Citing safety issues and Metro State’s mission as an academic institution, a new policy sets out the rules for children in classrooms and workplaces on campus.

“For reasons that include safety of children and assuring professional and efficient performance of academic pursuits and campus operations, the College cannot routinely accommodate children in campus workplaces or classrooms,” the policy says. “Unless properly supervised, and with pre-approval, children are not permitted in labs, shops, construction/repair sites or other areas where potential hazards exist,” according to the policy.

The policy says classrooms are restricted to enrolled students or visitors—adults or minors—who “have been invited for the purpose of making special announcements, guest lecturing or other authorized reasons.”

However, instructors can “make infrequent exceptions due to temporary, unforeseen emergencies,” such as when a parent must bring a child to class when a school system declares a snow day. In such cases, the policy says, children must remain in the classroom and are not allowed to sit in the hallway or be unsupervised in any location on campus.

“Regular, repeated visits by children or others without a legitimate purpose are not permitted…Children brought on campus must be directly supervised at all times by their parent or guardian.”

The policy defines children as minors under age 18. But, it adds, enrolled students under 18 “have the rights and privileges of any other student in the classroom and on campus grounds.”

The Metro State policy is modeled after those at similar institutions and stems from concerns by students about small children disrupting classes, says Vicki Golich, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs.