Policy Statement:

Alcorn State University supports a smoke and tobacco free campus as a wellness initiative to protect the health of students, faculty, staff and guests. The current policy supersedes any previous policy and becomes effective July 1, 2018.

Accordingly, Alcorn State University finds and declares that the purposes of this policy are (1) to protect the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking and tobacco use, including electronic cigarettes and other smoking devices, on any Alcorn State University property; (2) to provide a smoke and tobacco-free work place(3) to encourage a healthier, more productive living/learning environment for all members of our campus community.

Alcorn State University Shall Be Entirely Smoke and Tobacco – Free

The smoke and tobacco – free policy applies to all Alcorn State University facilities, property, and vehicles (owned or leased), regardless of location. Smoking and the use of tobacco products shall not be permitted in any enclosed place, including, but not limited to, offices, classrooms, hallways, waiting rooms, restrooms, meeting rooms, community areas, performance venues and private residential space within ASU. Smoking and the use of tobacco products shall also be prohibited outdoors on all ASU campus property, including, but not limited to, parking lots, paths, fields, sports/recreational areas, and stadiums, as well as in all personal vehicles while on campus. This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, and other persons on University property, regardless of the purpose for their visit.

Promotion and Sale of Tobacco Products Prohibited at Alcorn State University

In further recognition of the incompatibility of Alcorn State University’s educational mission and the promotion of tobacco products: No tobacco-related advertising or sponsorship shall be permitted on ASU property, at ASU – sponsored events, or in publications produced by ASU, with the exception of advertising in a newspaper or magazine that is not produced by ASU and which is lawfully sold, bought, or distributed on ASU 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 characteristics of products 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 university grounds, either in vending machines, the student union, or any other area on campus.

Definitions

  1. “Electronic Smoking Device” means any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person in any manner for the purpose of inhaling vapor or aerosol from the product. The term includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookah, or vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor.
  2. “Hookah” means a water pipe and any associated products and devices which are used to produce fumes, smoke, and/or vapor from the burning of material including, but not limited to, tobacco, shisha, or other plant matter.
  3. “Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, 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 electronic smoking device 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 Article.
  4. ‘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 by inhalation; but does not include any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.

Transition Period

This policy is being announced thirty (30) days prior to its implementation. On-site smoking cessation programs maybe made available to assist and encourage individuals who wish to quit smoking. Questions and problems regarding this policy should be handled through existing departmental administrative channels and administrative procedures.

Compliance and Enforcement

The Universityholdsresponsibilitiesto:

  • Distribute copies of this policy to all faculty and staff and shall be included in the appropriate (student, faculty, and staff)handbooks.

  • Provide assistance to those who need help with smoking cessation via a referral to University Counseling Services for smoking cessation programs.

  • Create and nourish an atmosphere in which smoking is seen as a socially unacceptable and unhealthy habit.

Area vice presidents are responsible for enforcement through hierarchical delegates (assistant/associate vice presidents, associate/assistant deans,etc. within their respective units).

Students – Residential Hall Coordinators and Resident Assistantsare responsible for enforcing the policy in the residence halls and during residence hall activities. Continued violations by students may lead to suspension from the residence hall.

Faculty – Each department chairperson is responsible for enforcing the policy among the faculty members in his/her department.

Staff – Each manager/supervisor is responsible for enforcing the policy among his/her employees. Candidates for employment will be told, prior to hiring, of this policy and the expectation.

Public Safety – The Campus Police is responsible for enforcing the policy with visitors, students, staff, faculty, and vendors when appropriate. Courtesy and diplomacy must be used when enforcing this policy campus-wide.

Individuals found in violation of this policy will be fined $100.00 dollars for each violation. In addition to the mandatory fine, disciplinary action in accordance with general campus disciplinary procedures maybe invoked for multiple violations.

Communications

Notification of this policy shall be communicated to faculty, staff, and students and other constituents via means determined by the University. The policy shall also be posted on the Alcorn State University website. Announcements concerning the policy and any changes to it shall be communicated via means determined by the University. Compliance reminder signs (e.g.,”No Smoking”) shall be strategically posted at all University sites.

Concerns regarding student, faculty, staff, and visitor violations of this policy should be respectively referred to the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of Human Resources, and/or the University Police Department.

Approved May 21, 2018