Opportunities for those in the HRC
The Honors Residential College (HRC) is an intentional and integrated living and learning community committed to cultivating students’ love of God, love of neighbor, and love of learning. Toward this end, the HRC offers incoming students the following ways to foster these loves.
The Formation Series: The Formation Series is one of the main ways our community comes together around our shared theme. Each fall and spring, the HRC hosts a series of three public lectures. In these engaging presentations, Formation lecturers will investigate the dynamic between ideal and lived practices. To earn an Honors Unit for participating, students must attend two lectures each term and write a reflection essay on one of the lectures. Students may earn half an Honors Unit for one term and a whole Honors Unit for completing both semesters.
The Service Committee: The Service Committee, led by our HRC student leaders and staff, is comprised of the following focused areas of service:
- Supporting Local Education:Through the Afterschool Centers for Education (ACE), HRC students go twice weekly to an East Waco middle school to tutor and lead activities for students. In addition, HRC students participate in the STARS Book Club to lead reading groups for elementary students at Crestview Elementary school.
- Supporting Local and Global Needs:
- The HRC partners with Straw2Bread which seeks to improve health and sustainability on the Nyakach Plateau in Kenya. Straw2Bread founder Dr. Lisa Baker shares her experiences and stories with students in the HRC. Each summer, HRC students have the opportunity to join a team on a medical mission trip with Straw2Bread to Kenya.
- In recent years, the HRC has also partnered with other local and global missions organizations such as The COVE (a center that provides safe spaces for youth experiencing homelessness), Heart of Texas Autism Network’s Autism Walk to support the organization’s financial efforts and raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Operation Christmas Child to package Christmas presents for those in need, and Mission Waco to learn how to best support local organized non-profits.
- Supporting the Baylor Community: The HRC has created the Brightening the Brazos Project. Once a semester, the HRC picks up trash on the banks of Waco’s Brazos river.
- HRC Mission Trip: Each year, the HRC partners with One More Child to organize an HRC-specific mission trip in hopes of creating a Christ-centered community that fosters the love of God, love of neighbor, and love of learning. One More Child seeks to bring hope through Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families. In the upcoming 2023-2024 year, the HRC will once again volunteer with One More Child following graduation in May 2024 at an international site that is to be determined.
HRC Co-Curricular Courses: In order to support our co-curricular mission, where living and learning happen together, the HRC is proud to offer the following HRC-specific courses for residents in the upcoming fall semester. (Offerings will also be made available for the spring term):
REL 1310.H1 (CRN 44715) Christian Scriptures
Prof. Julian Chike
MWF 11:15-12:05 PM
Religion 1310, The Christian Scriptures, is a university-required course. The HRC is happy to offer an HRC-specific Honors section of the course, taught by Professor Julian Chike, in an HRC classroom with HRC students. This section will emphasize reading scripture within the arc of salvation history, and hence will begin with Christ’s mission as the lens through which to understand the whole of scripture. Questions of Biblical interpretation and authority will also be explored. Students are encouraged to continue with the HRC Honors section of Christian Heritage (REL 1350), the second university-required religion course, in the spring semester.
FYS 1399.N10 (CRN 42664) Honor & Character in Medicine
Dr. Sparky Matthews
MWF 10:10-11:00 AM
In this course, incoming Freshman will learn about becoming a physician of honor and character, preparing to lead in the world of medicine. Taught by a physician that was himself a Baylor University premed student, the course will focus on integrating leadership principles, ethical issues of honor and character, and a Christian foundation as students begin their journey towards becoming a physician. There is no prerequisite medical knowledge required. The ideal class participant is a premed student that knows little about the world of medicine or what it means to be a physician. This course is the first step in developing the student into a physician leader of character. One-on-one mentoring with Dr. Matthews is an additional feature of this course and may extend (at the student’s discretion) beyond the semester.
Chapel Options
CHA 1093.04 (CRN 48568) - Evening Prayer
MTWR 9:00 PM-9:20 PM
Students may earn one of their two required chapel credits through the Evening Prayer Service by joining with their HRC neighbors in centering their daily work in response to God's love. Prayer services are about twenty minutes long and are based on ancient Christian traditions of prayer. To earn credit, students must attend 75% of class periods (approximately three out of four services each week). Evening Prayer Services are led by the HRC’s chaplain and the HRC Spiritual Life committee.
CHA 1087.121 (CRN 48541) - Faith & the Healing Profession
MW 10:10 AM-11:00 AM
This chapel opportunity is designed to help students explore the ways in which faith perspectives and spiritual practices form and prepare future healthcare professionals to deal with the challenges they will face. Each week will include talks and discussions that will emphasize the importance of healthy spiritual life and encourage the development of helpful practices early in one's career in the medical world. Dr. Jason Whitt (Faculty Steward of the HRC and professor in Medical Humanities) and Dr. Rich Sanker (Director of Pre-Health) will coordinate this chapel course. HRC Pre-Med students are encouraged to attend this amazing chapel experience.