Policies + Procedures — Governance + Compliance — Weapons on Campus

1.32 Weapons on Campus

I. Purpose

To provide a safe and secure educational environment by establishing regulations addressing the possession of deadly or offensive weapons on campus.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all persons who are enrolled, employed, visiting, providing services or renting facilities at the college. This policy applies equally to those persons that have a government issued license to carry a concealed firearm.

III. General

The possession or carrying of any deadly or offensive weapon by any person is prohibited in college academic buildings, administrative buildings, dining facilities, off-site locations or while attending any sporting, entertainment or education event on college property or sponsored by the college.

A deadly or offensive weapon is defined as any device designed to produce death or serious bodily injury. Offensive weapons may be any devices so defined under the Pennsylvania Criminal Code Section 908 (c), i.e. those which serve no common lawful purpose. For the purposes of this policy, deadly and offensive weapons may include, but are not limited to:

Firearms, loaded or unloaded
Pellet, flare, tranquilizer, stun, spear or dart guns
Knives with blades larger than a small folding knife
Any cutting instrument where the blade is exposed in an automatic way
Daggers or swords
Striking instruments, including clubs, truncheons and blackjacks
Martial arts weapons
Bow and arrow combinations
Explosive devices

The definition of offensive weapon under this policy does not include personal size non-lethal chemical irritants for personal security, small pocket knives or general tools not designed as weapons and used for their lawful and intended purposes.

Pennsylvania Law in Title 18, Chapter 61, governs the transportation and carrying of firearms in vehicles. Persons carrying firearms within the scope of the Pennsylvania Statues do so at their own risk and are responsible for the safe and secure storage of all firearms.

Authorized Exceptions

The following are exceptions to this policy:

Sworn municipal, county, state or federal law enforcement officers who carry proper identification.
Members of the United States Armed Forces when in uniform and conducting official business in conjunction with their armed forces service.
Security details assigned to armored vehicle couriers.
Those persons conducting and participating in an approved program of instruction in the college’s curriculum which requires access to such equipment as an integral part of the instructional program.

Notification of Use of Replica or Prop Weapons

Any item which looks like a weapon and is used for legitimate purposes on college property must be reported to and approved in writing by the Executive Director, Security & Safety prior to use in any activity. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty member or other employee conducting such activities to secure the required approval before conducting the activity. Persons responsible for the activity must recognize risks associated with using weapons or weapon-like props and must exercise prudent safety measures to ensure they are properly used and stored.

Violations

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and expulsion for students, termination for employees and other penalties for visitors or contractors, and may prompt a response by law enforcement.