June 18, 2003

New gun regulations for campuses adopted by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

System bans employees, students from carrying guns in response to new state law

Contact Public Affairs: Linda Kohl, Public Affairs, (651) 296-9595 or Nancy Conner, (651) 296-0541

Students and employees are prohibited from having concealed guns on campuses in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System under a new policy adopted today by the Board of Trustees.

The policy was developed in response to the Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act of 2003, which does not ban guns from campuses but allows public higher education institutions to regulate possession or carrying of firearms by employees and students.

"We feel strongly about protecting people on our campuses, and we will continue to monitor the effects of the new state law and our policy," Board Chair Mary Choate said.

Disciplinary action can be taken against employees or students for violating the policy, and violations can be referred to law enforcement authorities.

Certain exceptions apply under the new policy:

• Parking facilities and parking areas are exempt, as required by the law.
• Campus presidents may authorize carry and possession of firearms for academic purposes or storage where storage facilities are provided.
• Employees who are licensed peace officers are allowed to carry guns on the system's campuses when assigned by the college or university to public safety duties; the new policy also does not apply to students or visitors who are licensed peace officers in Minnesota.
• Under the new state law, visitors on college or university property are allowed to carry pistols if the visitor has a permit, but all other firearms are prohibited.

The new policy applies to facilities and land owned, leased or under the primary control of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, its Board of Trustees, Office of the Chancellor and the 33 colleges and universities.

The new state law that requires private establishments to post signs and give personal notice if they wish to prohibit guns on the premises does not apply to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 33 state universities, community colleges, technical colleges and combined community and technical colleges located on 53 campuses across the state. The system serves approximately 235,000 students annually in credit-based courses and another 130,000 in non-credit courses.