UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Finalizes Campus Carry Policy

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March 28, 2016

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

The University of Texas at Tyler has developed a policy regarding concealed carrying of weapons on the university campus, President Rodney H. Mabry announced.

The policy, effective Aug. 1, 2016, is in response to Texas Senate Bill 11, which was passed in 2015 and will allow adults 21 or over, as well as qualifying members of the military, who are licensed to carry a handgun to carry their weapon on campus.

The law requires each university to develop specific guidelines regarding campus concealed carry. Open carry on university campuses is prohibited.

The UT Tyler policy details the areas on campus where concealed handguns are not allowed, calls for the development of training to educate the campus about the law and basic requirements of campus carry, creates a structure for concealed carry within residential facilities and outlines enforcement guidelines for campus carry violations.

"This policy has taken us nine months to develop, and has involved input from everyone in the campus community. Our goal with this policy is to comply with the law passed by Texas legislators last year while making certain that those on our campus are safe," said Mabry.

Tammy Cowart, associate professor of business law, chaired the campus carry working group, which was comprised of faculty, students and staff. The group began developing a recommended policy in August 2015 and solicited input from the campus at large via town hall meetings. Cowart also participated in the University of Texas System's working group on this topic and received valuable ideas and suggestions from other universities throughout the system.

"The group that recommended this policy did an excellent job of gathering input, making certain we were in compliance with the law and recommending a policy that will meet the needs of our campus," said Mabry. "They were a diverse group with different views on the issue, but worked very well together to develop the necessary guidelines."

Under UT Tyler's policy, all licensed handgun carriers will be required to carry the handgun in a holster or other secure weapon case that completely covers the trigger and the entire trigger guard area. The holster must sufficiently retain the handgun in place so that it will not discharge in the event of sudden movement.

Handguns generally will be allowed in classrooms, although there are a few exceptions.

Exclusion zones will be clearly designated with signage and will include:
• UT Tyler Innovation Academy, charter school for grades 3-9.
• Patient care areas such as the University Health Clinic, student counseling rooms and athletic training room.
• Ticketed sporting events at any of the UT Tyler's athletic facilities, as required by law.
• Formal hearing areas for employee or student adjudication.
• Areas where handgun discharge may cause widespread harm such as labs with dangerous and/or explosive chemicals or with magnetic resonance imaging equipment.
• Areas for sponsored activities for students under the age of 18 who are not enrolled at UT Tyler.

The Office of Student Housing will develop handgun storage policies for on-campus residents as well as roommate selection clauses to allow for students who prefer not to room with licensees.

The policy has been accepted by the university and will be reviewed by the UT System Board of Regents later this year. The Board has the authority to alter the policy, but needs a 2/3 vote to do so.

One of the 14 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.