all of the information that you sent in the email dated
9-22-09 regarding the possible dissolution of the Baylor Alumni
Association (BAA), I would like to make a few comments to the governing
board of the BAA.
I have been concerned for some time regarding the apparent problems
between Baylor University and the BAA. From what I have seen, the BAA
has gone outside its boundaries as what an alumni association would be
chartered to do (in fact, this has been borne out by reading all of the
attachments that you sent). An alumni association should be a
cheerleader for the university, a helper, a facilitator—the BAA seems
to be contemptuous of the university leadership. I have watched as the
BAA has pushed itself into things that it should not be involved in.
The BAA, for instance, should not have been involved in the removal of
Dr. Sloan as president of Baylor. It should, however, have been a
proponent of 2012. Dr. Sloan did an outstanding job while at Baylor,
yet the BAA did its best to undermine him. The BAA is not designed to
be a political association; it is not designed to "run" Baylor—there is
already a Board of Regents to satisfy that function.
Further, even as I read all of the information provided yesterday, I
did not feel that the BAA is a “trusted communicator” as you stated in
the e-mail. All of the information provided had a hard “edge” to it—not
a spirit of compromise. Conversely, the memo from Interim President
Garland and the Board of Regents was very conciliatory, an offering of
an “olive branch.”
The university currently has a department that handles various
activities that are designed for alumni. I have enjoyed attending
meetings of the Baylor Business Network as well as the Baylor Women.
Additionally, the university has provided information that most private
university alumni associations are part of the university rather than
being a separate entity. And, as part of the decision as to what to do
as far as dissolving the BAA, why are you suggesting forming a study
committee comprised of alumni and faculty—this is the alumni
association; why do you want to include faculty?
I believe that integrating the current university events for alumni as
well as those currently handled by the BAA will, in fact, increase
financial support for Baylor and increase the number of people
participating in these events.
Finally, I heartily agree with Dr. Garland and the Board of Regents
that the Baylor Alumni Association should be dissolved immediately and
the activities of the association should become the responsibility of a
department within the university, just as the Baylor Business Networks,
Women's Council, Diadeloso, and others are currently handled. They have
successfully “brought Baylor” to local groups of alumni on a regular
basis, providing information and fellowship among alumni. In doing so,
they have fostered an atmosphere of enthusiasm for all of the wonderful
things that are happening at Baylor, while the BAA has currently
seemingly been intent on things not included in its original purpose or
its current charter and thus is not representing the alumni as it is
supposed to do.
Name Withheld
I recognize that the current proposal has all the subtlety of getting
hit by a bus, but I fully agree with the administration when they say
that "loyal opposition" should not be the BAA's role. It's not what I
joined for.
Michael Hosea '86, MS '88
Natwick, Massachusetts
You have my full support to merge the BAA with the university. It would be fun to work with you and your crew on a daily basis.
Cody Knowlton '89
Waco
I think you should accept the Regent's offer and END THE SQUABBLING !
Arnold Martin '61
Irving
I think the Baylor Alumni should accept the proposal from Baylor
University as written. I do not believe the Baylor Alumni Association
should serve as a “watch dog” organization, second-guessing Baylor
University and/or the Board of Regents. The Baylor alumni should fully
support the university in every way possible, and obviously you have
not done that.
The disharmony that has occurred at Baylor over the past ten years has
not been good for Baylor, and it has many negative implications. For
instance, as my son considers where to go to college next year as he
finishes up his senior year in high school, certainly the disruptive
events at Baylor, including the alumni association’s position on many
subjects and obviously tainted telephone “surveys” and communications,
does not put Baylor in a favorable light.
It is time to put the divisiveness in the past and do everything
possible to make Baylor successful, and this includes having the Baylor
Alumni Association accept the proposal from Baylor University.
Name Withheld
I have been a Baylor Alumni Association lifetime member for about
thirty years, and I would be thrilled if Baylor and the alumni
association would unite! For many years now, I have felt like a child
that is being pulled between two parents who love me very much but are
having trouble loving one another.
Let's get together and act like a family again!
Judy Graham Allen '78
Mesquite
I agree with the proposal to consolidate the alumni association with the university.
Wes Wells '90, MS '92
San Angelo
We need to unite!
Ken Smith '65
Wauchula, Florida
With all the messages I am receiving on this topic from the BAA, my impression is the BAA has already made a decision. When I questioned a BAA staff member about this last week, I was told that BAA was going to fight the proposal.
I am supporting the university's proposal. If that is the minority view, then so be it.
Rodney W. Bell '97, MBA '01
Salado
I think the BAA should put aside its differences with the university and except the offer. I am tired of all the bickering, and I think the university will be around a lot longer than the BAA if you decide to fight this. It does not look good for any of us to a prospective president if there is infighting between the university and its alumni association. The proposal looks very nice; take it and make Baylor better for everyone.
