Perhaps it’s fitting to note the historic milestone made last week when the Baylor University Board of Regents elected two Christian non-Baptists to its board to help it lead the largest Baptist university in the world.

But we shouldn’t allow that moment to overshadow something equally as significant that the Baylor regents did during their two-day meeting last week: They approved a $429 million operating budget for the 2011-12 academic year.

The approval of an operating budget should be given such gravity because this budget represents a 6 percent increase in spending at a time when most educational institutions across the country are looking at spending cuts — in some cases of draconian proportions.

This move significantly increased the value of a Baylor education at a critical time in our history.

It demonstrated an almost steely determination by the regents to keep education Baylor’s main focus — even if it means swimming against a torrent of educational budget cuts.

Granted, a private institution such as Baylor may have more flexibility on the spending front.

And there is certain to be a component of this budget increase that anticipates the loss of government tuition equalization grants — a student benefit that President Ken Starr has repeatedly advocated to keep.

But when academic institutions across the state are warning of impending cuts in service in response to the Texas Legislature’s impending budget cuts, it is heartening to see Baylor expand instead of contract.

It’s the ultimate act of a contrarian. In these days of fiscal panic, it demonstrates a refreshing leadership.

During these tough economic times, the idea of adopting a $22.5 million increase for merit- and need-based scholarships; or boosting money to hire 19 new full-time faculty positions, 43 replacement faculty positions and 31 new staff positions may seem foolhearty to some. But we applaud the investment to our university and community.

In particular, we are impressed that $2 million of the $22.5 million increase in student aid is a direct response by the regents to pleas from student leaders.

The regents decided last fall to implement the additional $2 million after asking two former student body presidents to determine what was of greatest concern to students. The greatest concern by Baylor students was finishing their schooling in the face of rising costs.

The Trib has repeatedly called on all of our elected officials to behave in a fiscally prudent manner with the belief that private institutions must step forward to invest in our community on issues that are deemed most critical. Education is certainly at the top of our list of critical services in our community, which makes the move by the regents all the more significant.

When Baylor regents recently voted to allow non-Baptists on the board, they said at the time that it was a recognition of the diversity of Christians affiliated with Baylor who retain a deep faith and an abiding love of the institution.

What the Baylor regents did last week, beyond showing good stewardship over its operating expenses, was demonstrate a major act of faith that other institutions, particularly government institutions, may be wise to emulate:

Investing in our degree-seeking students is not only the Christian thing to do, it’s the prudent thing to do.