Approved: March 17, 2014
Nomenclature changes: June 5, 2023
Monitor: Vice President for Student Affairs
The university is committed to maintaining campus safety. In furtherance of this commitment, this policy applies to all students, employees, and campus visitors, including persons with a license to carry concealed firearms. It is the policy of the university that weapons are prohibited on university property, in university buildings, and in university vehicles. Limited exceptions to this policy are listed below.
The term "weapons" includes (but is not limited to)all types of firearms and handguns (whether operational or inoperational and whether loaded or unloaded)stun gun, taser, BB gun, pellet gun, paintball gun, airsoft gun, orbeez gun, switchblade knife with a blade of at least 3 inches in length, dagger, dirk, stiletto, ax, hatchet, bludgeon, blackjack, slingshot, bow and arrow, sandbag, sand club, metal knuckles, billy club, throwing star, nunchaku, or other deadly or dangerous weapon or instrument of similar type as classified by state statute. Military items such as projectiles, grenades, fireworks, explosives, and noxious gas or acid are also prohibited.
The term also includes objects possessed or carried by a person with intent to use such objects unlawfully. This policy is not intended to prevent and does not prevent the possession of objects with lawful uses (such as kitchen knives, carpenter tools, sporting equipment, training equipment for Military Science, etc.) when possessed and used lawfully and without intent to injure another.
Weapons are not permitted in university vehicles, including owned or leased buses, with the exception of University Police Department vehicles or vehicles in which an on-duty officer is a driver or passenger.
Persons with a concealed carry license are permitted to carry a concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle into the parking area and may store a firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking area. A licensee may carry a concealed firearm in the immediate area surrounding his/her vehicle within a prohibited parking lot area only for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving a firearm within the vehicle's trunk, provided the licensee ensures the concealed firearm is unloaded prior to exiting the vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, "case" includes a glove compartment or console that completely encloses the concealed firearm or ammunition, the trunk of the vehicle, or a firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container.
Individuals who cannot comply with this parking requirement must immediately report to the University Policy Department to arrange for the storage of their firearm.
The Vice President for Business Affairs, or designee, shall ensure that signs stating that firearms are prohibited on campus are clearly and conspicuously posted and maintained.
The Vice President for Academic Affairs, or designee, is responsible for authorizing the use of weapons in classroom instruction and the use of simulated weapons for theatrical uses. The UPD Chief of Police must be notified of such use in advance.
The Vice President for Student Affairs, or designee, is responsible for reporting individuals who are determined to be a danger to himself, herself or others to the State Police within twenty-four hours after such a determination is made.
An employee found to have knowingly violated this policy may be subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment, and criminal violations will be referred to the University Police Department.
Students who violate this policy will be referred to the Office of Student Standards and may be referred to the University Police Department as warranted. Persons who violate this policy may also be banned from campus.