School Spotlight
Baylor University
Location:
Waco, Texas
Type:
Private
Speech Code Rating
Baylor University has been given the speech code rating Warning. FIRE provides a "Warning" rating to prospective students and faculty members when a private university clearly and consistently states that it holds a certain set of values above a commitment to freedom of speech.
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BU-PP 028: Civil Rights Policy and Procedures
Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: July 7, 2022The University was founded by the Texas Baptist Education Society, is controlled by a predominantly Baptist Board of Regents, and is operated within the Christian-oriented aims and ideals of Baptists. Baylor is also affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a cooperative association of autonomous Texa... Read MoreStudent Policies and Procedures: Campus Speakers
Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: July 7, 2022Speakers whose purposes and methods are basically contrary to the purposes and methods of a Christian university such as Baylor should not be invited. The use of profanity shall not be tolerated. Read MoreBU-PP 025: Technology Usage Policy
Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: July 7, 2022Fraudulent, harassing, offensive, or obscene messages or materials are not to be sent, printed, requested, displayed, or stored on Baylor-owned, licensed or operated technology systems. Read MoreStudent Policies and Procedures: Statement on Human Sexuality
Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: July 7, 2022It is thus expected that Baylor students will not participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching. Read MoreStudent Policies and Procedures: Student Conduct Code- Misconduct Defined
Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
Last updated: July 7, 2022The following examples of misconduct are not exclusive or all-inclusive but are intended to provide some examples of the types of behavior that may result in disciplinary action under the Student Conduct Code. … Expression that is inappropriate in the setting of Baylor University and in opposition to the Chris... Read MoreStudent Policies and Procedures: Campus Facilities Use and Campus Solicitation Policy
Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
Last updated: July 7, 2022Baylor University is a private university controlled by an all-Baptist board of regents operated within the Christian-oriented aims and ideals of Baptists, and affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a cooperative association of autonomous Texas Baptist churches. Accordingly, the campus is private p... Read More
FIRE surveyed roughly 37,000 students at 154 colleges and universities about the climate for free speech at their institutions. In 2021, FIRE released rankings of those schools, based on a number of factors, including openness, tolerance, self-expression, administrative support for free speech, and campus policies, scoring overall speech climate on a scale from 0-100. See the full report on FIRE’s 2021 College Free Speech Rankings for more information.
Rankings |
|
| Overall Ranking | N/A/154 |
| Ideological Diversity | 30/159 |
Overall / out of a top score of 100 |
|
| Overall Score | 51.18 |
| Openness | 8.44 |
| Tolerance (Liberals) | 8.86 |
| Tolerance (Conservatives) | 8.46 |
| Administrative Support | 5.44 |
| Comfort | 15.67 |
| Disruptive Conduct | 10.31 |
| Speech Climate | |
| Supported Scholars | |
| Sanctioned Scholars | |
| Successful Disinvitations | |
| Speech Code | N/A |
Free speech culture can still flourish at ‘Warning’ schools
August 2, 2022
According to FIRE’s Spotlight speech code database, I go to a “Warning” school. Like the handful of other private, mostly religious institutions placed in this category on FIRE’s rating scale, Baylor University embraces its right to “clearly and consistently [state] that it holds a certain set of values above a commitment to freedom of speech.” … Read more
Baylor’s head-scratching explanation for throwing out student newspapers that reported campus rapes
March 7, 2019
Have you ever heard someone give an explanation for bad behavior that makes them sound more guilty? Like the accused bank robber who says, “I couldn’t have done it, that red leather wing-tip shoe you’re gonna find in the vault isn’t even my size!” Baylor University’s got one of those explanations for an incident that… Read more
Baylor’s Failure Exposes Flaws in Campus Sexual Assault Adjudication
June 3, 2016
A recent report detailing Baylor University’s mishandling of campus sexual assault allegations against its football players has rocked the institution to its core. The report, issued last week, led the institution’s Board of Regents to fire head football coach Art Briles and to demote President Ken Starr, who subsequently resigned as the university’s chancellor yesterday…. Read more
DOJ’s Misguided Expectations of Campus Administrators
May 5, 2016
Since the release of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) April 22 findings letter to the University of New Mexico (UNM), my colleagues have been analyzing many of its problematic aspects. From the overbroad definition of sexual harassment that threatens First Amendment rights on campus to the micromanaging of Title IX compliance, one thing is… Read more
Baylor Follow-Up: Remaking the Case for Mandatory Reporting
September 16, 2015
On Monday, we ran an article here on The Torch about how Baylor University seems to have dropped the ball on the campus sexual assault investigation into football player Sam Ukwuachu. FIRE argued that this case demonstrates how poorly equipped schools are to adjudicate serious crimes like rape, underscoring our position that not only should… Read more
Baylor Rape Controversy More Evidence Colleges Unequipped to Decide Sexual Assault Cases
September 14, 2015
Baylor University’s decision not to punish football player Sam Ukwuachu, who was later convicted of rape in a criminal proceeding using the customary “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of proof, gives us a chance to reiterate FIRE’s position that police and actual courts of law—not campus administrators—should be investigating and adjudicating these serious crimes. Despite… Read more