4.12 Possession or Carrying of Firearms and Weapons

Related Minnesota State Board Policy: 5.21 Possession or Carrying of Firearms

See also: Office of General Counsel’s FAQs about How the “Conceal and Carry” Law Effects Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Purpose: All persons should feel safe and be free from violence, threats, and intimidation on college property or while attending college functions and events. Accordingly, the purpose of this policy is to establish restrictions on the possession or carrying of firearms or weapons on college property in compliance with Minnesota State Board policy.

Part 1: Definitions

College Property for purposes of this policy refers to all property, buildings, facilities and structures owned, leased, or under the primary control of the college. This includes all public or private locations the college has leased for college events, including, but not limited to: academic and administrative meetings, and student, faculty, and staff activities. This policy as it relates to firearms possession by any persons with a valid Minnesota or an out of state Minnesota recognized permit to carry does not cover College parking facilities pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 624.714, subd. 18c.
Employee means any individual employed by the College, including a student employee.
Student means any individual taking one or more college courses, classes, or seminars, credit or noncredit, including between terms and individuals expelled or suspended during the pendency of any adjudication of the student disciplinary action. Student also includes individuals participating in any program administered in part or wholly by the college. Visitor means any person who is on College property, except an employee or a student.
Visitor means any person who is on college property, except an employee acting in the course and scope of their employment or a student when that student is on college property.
Weapon (other than a firearm) is broadly defined to include, but is not limited to: knives, electronic control devices, explosives, explosive fuels, dangerous chemicals, chemical aerosol, billy-club, baton, and fireworks.
Firearm defined as a gun, whether loaded or unloaded, that discharges shot or a projectile by means of an explosive, a gas, or compressed air.
Pistol means a weapon as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 624.712, subd. 2.

Part 2: General

No person is permitted to carry or possess a firearm or weapon on college property except as provided in this policy.

Subpart A: Employees. Employees are prohibited from possessing or carry a firearm while acting in the scope and course of their employment, either on or off college property, with or without a valid permit to carry, except as authorized in Part 3 of this policy.

An employee with a reasonable basis for believing an individual is in possession of or carrying a firearm in violation of this policy has a responsibility to report the suspected act in a timely manner, unless doing so would subject the employee or others to physical harm. Reports should be made to Public Safety. This policy shall not prohibit prompt notification to appropriate law enforcement authorities when an immediate threat to personal safety exists. Employees shall not make reports of a suspected violation knowing they are false or in reckless disregard of the truth.

Subpart B: Students. Students are prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm or weapon while on college property, regardless of whether the student has a permit to carry a firearm, except as authorized in Part 3 of this policy.

Subpart C: Visitors. No visitors shall possess or carry a weapon or firearm while on college property except as authorized in Part 3 of this policy.

Subpart D: College Vehicles. No vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the college shall be used to store or carry a firearm, except as authorized in Part 3 of this policy.

Part 3: Authorized Possession or Carrying of Weapons & Firearms

Subpart A: Law Enforcement Personnel. Licensed peace officers under Minnesota Statutes section 626.84, subd.1c or other law enforcement agents pursuant to 18 United States Code section 926B may possess or carry firearms and weapons on college property when possession or carry is authorized by law.

Subpart B: Visitors. Visitors who are not employees or students who possess a lawful permit to carry a pistol may possess a pistol on college property pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 624.714, subd. 1a.

The college will include within all contracts negotiated with outside vendors a reference to this policy. The college will also seek to include within all such contracts a statement that the company prohibits their employees from carrying pistols or other firearms for which employees may have a lawful permit to carry while on college property.

Subpart C: Academic Use. Lawful possession or carry related to an academic use or use at a college shooting range, such as law enforcement programs, approved in writing by the college president, or transport of an unloaded firearm directly between a parking area or parking facility and a storage facility provided by the college.

Subpart D: Presidential Approval. The College President or delegate may in writing permit or revoke permission for the otherwise lawful possession or carrying of weapons on College property. This includes the possession or carrying of weapons for purposes of life safety by the Normandale Public Safety Department.

Part 4: Violations

Subpart A: Students. Violation of this policy by a student is a violation of, and will be adjudicated in accordance with, the Student Code of Conduct, up to and including expulsion.

Subpart B: Employees. Violation of this policy by an employee constitutes misconduct subject to College discipline up to and including termination.

Subpart C: Visitors. Violation of this policy by a visitor shall result in a request to leave the College property, function, or event, as the case may be, and also may result in a trespass notice to remain off College property for up to 1 year.

Subpart D: Referral to Law Enforcement Agencies. The College may refer related suspected violations of law to appropriate law enforcement authorities and provide access to investigative and other data as permitted by law.

Policy History:

Department Owner: Vice President, People & Culture

Date of Adoption: Established prior to 2011

Date of Implementation:

Date and Subject of Revisions: 3/13/2025 – updated to reflect changes to Minnesota State Policy 5.21, updated links and language pursuant to policy writing guidelines.

Next Review Date (4 years): 2029-2030