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Campus Carry

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Policy

The Texas Campus Carry law allows individuals with a valid License to Carry (LTC) to carry concealed handguns in designated areas of college campuses. Collin College's policy on campus carry aligns with Texas Senate Bill 11, effective August 1, 2017.

View the CHF (Local) & (Legal) Board Policy

What Campus Carry Allows

  • Only individuals with a valid License to Carry (LTC) may carry concealed handguns on Collin College campuses.
  • The law permits Collin College to designate certain restricted areas where concealed handguns are not allowed. Restrictions may apply to specific buildings or portions of buildings, provided they do not amount to a general prohibition across campus. Clear signage or notice will be posted in any location where handguns are prohibited.

What Campus Carry Does Not Allow

  • The law does not allow “Open Carry” on college campuses. Open carry means the intentional display of a handgun, including the carry of a partially or wholly visible handgun stored in a shoulder or belt holster.
  • All other weapons are strictly prohibited for students, employees, and visitors on college property or at college-sponsored activities. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:
    • Long guns
    • Location-restricted knives
    • Clubs or knuckle devices
    • Firearm silencers
    • Explosives, fireworks, or incendiary devices
    • BB guns and other pressurized air-propelled devices
    • Martial arts throwing stars
    • Any weapons described in CHF (Local and Legal) Board Policy

Exclusion Zones

Possession of a handgun is prohibited by any person except law enforcement officers licensed by a state of the United States or a federal agency in the following locations:

  • Childcare facilities
  • College facilities that are being used as early voting or election day polling locations
  • Rooms where a governmental entity is meeting, if the meeting is an open meeting subject to Texas Government Code Chapter 551
  • High-hazard laboratories and health science education facilities where materials or operations create a significant risk of catastrophic harm due to a negligent discharge
  •  A designated meeting room at each campus in Student and Enrollment Services that can be used, as needed, for disciplinary meetings or counseling meetings
  • Facilities where professional, high school, or college sporting or other interscholastic events are in progress
  • Locker rooms where individuals change clothes, including those at athletic facilities and health science education facilities

 

Any location or facility of the college may be deemed a temporary exclusion zone, as directed or approved by the District President as necessary for campus safety. Signage will be posted identifying locations where concealed carry is prohibited.

 

Contact

Scott Jenkins
Chief of Police
sjenkins@collin.edu 

972.578.5579

 

Additional Information

 

Report a Concern

If you witness an incident or have a concern, report all relevant details — who, what, when, where, and how. For emergencies, always dial 911.

Frequently Asked Questions


The law took effect for Texas community colleges on Aug. 1, 2017.

No. Only legally-licensed individuals who have completed the process for a License to Carry a Handgun (LTC) may possess a handgun on campus. 

Call the campus police department at 972.578.5555. Our Collin College police officers are licensed Texas peace officers and are fully authorized and trained to handle such situations. Also, keep in mind that the college has a law enforcement program, so there may be police and other armed officials on campus for training at certain times. 

No, only concealed carry was authorized in SB11. 

Concealed carry is defined in Texas as “concealed handgun,” the presence of which is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person. Texas Senate Bill 11 allowed only concealed carry on public college and university campuses.

Open Carry in Texas means you do not need to conceal your handgun as it is “open” or visible for the public to see. Texas House Bill 910 became law on Jan. 1, 2016 and makes it legal for LTC holders to carry visible handguns in the state of Texas. Open carry will not apply to public colleges and universities, including Collin College.

 

For additional information regarding weapons and firearms, view the CHF (Local) & (Legal) Board Policy.


According to the policies, handguns are prohibited in the following locations: childcare facilities; college facilities that are being used as early voting or election day polling locations; rooms where a governmental entity is meeting, if the meeting is an open meeting subject to Texas Government Code Chapter 551; high hazard laboratories and health science education facilities where materials or operations create a significant risk of catastrophic harm due to a negligent discharge; a designated meeting room at each campus in Student and Enrollment Services that can be used, as needed, for disciplinary meetings or counseling meetings; facilities where professional, high school, college sporting or other interscholastic events are in progress; and locker rooms where individuals change clothes, including those at athletic facilities and health science education facilities. The policy also allows the district to make any location or facility of the college a temporary exclusion zone, as directed or approved by the district president as necessary for campus safety. Signage will be posted identifying locations where concealed carry is prohibited.

For additional information regarding exclusion zones, view the CHF (Local) & (Legal) Board Policy.


According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Concealed Handgun Law sets out the eligibility criteria that must be met. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age (unless active duty military) and must meet federal qualifications to purchase a handgun.  A number of factors may make you ineligible to obtain a license, such as: felony convictions and some misdemeanor convictions, including charges that resulted in probation or deferred adjudication; pending criminal charges; chemical or alcohol dependency; certain types of psychological diagnoses protective or restraining orders, and defaults on state or city taxes, governmental fees, or child support. Eligibility requirements can be found in GC §411.172. You must also submit a completed application, pay the required fees and submit all of the required supplemental forms and materials.