Roger Munford

For almost 30 percent of the student population of Baylor University, the campus is not only where they learn but also where they live. First-year students are required to live on-campus for their first two semesters. “It’s a big part of our campus culture and student life experience,” said Jeremy Vickers, Associate Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development at Baylor. “Living on campus helps them to get grounded in the academic environment, to build relationships with peers, and we can provide a significant amount of support systems for students.” Baylor has 16 residence halls on campus. The rates are per semester and range from $3,850 for a shared double room to $6,100 for the best single rooms. The buildings on campus are built in a Georgian style, and almost a decade ago a renovation plan began. South Russell Hall was completed in 2014, North Russell Hall in 2015, Penland Hall in 2016, and Martin Hall in 2017.

In 1903, a ritual known as “tree-planting” was born. Each year, students would gather on the Quadrangle and scoop dirt around the roots of a new tree. The annual ceremony was discontinued after 1919, but as the campus expanded over the century, the old traditions so well-established in the roots of the university meant that tree-planting became a part of the construction of every new building.