Skip to main content

During the 84th Texas Legislative Session, Senate Bill 11 (SB11) was passed, allowing persons with a License to Carry (LTC) a handgun, under Texas Government Code Section 411.2031 and other applicable laws, to carry their handgun in a concealed manner on public university campuses beginning Aug. 1, 2016.

The law allows universities to establish policy restricting certain areas/events of the campus where concealed carry will not be allowed, and to establish storage requirements in residence halls.

In response to SB11, SFA sought recommendations through open forum and collected feedback from university stakeholders. Once the final recommendations were made to the university president, university policy 13.9 (Firearms, Explosives and Ammunition) was amended to allow for campus carry and approved by the Board of Regents on April 12, 2016. The policy has since been updated by the Board of Regents on July 27, 2021.

Constitutional Carry

A person who may lawfully carry a handgun under Texas law may carry a handgun in the parking lots, parking garages, sidewalks or walkways, and other grounds where a university-sponsored activity is not taking place, unless otherwise indicated by proper notice.

Areas Where Concealed Carry is Prohibited

Under HOP policy 05-509, the university has designated the following locations as locations where the carrying of a concealed handgun is prohibited:

  • Early Childhood Research Center - Entire premise including fenced grounds
  • Human Services Building (other than the Telecommunications area) - Entire Premise
  • Student Health Clinic - Entire premise
  • 3rd Floor of the Rusk Building - 1st and 2nd floors are not excluded from concealed carry
  • Any location where a high school, collegiate, or professional sporting event takes place and where club or intramural athletic competition is taking place
  • Nonpublic, secure portions of the University Police Department
  • Occasional, reasonable, temporary restrictions by the president for five (5) days.

Campus Storage - General

License holders may store handguns at the University Police Department in accordance with UPD policies and procedures.

Campus Storage - Residential Facilities

License holders residing in campus housing may carry a concealed handgun into campus housing and may store his/her handgun in campus housing except during extended periods of absence, such as spring break and the periods between fall and spring semesters. When storing a handgun in campus housing, the license holder must store the handgun in his/her residential room, in a secured area or occupant-provided locked and secure container. Handguns may not be stored in designated campus housing during summer camps or other events attended by minors. Handguns may never be stored in campus housing by any person other than the licensed residential room occupant. Residents may not store a handgun for any other resident or person. LTC holders who are employed as full-time residential staff in campus housing may store his/her handgun in his/her residence at all times in a secure area or resident-provided locked, secure container.

General Information

No licensee may carry his/her handgun in an open manner and must ensure that the handgun is carried in a concealed manner at all times.

The license holder must keep the concealed handgun on or about his/her person at all times, including when being carried in a purse or backpack.

A license holder is not required to disclose whether he/she has a license, or is currently carrying a concealed handgun, to anyone except a judge or peace officer.

Effective notice of where handguns may not be carried will be provided at all excluded locations by adequate signage.

It is the responsibility of the licensee to know the permanently excluded locations as well as temporary locations.

Any license holder who carries a concealed handgun on a portion of the premises or grounds excluded by policy, or carries a partially or wholly visible handgun, may be arrested and charged under Texas Penal Code 46.035 with Unlawful Carrying of Handgun by a License Holder, a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to one in year in jail, a fine up to $4,000, or both jail time and a fine.

If You Observe a Visible Weapon

Contact the University Police Department. Call 911 from an on-campus phone or 936.468.2608 from a cell phone.

Contact

University Police Department
936.468.2608 | 800.816.4657
Fax: 936.468.3984
updemail@sfasu.edu

Physical Address:
232 East College St.

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 13062, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962