ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 The University of Central Florida will not participate in Florida\u2019s expanded Guardian Program, university officials confirmed Thursday, choosing to keep its campus gun-free despite a recent law allowing colleges and universities to join the initiative.<\/p>\n
The Guardian Program was created in 2018 following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The program allows designated school employees to carry a concealed firearm on campus after completing required training and was originally limited to K-12 public schools.<\/p>\n
In 2025, after a shooting at Florida State University left two people dead and six others injured, state lawmakers pushed for what became House Bill 757, expanding the program to include postsecondary institutions.<\/p>\n
It was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2026.<\/p>\n
During a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, officials confirmed that UCF, which has the largest student enrollment in Florida, will opt out of the program. <\/p>\n
University leaders said the decision aligns with other state universities, many of which already maintain sworn law enforcement agencies and campus security operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn discussions with the Board of Governors, the state university system, universities have requested to opt out of the guardian program,\u201d said Rhonda Bishop, staff for UCF\u2019s Audit and Compliance Committee. \u201cThis is because the majority of us have sworn police departments, sworn police officers, and departments on our campus, as well as existing campus security staffing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The law also requires colleges and universities to establish active shooter response plans, threat management teams, and family reunification procedures. UCF officials said those measures were already in place before the legislation was approved.<\/p>\n
Additionally, House Bill 757 makes discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a college or university campus a second-degree felony.<\/p>\n
Participation in the Guardian Program remains optional, leaving the decision up to colleges and universities across the state.<\/p>\n
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