About
The Mission of the Institute for Faith and Learning
Forming faculty and staff in their academic vocation for Baylor’s mission as a Christian research university.
Baylor is a Christian research university, and many faculty arrive without formal training or experience in how their faith can intersect with academic life at an R1 institution.
IFL exists to meet that need.
We provide events, communities, and professional development opportunities to help faculty and staff learn how to live out their faith through their academic vocation—whether teaching, researching, leading, or serving.
IFL's work is distinctly academic. We help faculty and staff answer, “How does my faith commitment inform my teaching, research, and service at an R1 university?” Through interdisciplinary cohorts, partnered lectures and guest speakers, and campus-wide events, IFL creates space for collaboration, growth, and clarity around vocation in an academic context.
IFL serves the entire Baylor campus—not only theology or humanities but also STEM, business, law, nursing, and professional programs. Our charge is to make faith-oriented academic life accessible, practical, and relevant to Baylor faculty and staff across disciplines, as well as to graduate students preparing for academic careers.
IFL’s Unique Positioning
The Institute for Faith and Learning occupies a distinct role within Baylor’s ecosystem. IFL exists specifically to support academic vocation—helping faculty and staff consider how faith shapes teaching, research, leadership, and service at a Christian research university.
IFL is academic
IFL's focus is on the academic vocation. While Baylor’s Office of Spiritual Life serves the spiritual and pastoral needs of the campus community, IFL focuses on the professional and vocational dimensions of academic life. Our work is not centered on worship services, Bible studies, or pastoral care, but on questions such as:
What does it mean to teach, research, lead, and serve faithfully within a Christian research university?
How does my faith inform the way I teach in a classroom?
How can faith inform scholarship, pedagogy, and professional practice across academic disciplines?
In these ways, IFL's work is academic, not pastoral.
IFL complements other academic support units
IFL addresses the academic vocation in a holistic sense. Where units such as the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL) focus on teaching best practices and pedagogy, IFL addresses the wider professional development of faculty as scholars and professionals working within a Christian academic mission. IFL’s work spans teaching, research, leadership, and service, offering space for reflection, collaboration, and integration within community that extends beyond skill development.
IFL is interdisciplinary by design
IFL intentionally brings together faculty and staff from across the university rather than serving a single school, discipline, or pocket of campus. This approach creates rare opportunities for connection, collaboration, and shared learning across departments. Together, these elements distinguish IFL as a unique and essential resource for faculty and staff seeking to live out their academic vocation within Baylor’s Christian mission.
Still have questions about the Institute for Faith and Learning?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page
Check out our 2025–2026 Annual Report