Nothing is more important than the safety and security of the students and employees of the College. Threats, threatening behavior, acts of violence, stalking, and/or use or possession of explosives, destructive devices, firearms and/or weapons, etc. will not be tolerated against students, employees, visitors, guests or any other individuals on College property or any one attending a College sponsored event. The College has zero tolerance for such conduct. Violations of this policy by a student or employee will lead to disciplinary action as provided in the Board of Trustees Rules, State Board of Education Rules and law, which may include suspension or dismissal.

This policy prohibits:

1. Any substantial threat - any threat to harm or endanger the safety of others or threat to damage or destroy property. It shall not be an excuse that the threat was false, unintentional or a joke.
2. Any threatening behavior — behavior or actions interpreted by a reasonable person as carrying the potential for violence and/or acts of aggression.
3. Acts of violence — any act(s) which a reasonable person would believe constitutes battery under Florida law and/or the intentional damaging or destruction of property.
4. Stalking as defined in Florida law.
5. Use and/or possession of an explosive(s), destructive device(s) and/or weapon(s), including firearms, as those terms as defined in Florida Statutes 790.001, by any person except those certain persons who may carry a weapon(s) or firearm, if authorized by the Board of Trustees' Rule 6Hx23-4.33.
6. Leaving unattended book bags or other item(s) wherein explosives, destructive devices, firearms and/or weapons, etc. may be located.

This policy is not meant in any way to curtail an individual's right to express himself/herself as long as that expression is not disruptive, inappropriate, unprofessional and would not cause a reasonable person to be put in fear of harm.

Any person who makes substantial threats, exhibits threatening behavior, engages in violent acts, stalks, and/or uses and/or possesses explosives, destructive devices, firearms, and/or weapons, etc. on College property shall be in violation of any right to be on College property or at a College sponsored event and shall be removed from the premises as quickly as safety permits. College personnel or security shall immediately notify the local law enforcement authority by calling 911 (9-911 from a College telephone) and request immediate assistance in the removal of the person. College personnel should also promptly notify College Security at (727)791-2560 and the site provost, associate provost or designee or the director of Human Resources.

Any book bag or other item(s), wherein explosives, destructive devices, firearms and/or weapons, etc. may be located, left unattended may be secured by College staff, security, and/or law enforcement personnel for inspection for explosives, destructive devices and/or weapons and firearms.

Should the prohibited conduct be committed by a College student or employee, an investigation shall be conducted and, if appropriate, disciplinary proceedings commenced. Whether the student or employee is entitled to return to the College for continuation of his/her coursework or employment during the pending investigation and disciplinary proceedings will depend upon the nature of the conduct and the best judgment of the site provost, administrator or designee consistent with the general policy described in BOT Rule 6Hx23-1.232. The site provost, administrator or designee shall attempt to provide the student or employee with an opportunity to tell their side of the story before imposing restrictions. The site provost, administrator or designee may impose restrictions consistent with said general policy on an employee’s or student’s return to the College. The student or employee will have an automatic review of the provost’s, administrators or designee’s decision by the President or designee. The student or employee and the site provost, administrator or designee shall submit their position/evidence to the President or designee in writing within three (3) working days after the site provost’s, administrator’s or designee’s decision. The President or designee may require more investigation or enter a decision based on the furnished information. A decision on this issue shall not necessarily affect whether or not the student or employee shall be subject to discipline.

In any disciplinary proceeding brought against the student or employee, the discipline may include limited access to College facilities and other restrictions, reassignment, training, counseling, reprimand, probation, suspension, or dismissal of the student or employee as circumstances may indicate.

No existing College Rule, policy, practice and/or procedure should be interpreted to prohibit decisions designed to stop a threat from being carried out, a violent act from occurring or a life threatening situation from developing.

Students and employees are responsible for notifying their site provost, associate provost or designee or the senior vice president of Educational & Student Services or the director of Human Resources of any threats, threatening behavior, acts of violence or stalking in which they have been subjected to, witnessed or have been told that another person has witnessed or received, as well as any item left unattended wherein an explosive, destructive devices, firearms and/or weapons, etc. could be located. Even without an actual threat, students and employees should also report any behavior that they have witnessed which they regard as intimidating, threatening or violent in nature when that behavior is related to or might be carried out on College property or at a College sponsored activity.

Any individual who applies for or obtains a protective or restraining order that lists any College site as being a protected area must provide the provost, associate provost or designee or director of Human Resources at the listed site(s) a copy of the petition, the affidavit, if any, used to seek the order, a copy of any temporary or protective restraining order granted and a copy of any protective and restraining order that is made permanent. The provost, associate provost, site administrator or their designee or the director of Human Resources or security shall report any violation of any protective or restraining order to the law enforcement agency charged with the enforcement of said orders. (Board of Trustees’ Rule 6Hx23.123).