Greg Pratt '85
Houston
It is my perception that, after receipt of Baylor University’s proposal, the primary focus of the response from the BAA is to throw up defenses instead of making the primary response indicate that they are grateful for the proposal and confirming that they will give it careful and thoughtful consideration. This kind of reaction is likely to just increase the chances of continuing the long feud between Baylor and the BAA. That is not in the best interest of Baylor. It is simply protecting turf.
The university’s proposal is probably not perfect. It should be studied carefully. However, the end result should be one unified group speaking for and supporting Baylor; not one group in competition with the other. Enough of this feuding is enough. Baylor does not need a watchdog. Baylor needs a guide dog.
Bill Carroll '67
For a number of years, it has been my view that centralized control was the major objective of the regents, and I remain convinced that this is still their top priority. Personally, I favored the independence of the BAA and other Baylor organizations—all of whom are unquestionably loyal to Baylor and whose desire was to see the university go forward.
Independence now is viewed as either a real or a perceived threat, and I see very little likelihood of this changing. All of the power and the resources are against the BAA remaining independent, and the pressure has been turned up significantly to conform. Realistically, protracted conflict and resistance against these overwhelming odds will only produce negative results. In view of the circumstances at hand, I believe the hard decision to give up independence outweighs all of the negative consequences of resisting the inevitable.
Martin L. (Mark) Murdock III '63
Lubbock
I think the merger will be positive for alumni and the university. I see it will help create a concerted effort in terms of development and that alumni at large will benefit from the new direction. I think the alumni association should embrace the proposal.
Harold Smith '93
Plano
Over an academic career of fifty years, I served on the faculties of the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Pittsburgh. For twenty-seven years, I held senior administrative positions as the president of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, chancellor of the University of Maine System, and executive vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania. For the past sixteen years, I have headed a respected higher education management consulting firm working with both public and private institutions in the areas of strategic planning and management.
Over those years, I have closely observed the organization and operations of alumni associations, both independent and integrated. There are advantages to both independent and integrated alumni associations, depending largely on the degree of public control of the institution. Most private institutions with which I am familiar follow the integrated model of the sort proposed by the Baylor Board of Regents. Some public universities have adopted the independent model, often in order to exert greater independence of the alumni association from boards of trustees dominated by political appointees and with little alumni representation.
In my experience, institutions such as Baylor that enjoy the leadership of self-perpetuating governing boards that include a significant number of alumni members, some of whom are elected by their alumni associations, do not necessarily benefit from having independent alumni associations, which can result in divisiveness that inhibits close cooperation between the administration, the board, and the association.
When Baylor decided to establish the Baylor Alumni Association as an independent body thirty-one years ago, I opposed it, even though in retrospect I believe the association has served the university well as an independent body. I continue to feel, however, that private universities are likely to be better served by integrated alumni associations that enjoy strong support of the Board of Trustees and the administration and that work in close cooperation with the board and the administrative leadership to advance the interests of the university.
I am encouraged that the leadership of the Baylor Alumni Association is seeking input from a broad range of faculty and alumni and intends to examine experiences at other leading private universities before reaching a decision in respect to the Board of Regents proposal. I hope that you will give thoughtful consideration to the foregoing observations in reaching a decision that will serve well the future needs of the university that we love and cherish.
Dr. Jack E. Freeman '53, MA '54
Lansdowne, Virginia
Accept the proposal. Let's be cooperative and get along.
Kathleen Mahanay Hardage '79
Hewitt
I feel it would be good for us to become part of the university and have a seat on the Board of Regents. It is time to end the hate and work in the best interest of the university.
John '82 and D'Alan Benson Bates '80
Euless
Thank you so much for your interest in the thoughts and wishes of the alumni for whom you serve. We very much appreciate the opportunity to voice our opinions and influence your decision. We have read all of the information on the subject and believe that it would be wise for the alumni association to accept Baylor's kind offer to combine efforts in the future.
Coleman '83 and Kristen Wright McDonald '03
Avondale, Arizona
It is my opinion that the Baylor Alumni Association should go along with the proposal from the Baylor regents and dissolve its independent charter and become a part of the university. We are the only "private" university in the country to have a separate body, and even the state universities that have separate entities do so for tax and fundraising purposes—not to be the "watch dog" of the university, which has often been a source of consistent turmoil for Baylor and the Baylor family. Too often the conflicting message that comes from the Baylor Line confuses and frustrates the alumni that may not understand the separation of the two organization or why they would be separate.
Please help the university move forward in good health by following the plan to become a part of the university. I know many alumni who will not give money to the alumni association because they can give directly to the area of interest they have in the university itself, so I really wonder how long the BAA can last as it currently functions and without the support of the Baylor University. I say this as a life member of the BAA.
This is a plan that is long overdue, and I implore the BAA board to do what is best for the university and accept the offer Baylor has made in good faith.
Scott J. Salmans '87
Kansas City, Missouri
I think the BAA should cooperate with the university's proposal to disband and be fully incorporated into the in-house alumni association. I don't think this will cause us to lose our voice, but rather have a more direct and legitimized avenue for influence in the university.
Erin Conaway '97, MDiv '01
Houston
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
