Smoke-free Tobacco-free Policy
Springfield College
Smoke-free, Tobacco-free Policy
I. PURPOSE:
This Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free Policy (“Policy”) addresses the presence and use of tobacco products on Springfield College (“College”) property. The College is committed to promoting the health and wellness of our students, faculty, and staff by providing a living, working, and learning environment free of the negative effects of tobacco products and smoke. The College recognizes that smoking and the use of other forms of tobacco are a major cause of preventable disease, and, accordingly, in 2015 convened a Study Circle to explore whether and how the College might implement a smoke-free, tobacco-free policy. Having received the Study Circle’s report, the College has concluded that a tobacco-free campus is consistent with the mission and purpose of the College by promoting individual and community health.
II. SCOPE:
This Policy applies to all members of the College community, including employees, students, volunteers, vendors and visitors, and to all property, both indoors and outdoors, owned by, or under the control of, the College.
III. DEFINED TERMS:
- “E-cigarette” means any electronic oral device, such as one composed of a heating element, battery, and/or electronic circuit, which provides a vapor of nicotine or any other substances, and the use or inhalation of which simulates smoking. The term shall include any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, or under any other product name or descriptor.
- “Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, or pipe, including a hookah pipe, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, including hookahs and marijuana, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. Smoking also includes the use of an E-cigarette which creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of Smoking in this Policy.
- “Tobacco Product” means any substance containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, blunts, clove cigarettes, or any other preparation of tobacco; and any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine that is manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that the product or matter will be introduced into the human body. “Tobacco Product” does not include any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
IV. COLLEGE POLICY:
A. Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products Prohibited
Effective January 1, 2017, Smoking and the use of Tobacco Products are prohibited on all property, both indoors and outdoors, owned by, or under the control of, the College. This prohibition encompasses:
- All buildings and vehicles owned or leased by the College, regardless of location.
- All College grounds and any outdoor area controlled by the College. This includes all College land, parking lots and parking ramps, pedestrian walkways, athletic fields, green spaces and recreational areas.
- Inside any vehicle located on College property.
B. Promotion and Sale of Tobacco Products Prohibited
In further recognition of the incompatibility of the College’s educational mission and the promotion of Tobacco Products, no tobacco-related advertising or sponsorship shall be permitted on College property, at College-sponsored events, or in publications produced by the College, with the exception of advertising in a newspaper or magazine that is not produced by the College and which is lawfully sold, bought, or distributed on College property. For the purposes of this Policy, "tobacco related" applies to the use of a tobacco brand or corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, or motto, selling message, recognizable pattern or colors, or any other indicia of product identical to or similar to, or identifiable with, those used for any brand of tobacco products or company which manufactures tobacco products. No Tobacco Products or paraphernalia shall be sold or distributed as samples on College property, either in vending machines, the student union, or any area on campus.
C. Exceptions
For educational purposes, research involving Tobacco Products in a controlled laboratory setting may be approved as an exception to this Policy with the prior, advance written approval of the Provost. Requests for any other exceptions as may be required by law should be directed to the Senior Vice President for Finance & Administration who shall review such request in consultation with the College’s General Counsel as well as divisional administrators potentially impacted by any exception.
V. SMOKING CESSATION:
The College is committed to supporting all employees and students who wish to stop using Tobacco Products. Students on the Springfield campus may visit The Towne Health Center; students at regional campuses may ask College personnel at their campuses for referrals to local smoking cessation resources. Faculty and staff have access to a number of programs through the Employee Assistance Program and the College’s health plan provider. Additional resources are available on the College’s smoke-free, tobacco-free webpage.
VI. COMPLIANCE WITH POLICY / COMPLAINTS:
Adherence to and management of this Policy requires common sense, courtesy and support among all members of the College community. Signage, announcements at public events, reminders on programs and other materials, and inclusion in applicable handbooks and contracts will all be utilized to educate the College community regarding the Policy.
All members of the College community are encouraged to promote compliance with this Policy by respectfully reminding students, faculty, staff, volunteers, vendors and visitors of the prohibition of Smoking and use of Tobacco Products. Violations should be reported as follows and, if needed, steps may be taken consistent with other policies:
- Violations by Springfield campus (non-regional campus) students should be brought to the attention of the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs or Public Safety.
- Violations by regional campus students should be brought to the attention of the applicable Campus Director.
- Violations by employees should be brought to the attention of the employee’s supervisor or the Office of Human Resources.
- Violations by visitors/guests of the College should be brought to the attention of the hosting department/organization or Public Safety
- Violations by vendors should be brought to the attention of the hosting department/organization, Public Safety or the Purchasing Department.
VII. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Frequently asked questions regarding this policy are included here.
Approved by: President and President’s Leadership Team
Date Adopted: November 1, 2016
Date Effective: January 1, 2017
