The following summary is being provided for all employees to become familiar with the policy and law:

• Only full-time Southwest Tennessee Community College employees with valid permits, after successfully registering with Police Services, are authorized under law to carry a handgun on property owned or operated by Southwest Tennessee Community College. Full-time is defined as having a regular work week of 37.5 hours or carrying a full teaching schedule or equivalent.
• Full-time employees enrolled in a class at Southwest Tennessee Community College cannot carry a handgun on Southwest Tennessee Community College property.
• Handguns cannot be carried openly and must be concealed at all times. Handguns cannot be visible to ordinary observation by a reasonable person, and must be kept in close proximity to the employee and under the employee's exclusive and continuous control.
• A Southwest Tennessee Community College employee can carry a handgun only on Southwest Tennessee Community College property. They cannot carry a handgun on the property of other state or private institutions.
• Employees shall have their valid handgun carry permit in their immediate possession at all times when carrying a handgun and shall provide the permit to law enforcement officers upon request.
• Employees are not permitted to carry a handgun at the following times and at the following locations:
  • In stadiums, gymnasiums, and auditoriums during school-sponsored events;
  • In meetings regarding employee or student disciplinary matters, to include any meeting in which an employee's performance or conduct is being addressed;
  • In meetings regarding any tenure issues;
  • In offices where the primary services are medical or mental health services;
  • In or on K-12 school buildings or grounds;
  • On the premises of childcare centers (e.g., Macon Cove Campus, Campus Kids Corner or Union Avenue Campus, Early Childhood Education); and
  • At any other location where state or federal law prohibits the carrying of a handgun.
• Carrying a handgun is a personal choice. An authorized employee who elects to carry is not:
  • Acting in the course of or scope of their employment when carrying or using a handgun;
  • Entitled to workers' compensation benefits for injuries arising from the carrying or use of a firearm; or
  • Immune from personal liability with respect to use or carrying of a handgun under Tennessee law.
• In the interest of safety, authorized employees who elect to carry concealed handguns pursuant to TBR policy should use good judgment in sharing or publicizing such information.
• An employee who is found to have possessed or carried a firearm in violation of College policy will be subject to arrest and/or disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.