Mission Statement:
The Panola College Police Department's overriding mission is to protect and serve the college community by enhancing the safety and quality of life for students, faculty, and staff through education, problem solving, and enforcement.
Serving Students and Employees of Panola College
The Panola College Police Department is here to serve and protect the social and academic environment that sustains and encourages moral and intellectual growth while preserving the legal rights of individuals.
Composed of certified law enforcement officers, our officers have the power to enforce all Texas laws and college regulations on the property owned or operated under the direction of Panola College.
Available 24/7, our officers and/or additional staff members are available to assist you in person or by telephone. The force serves the staff and students by helping to maintain the safety and security of each person and his/her possessions while on campus.
Located in the Maintenance Building, our police department is on the Carthage campus beside the student apartments.
Non-Emergency Calls - Dial 903-693-1111
Emergency Calls - Dial 911
Campus Carry
Texas Senate Bill 11
An Act relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education, providing a criminal penalty.
DEFINITIONS:
Campus Carry
Individuals holding a handgun license will be able to carry a concealed handgun on the Panola College main campus as well as other Panola College locations and into many buildings.
Exclusionary Zone
Any premise in which the carry of a concealed handgun is prohibited by virtue of Texas statute or these rules.
Handgun
Any firearm that is designed, made or adapted to be fired with one hand.
Concealed Handgun
The presence of a handgun is not openly discernible to the ordinary observation of a reasonable person. * Must carry "on or about your person". The handgun needs to be close enough to you where you can grasp it within immediate reach. Ex: backpack, purse.
Penalties
- Receive a Class A misdemeanor and an offense report will be generated.
- Students, as well as employees, will be reported to the Campus Police department.
- Arrest - *Totality of the circumstance.
- NOTICE: It is the responsibility of the license holder to know the laws and know where a handgun can and cannot be carried.
CAMPUS CARRY IS NOT OPEN CARRY
To Carry on Campus
- Must have a LTC (License to Carry) or a CHL (Concealed Handgun License).
- Weapons must be concealed at all times.
- Follow Penal Code 30.06 for Exclusionary Zones.
- You may not carry firearms to any Panola College sporting events.
Lost and Found
Panola College maintains lost and found items in the Business Office. If you have lost an item, please contact the Business Office at 903-693-2082 or stop by their office located in the Martha Miller Administration building.
Items are usually kept for 60 days before being destroyed or donated to charity.
Pony Alerts
Pony Alerts is a campus alert system used to notify students, faculty, and staff of situations on, or near, campus that they should be aware of, such as severe weather, crime alerts, or active emergency situations.
To sign up for Pony Alerts:
- Log into Campus Connect.
- Under the "Student Info" tab, select "Demographic Data."
- If your cell number is not listed, click "Update Information" and enter your cell phone number.
- Select "Make Changes" at the bottom of the page to save changes to your information.
This is a free service of Panola College. Your regular provider rates apply.
Tobacco-Free Campus
The Panola College Campus is a tobacco-free institution committed to providing its students and employees a safe and healthy environment. The use of all tobacco products shall be prohibited on all property owned or operated by the Panola College District. This shall include buildings, grounds, sidewalks, and streets. This policy shall also apply to vehicles owned and operated by the Panola College District.
Board Policy states: The use of all tobacco products and any electronic smoking or vapor emitting device shall be prohibited on all property owned or operated by the Panola College District.
Smoking: Smoking shall not be permitted in any Panola College building on or off-campus. Smoking shall not be permitted in any building space leased by the College or used for College programs. Smoke is defined as: "a visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air" (synonyms: fumes, exhaust, gas, vapor, smog). Therefore, the use of all smoking devices is prohibited on all property owned or operated by the Panola College District. This shall include buildings, grounds, sidewalks, and streets.
These policies prohibit the use of tobacco and smoking devices including but not limited to cigarettes, vapor cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, hooka or water pipe products, snuff, snus, clove, spit, and smokeless tobacco, chew cigarettes, bidis, kreteks, and cigarillos.