2/18/2016 - Jackson, Miss.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning voted to amend its policy on weapons on campus at its meeting held today in Jackson. The amendments allow visitors with enhanced carry permits to bring registered weapons to public spaces on campus.

“We understand that the issue of weapons on campus is a very serious matter,” said Dr. Glenn Boyce, Commissioner of Higher Education. “The safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors on our campuses is the Board of Trustees’ top priority. The changes to current policy were made only after careful consideration of how to align the policy with changes made in state law. The amended language brings Board Policy into compliance with current state law.”

Prior to the amendments, the policy read:

1106 FIREARMS POLICY
The Board recognizes that the possession of pistols, firearms or other weapons on any of its institutional premises or at its institutions or student functions off- campus by persons other than duly authorized law enforcement officials, institutional security officials, other authorized persons and the institutional approved programs creates an unreasonable and unwarranted risk of injury or death to its institutions' employees, students, visitors and guests and further creates an unreasonable and unwarranted risk of damage to properties of the institutions, employees, students, visitors, guests and properties of others. Because of such dangers, the Board hereby prohibits the possession of pistols, firearms or other weapons in any form by any person other than duly authorized law enforcement officials, institutional security officials and other authorized persons regardless of whether such person possesses a valid permit to carry such pistols, firearms or weapons.
(BT Minutes, 9/90; 1/98)

After the amendments approved today by the Board of Trustees, the policy reads:

1106 FIREARMS POLICY (Revised)
The Board recognizes that the possession of pistols, firearms or other weapons on any of its institutional premises or at its institutions or student functions off- campus by persons other than duly authorized law enforcement officials, institutional security officials, other authorized persons and the institutional approved programs creates an unreasonable and unwarranted risk of injury or death to its institutions' employees, students, visitors and guests and further creates an unreasonable and unwarranted risk of damage to properties of the institutions, employees, students, visitors, guests and properties of others. Because of such dangers, the Board hereby prohibits the possession of pistols, firearms or other weapons in any form by any person other than duly authorized law enforcement officials, institutional security officials and other authorized persons. “Authorized persons” includes those individuals authorized by applicable law and by the institutional executive officer or his/her designee. “Authorized persons” also includes those who have in their possession a valid, unexpired state firearms permit with the “Instructor Certified” (IC) sticker on the back, or the equivalent permit issued by a state with a reciprocity agreement with Mississippi. Even so, those possessing such permits are not permitted to possess firearms in any institutional facilities and/or areas that are deemed non-public. Students and employees are not authorized to possess firearms on institutional property or at institutional off-campus events regardless of possession of firearms permits.
(BT Minutes, 9/90; 1/98, 2/2016)

The universities are in the process of defining the areas that are deemed non-public on each campus and will establish those in institutional policy.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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