Handbook of Operating Procedures > Series 200 General Policies and Procedures > 2.10.1 Concealed Handguns on Campus

2.10.1 Concealed Handguns on Campus

A. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish the policies and procedures surrounding the concealed carry of handguns on the UT Tyler campus.

B. Persons Affected

This policy is applicable to students, faculty, employees, and visitors of UT Tyler.

C. Policies and Procedures

1. Exclusion Zones: As provided by law, handgun license holders may carry concealed weapons on The University of Texas at Tyler campuses, except for the excluded areas as indicated below.

   a. Exclusions Required by Other Entities. Areas for which state or federal law, licensing requirements, or contracts require exclusion exclusively at the discretion of the state or federal government, or in which handguns are prohibited by an accrediting authority.  Examples of facilities in this category include childcare facilities, vivaria, and animal care areas.  Therefore, the University excludes concealed handguns in the following locations:

   University Academy, Tyler

   University Academy, Longview

   University Academy, Palestine

   b. Patient Care Areas. Section 46.035(b)(4) of the Penal Code excludes hospitals licensed under Chapter 241. By analogy and extension, patient care areas will be excluded, including hospitals, clinics, and mental health treatment areas. A “patient care area” is restricted to patient care areas for which a formal record of treatment is maintained. Therefore, the University excludes concealed handguns in the following locations:

   University Center Student Counseling Center (UC 3150, 3152, 3154, 3155, 3156, 3170, 3171, 3172, 3173, 3174, 3175, 3176, 3177, 3178)
   
   Herrington Patriot Center (HPC) Athletic Training Area (HPC 1045, 1045A, 1047, 1260)
   
   Biology, Education, and Psychology Building (BEP) – Handguns should be excluded in 2nd floor rooms where patient counseling sessions are conducted.  (BEP 218, 220B, 220G, 229 suites, 231 suites, 232, 248 suites)
   
   University Health Clinic
   
   A Building - patient care areas, including the Emergency Room and Behavioral Health Intake
   
   F Building – Pediatric Behavioral Health and Cystic Fibrosis patient care areas
   
   E Building (Riter Center) patient care areas
   
   Academic Center 1st and 2nd floor patient care areas
   
   Biomedical Research Building
   
   Intensive Outpatient Psychiatry (IOP) Buildings – Tyler and Longview
   
   Public Health Laboratory of East Texas (PHLET) building
   
   AA Building – encompasses surgery, day surgery, and rehabilitation patient care areas
   
   Outpatient Care Clinics located in Overton, Lindale, University Health Clinic (UHC) Tyler, and North Tyler Clinic, Texas 

   c.  Premises in or on which a Ticketed Sporting Event is Taking Place. Section 46.035(b)(2) of the Penal Code prohibits concealed handguns at high school, collegiate, and professional sporting events. By analogy and extension, any ticketed sporting event is excluded on UT Tyler campuses, whether an intercollegiate event or not. The following would be exclusion zones during high school, collegiate, and professional sporting events:

   Louise Herrington Patriot Center

   Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex

   Irwin Field

   Suddenlink Field

   Summers Tennis Center

   d.  Areas Where Discharge of a Handgun Might Cause Widespread Harm. Laboratories and instructional areas in BEP, HPR, RBS, and ARC with extremely dangerous chemicals, biologic agents, explosive agents, or equipment that is incompatible with metallic objects, such as magnetic resonance imaging machines are excluded areas. These rooms include:

   ARC 167

   BEP 118, 121, 122, 124, 126, 131, 138

   HPR 140, 141, 145, 148, 153

   RBS 1034, 3015

   e.  Formal Hearing Areas. Section 46.03(a)(3) of the Penal Code excludes “any government court or offices utilized by the court.” Any facility used as a hearing room that operates similar to a court, i.e., where an individual or panel is designated under institutional policy to adjudicate the rights or privileges of a student or an employee of the institution may be excluded.  Therefore, the University excludes concealed handguns in the following locations:

   University Center 3rd Floor Conference Room during student judicial hearings (UC 3322)

   Human Resources Conference Rooms on the Main and Health Science Center campuses during hearings for employees.

   f.  Areas in which Sponsored Activities Are Conducted for Persons Under 18 Years of Age Who are Not Enrolled at the Institution. Section 46.03(a)(1) of the Penal Code prohibits the carrying of handguns on “any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school … is being conducted.” 

2. Review of Exclusion Zones: Future proposals and recommendations for exclusion zones will be reviewed annually by the Research Council, Environmental Health & Safety, and the Space Committee. Each person proposing an exclusion zone is responsible for providing the justification for the exclusion zone based on a provision within Section 1 of this policy. Exclusion zone recommendations should be presented to the President by the end of each academic year. 

3. Temporary Exclusion Zones: With the exception of athletic events, the Office of Scheduling & Conference Services will maintain signs for temporary exclusion zones.  Any UT Tyler representative organizing an event that constitutes a temporary exclusion zone will need to coordinate with the Office of Scheduling & Conference Services to ensure proper signage is present at the event and is responsible for removing the signage following the event.

   Intercollegiate Athletics and Rec Sports will be responsible for maintaining and placing signs for athletic events that constitute temporary exclusion zones.

4. Training: Additional training will be provided by the University for those interested in more in-depth information about campus carry and related issues. Responsibility for campus carry training rests with Campus Police and the Emergency Management Coordinator.

5. Residential Facilities: Student Housing is responsible for developing storage policies for on campus residents and roommate selection clauses for students who do not wish to room with licensees. The residential housing application will include an opportunity for residents to self-select a non-license holder as a roommate. 

6. Requirement for Holster: A license holder who carries a handgun on campus must carry it in a holster or other secure weapon case that completely covers the trigger and the entire trigger guard area. The holster must have sufficient tension or grip on the handgun to retain it in the holster even when subjected to unexpected jostling.

7. Inclusion in Syllabi: The following statement should be included in all syllabi, “We respect the right and privacy of students who are duly licensed to carry concealed weapons in this class. License holders are expected to behave responsibly and keep a handgun secure and concealed. More information is available at http://www.uttyler.edu/about/campus-carry/index.php.”

8. Enforcement: If a person is believed to have improperly displayed a handgun or carried a handgun into a location where concealed carry is not permitted, the campus police should be contacted. 

9. License Holder Responsibilities: License holders bear the responsibility for safeguarding their handguns at all times, and must take all necessary precautions to ensure their handguns are secured in a manner that is most likely to prevent theft, loss, damage or misuse. Failure to secure a handgun or control a backpack or purse with a handgun at all times on the UT Tyler campuses (Main, Health Science Center, Longview and Palestine) would be considered a failure to use reasonable care. License holders affiliated with UT Tyler who fail to use reasonable care in securing their handguns or act negligently are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension, termination or non-renewal of appointment, or dismissal.

D. Review

This policy shall be reviewed every year by the President in consultation with the Vice Presidents.