A dean at the University of Texas is stepping down over a new state law which will allow concealed handguns to be carried on university campuses.

Frederick Steiner said the policy was not “appropriate” for higher education and “did not make logical sense”.

Texas passed the legislation last year and it goes into effect in August.

Many higher education officials and students have objected to the law, with concerns it may discourage students from attending universities in Texas.

Supporters of the law argue it is “critical” to self-defence and upholding constitutional rights.

But for Frederick Steiner, dean of the Texas School of Architecture, guns should not be allowed on university grounds.

“I grew up believing there was an appropriate place for guns and it was not in a place of higher education and higher learning,” he told Fox News.

Warning to staff

“I thought I would be responsible for enforcing a law I don’t believe in,” said Mr Steiner, who has been at the school since 2001. He says he plans to return to the University of Pennsylvania, but not until the law is passed in August.

Greg Fenves, president of the University of Texas, has said he does not supportguns on campus but he must enforce the law.

Mr Fenves said that the law would make it more difficult to keep faculty and students at the university.

Long-time dean Frederick Steiner agreed, saying it was “already part of the conversation when I was trying to recruit and retain graduate students.”

Meanwhile, staff at the University of Houston have warned professors there to be careful discussing sensitive topics and drop them from the curriculum if they “sense anger” from students who may be armed.

According to the Houston Chronicle, they have been instructed to “not ‘go there’ if you sense anger; limit student access off hours; go to appointment-only office hours; only meet ‘that student’ in controlled circumstances”.

According to the law, private universities are allowed to ban guns on campus.