would destroy the campus started. The fire broke out under suspect circumstances, leading some to believe arson was the cause. Bolivar citizen firefighters tried to put out the fire, but the water supply ran dry, and at 2:00 pm the fire engulfed the whole campus. Losses were estimated at $20,000. The college was rebuilt, and reopened in 1913.
Southwest Baptist University was granted an exception to Title IX in 2015, allowing it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.
In November 2021,the school's accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission, placed it on probation for being in noncompliance on criteria related to governance, academic freedom, and effective leadership. In November 2023, the Higher Learning Commission removed the university from.
=== Campus history ===
When it reopened in 1913 as a junior college, Southwest Baptist College consisted of four buildings, two of which still stand on the Stufflebaum campus: Casebolt Apartments (formerly Casebolt Science Building) and Memorial …