Visitors Policy
In order to achieve the Alamance Community College Board of Trustees’ objective of providing a safe environment on its campuses for conducive educational opportunities for its students and a campus environment to nurture learning for such students by ACC’s faculty and staff, the following visitor policy has been adopted:
Visitors are welcome at Alamance Community College (“ACC”). However, persons who do not have legitimate reasons for being on the campus are not allowed to use the campus facilities, including parking lots and commons areas. Legitimate reasons include, but are not limited to, an orientation by an escort to learn about the campus and college programs, attending an official college program or event, visiting the bookstore, using the library, using daycare, using the dental clinic, using automotive repair services, using cosmetology services, using horticulture services, visiting the Scott Family Collection, participating in a culinary event, buying food from the snack bar in the commons area or the Culinary Department, making deliveries of goods and/or services ordered by ACC, or attending announced public meetings, functions, or seminars.
Visitors have the right of free speech on ACC’s campus, pursuant to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, provided such speech shall be exercised or limited in accordance with ACC’s policies as to prior notice, media, and place upon campus to ensure ACC’s Board of Trustees’ policy and goal first above stated or which speech is contrary to public health or safety. All visitors on ACC’s campus shall be mindful and shall exercise only socially appropriate behavior, including the exclusion of lewd, indecent or obscene, vulgar, offensive, or threatening speech or any sex, color, ethnic, racial, minority, or religious discrimination speech, writing, or activity, or which contains sexual innuendo, metaphor or simile or that encourages unlawful activity, discrimination, or interference with another individual’s protected rights.
All weapons, knives, firearms, dangerous chemicals, or instrumentalities/articles that might be injurious to persons or property are prohibited on ACC’s campus, except for permitted exclusions for ACC’s security staff, law enforcement training courses or clinics, or faculty supervised course sessions as part of the regular, approved curriculum, and those exceptions allowed under N.C.G.S 14-269.2(k). This statute provides that a handgun may be brought on campus by an individual who has a valid “concealed handgun permit” and such a handgun remains either (1) in a closed compartment or container within such permit holder’s locked vehicle, or (2) within a locked container securely affixed to such permit holder’s vehicle.
All alcohol products, controlled substances, and illegal drug apparatuses are prohibited from ACC’s campus. Loitering is prohibited. The campus is normally closed at the following times: 10:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday morning, 5:00 p.m. on Friday until 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, 12:00 noon on Saturday until 7:30 a.m. on Monday. (On weekends during the summer, ACC is also closed from 12:00 noon on Friday until 7:30 a.m. on Monday.)
Only registered students are permitted to attend college classes/labs and only registered students or ACC faculty and staff are to utilize certain institutional support services (i.e., tutoring, career interest inventories, graphic computer labs, photo labs, culinary/bakery equipment, or automotive, horticulture, shop and mechanical equipment and/or materials, etc.). Exceptions to this policy may be authorized by the appropriate administrative officer or department chair. Children of either enrolled students or college employees may not attend classes/labs unless registered, nor should children twelve years of age or under be left to play or be unattended in hallways, the Student Center, or other similar areas on the Campus.
In cases of suspected violations of this policy by visitors to ACC, appropriate security officials, or staff, are authorized to conduct an investigation sufficient to make a determination whether the visitor violated any of the provisions of this policy provided that such investigation complies with applicable law. If the need should arise, ACC’s security staff and/or other appropriate officials of ACC may obtain the assistance of local law enforcement. An investigation that results in the search of a visitor or his/her possessions may be undertaken where staff has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will turn up evidence that the visitor has violated or is violating law or is in possession of contraband. The scope or extent of the search and the methods used for the search must reasonably relate to the objectives of the search and may not be excessively intrusive upon the privacy of the visitor in light of the nature of the alleged infraction or reasonably suspected illegal activity. Where ACC security staff have a reasonable suspicion that the visitor’s possessions contain materials that pose a threat to the welfare and safety of the students, staff, and faculty, or of the school’s property, the visitors’ possessions may be searched without prior warning by use of a metal detector or other approved security device. A visitor’s suspected criminal act shall be reported to the appropriate police authority. Any appropriated, possible evidence may be turned over by ACC Security Staff to local law enforcement.
Source: Board Action: Board Minutes, June 9, 2008
Amended: Board Minutes, November 11, 2013