Baylor regents OK College of Health and Human Sciences. Baylor University’s board of regents voted to establish the College of Health and Human Sciences, uniting four health-related academic units—communication sciences and disorders; family and consumer sciences; health, human performance and recreation; and the Louise Herrington School of Nursing. The college will create curricula that promote a team-based approach to patient care, establish interdisciplinary research collaborations and form the infrastructure for future health-related graduate programs. Shelley Conroy, dean of the nursing school, has been appointed to a two-year term as the inaugural dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. Rodney Bowden, professor of health, human performance and recreation and associate dean for graduate programs and research in the School of Education, has been appointed executive associate dean of the new college.

ETBU board names Ressler interim president. East Texas Baptist University’s board of trustees appointed Lawrence Ressler, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, as interim president effective June 1. Lawrence ResslerETBU President Dub Oliver announced his resignation in February to become the 16th president of Union University in Jackson, Tenn. Ressler arrived at ETBU last fall from Taylor University to serve as interim provost. He served as Tabor College’s provost and vice president for academic affairs from 2005 to 2010. Ressler earned his undergraduate degree from Eastern Mennonite University, his master’s degree in social work from Temple University and his doctorate at Case Western Reserve University. ETBU is conducting a nationwide search for its next president. Board Chair David Anderson is chair of the presidential search team.

Baylor board approves budget, elects new regents. Baylor University’s board of regents approved a 2014-2015 budget of $518.5 million that reflects an increase of $30.8 million, or 6.3 percent over the current-year budget. It includes an additional $11.8 million to support scholarships, graduate assistantships, scholarships for graduate and professional students, and Yellow Ribbon Program scholarships for military veterans. Personnel costs will increase by $15.3 million, or 5.2 percent, which will support 11 new full-time faculty positions, 52 replacement faculty positions and 29 new staff positions. The budget also supports merit raises for faculty and staff, more competitive stipends for graduate assistants and increased funding for student workers. The budget takes effect June 1. The board also elected three new regents and welcomed one new regent, Dennis Wiles, pastor of First Baptist Church in Arlington, who was appointed last fall by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. New board-elected regents are Mark Hurd of Atherton, Calif., co-president of Oracle Corp.; Neal Jeffrey of Highland Village, associate pastor of Prestonwood Baptist in Dallas; and Mark Lovvorn of Dallas, chairman and CEO of Providence Bancshares Corp. and chairman of Providence Bank of Texas. Regents re-elected Richard Willis to another one-year term as chair and Robert Beauchamp as vice-chair.