General Expectation of Baylor Students

Baylor University is governed by a predominantly Baptist Board of Regents and is operated within the Christian-oriented aims and ideals of Baptists. The University is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a cooperative association of autonomous Texas Baptist churches. We expect that each Baylor student will conduct himself or herself in accordance with Christian principles as commonly perceived by Texas Baptists. Personal misconduct either on or off the campus by anyone connected with Baylor detracts from the Christian witness Baylor strives to present to the world and hinders full accomplishment of the mission of the University.

Under the Student Conduct Code, all Baylor students are expected to obey the laws of the United States, the State of Texas, and municipalities, or, if studying abroad, the laws of other countries. Students are also expected to obey the rules, regulations, and policies established by Baylor University including those found in the Honor Code. These expectations apply to all persons taking courses at or through the University, either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular term at the University but who have a continuing relationship with the University or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission will also be held to these standards.

Each student is responsible for learning about and adhering to the Baylor University Student Conduct Code and Honor Code. The Division of Student Life attempts to ensure that the Student Conduct Code and Honor Code are communicated to all students through various means. However, the student is responsible to the University for his or her conduct that violates University policies. The Student Conduct Code and Honor Code apply from the time that a person is notified of his or her acceptance for admission to the University through his or her receipt of a diploma or other credential. Moreover, should a student witness a violation of University policies on the part of other students, the student is responsible for reporting that violation to an appropriate University official (e.g., Judicial Affairs administrators, Office of Academic Integrity administrator, Campus Living and Learning staff, Baylor University Police Department, etc.).

Email Communication to Students

Baylor University may send official University correspondence to a student via email, using the email address assigned by Baylor.  Each Baylor student is personally responsible for checking his or her email on a regular and recurring basis for receipt of official University correspondence.

Change Of Address and Telephone Number

It is frequently a matter of great importance to students for University officials to be able to locate them quickly. For this reason, students are asked to file a notice of change of student local or student home address and telephone number with the University promptly, and not later than ten days thereafter in any case. Address changes may be made through BearWeb. For assistance, contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@baylor.edu or (254) 710-1181. Failure to receive University notices because of an incorrect address provided by the student will not relieve the student of responsibility for responding to the notice. Nursing students enrolled on the Dallas campus are requested to report a change of address in the Office for Student Services on the first floor of the Harry W. Bass Memorial Educational Center.

Campus Safety

Baylor considers personal safety on campus a top priority.  Residence halls enforce a locked door policy and residents must swipe their student IDs at main entrances to gain access to their building.

The Baylor Police Department provides additional 24-hour security with car and bike patrols and works in close alliance with the Waco Police Department to create a safe environment for the university community.  Eighty-seven emergency call boxes are located on campus with direct access to BPD, which has a staff of forty-nine, including thirty-nine commissioned police officers and ten non-commissioned.

Security Officers work with BPD and after-hour personnel to ensure the safety and security of our campus.  For more information about the Baylor Police Department, visit http://www.baylor.edu/dps.

Baylor’s Crime Prevention and Security Report is provided annually to all students and is available at http://www.baylor.edu/dps.

Students Called for Active Military Duty

An enrolled student who withdraws as a result of being called into active military duty (reserves or National Guard) may choose to:

1. receive a refund of tuition and fees paid toward the current term, or
2. be given full credit of tuition and fees paid toward the current term to apply toward future term’s charges for enrollment, or
3. if late enough in the term, request an “incomplete” so that the remainder of the work could be completed at a later date and receive no refund or credit of tuition and fees.

If the student has met the academic requirements for the term, a grade will be assigned and no tuition refund or credit will be granted.

Board charges are refunded on a pro rata basis on the date of the student’s withdrawal. Room charges are refunded on a pro rata basis based on the date a student officially vacates on-campus housing.

Students having federal/state financial aid will be withdrawn according to the published withdrawal policy. Any refund or credit for a student being called into active military duty who has such financial aid will be considered on a case-by-case basis.