Dr. Richard Brown, UTC executive vice chancellor for Finance, Operations, and Information Technology, on Tuesday outlined procedures concerning campus gun carry for full-time employees:
He said, "As you may be aware, this year the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law that allows full-time faculty and staff employees who have valid handgun carry permits to bring their handguns onto Tennessee’s college campuses. This law took effect on July 1.
"Safety Policy 0875 addresses how the UT System applies the various state and federal laws regarding firearms and clarifies when an employee may and may not legally carry a handgun on university property. The policy expands on the following key provisions of state law:
"Full-time UT employees with valid handgun-carry permits may carry handguns on UT property, if: they are not enrolled as students; and they notify the law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the property on which they will be carrying a handgun [UTC Police]
Full-time employees are prohibited from: carrying a type of firearm other than a handgun; carrying a handgun openly or in any other manner in which the handgun is visible to ordinary observation; carrying a handgun at certain times and locations, such as: stadiums, gymnasiums or auditoriums where UT-sponsored events are in progress or in meetings regarding disciplinary matters or tenure issues.
"Employees must display their handgun-carry permits on request of law enforcement officers.
"The new handgun-carry law does not extend the same rights to employees who are not classified as 'full-time' or to students.
"All faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to review the policy in its entirety and the answers to frequently asked questions provided here.
"Some of you have expressed concern about having more guns on campus. UTC’s leadership acknowledges your valid concerns and remains committed to providing the safest campus environment possible while complying with the new law.
"If you have other questions or concerns, please contact Robie Robinson, UTC’s executive director of Public Safety, at 4167 or Robie-Robinson@utc.edu."