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. Read more

  • BU-PP 028: Civil Rights Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: August 26, 2019

    The University is controlled by a predominantly Baptist Board of Regents and is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a cooperative association of autonomous Texas Baptist churches. As a faith-based institution of higher education that is operated within the Christian-oriented aims and ideals of B... Read More

  • Student Policies and Procedures: Campus Speakers

    Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
    Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
    Last updated: August 26, 2019

    Speakers 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 More

  • BU-PP 025: Technology Systems Usage Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: August 26, 2019

    Fraudulent, 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. … Baylor University contracts with a professional web-filtering service to block sites the vendor designates as adult content... Read More

  • Student Policies and Procedures: Statement on Human Sexuality

    Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
    Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
    Last updated: August 26, 2019

    It is thus expected that Baylor students will not participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching. Read More

  • Student 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: August 26, 2019

    The following examples of misconduct are not inclusive but are intended to give a student an idea of the types of behavior that may result in disciplinary action. … Expression that is inappropriate in the setting of Baylor University and in opposition to the Christian ideals it strives to uphold. … Conte... Read More

  • Student Policies and Procedures: Campus Facilities Use and Campus Solicitation Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Not Yet Rated
    Speech Code Category: Other Speech Codes
    Last updated: August 26, 2019

    Baylor 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
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • 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