Tobacco-Free Campus

WSU Tri-Cities Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Effective Date: August 22, 2016

Washington State University Tri-Cities acknowledges the findings of the United States Surgeon General that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard. The university further recognizes that the United States Environmental Protection Agency classifies environmental tobacco smoke as a class A carcinogen.

In light of these health risks, and in support of a safe and healthy learning/working environment, WSU Tri-Cities establishes the following Tobacco-Free Campus Policy, prohibiting the use, sale, or advertising of tobacco products in or on the Tri-Cities campus, including all leased properties occupied by WSU Tri-Cities.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, terms used herein are defined as follows:

Tobacco Products: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah, all forms of smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, clove cigarettes and other alternative products made primarily with tobacco.

Premises: All buildings, grounds, state-owned vehicles and equipment (motor pool, maintenance) including, but not limited to, parking lots, bus stops, all WSU-maintained streets or sidewalks, recreational fields, all open common areas within the WSU Tri-Cities campus, and the WSU-controlled portion of all properties leased by WSU Tri-Cities

Resources

WSU Tri-Cities is committed to assist employees, students, patients, visitors and others, regardless of institutional affiliation in the campus community who use tobacco. WSUTC may make available to such persons resources intended to assist persons who use tobacco.

Communication and Compliance

The following WSU Tri-Cities persons and departments are responsible for ensuring that the WSU Tri-Cities smoking and tobacco use policy is communicated to employees, students, visitors, and others in the WSU Tri-Cities community as indicated:

1. Human Resources regarding employees;
2. Student Services regarding students;
3. Department supervisors and leads regarding their visitors, guests, and contractors;
4. Communications and scheduling offices regarding their visitors, guests, and contractors;
5. Finance and Administration regarding outside contractors and vendors;
6. The Chancellor’s Office regarding partner institutions, its visitors, and guests;

The above departments are responsible for enforcement of the smoking and tobacco use rules with the assistance of all members of the WSU Tri-Cities community. Each department will establish procedures and protocols, consistent with each other and with this Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. Such procedures and protocols shall be designed to assist and encourage students and employees to participate in tobacco cessation programs, comply with this policy, and describe sanctions for repeat offenders.

Employees may be subject to corrective or disciplinary action and students may be subject to student conduct action.

Public safety officers are authorized to control and regulate facilities use as prescribed by this policy.

Sanctions

Efforts will be made to eliminate the need for sanctions by first informing employees, students and visitors of the policy before they arrive and by providing appropriate information and care while they are on WSU Tri-Cities premises. Any person who repeatedly violates the WSU Tri-Cities smoking and tobacco use policy may be asked to leave the premises and/or may be removed and subject to trespass admonition.  Employees may be subject to corrective or disciplinary action and other sanctions available to enforce this policy.

Signage

Signs declaring WSU Tri-Cities as “tobacco-free” shall be posted at the campus entries and other conspicuous places.

Disclosure of Policy and Information

All faculty and staff are encouraged to assist in the implementation and enforcement of this policy by making tobacco product users aware of the requirements of this policy. Employees, students and visitors will be advised of this policy in a manner determined by the above-described responsible persons.

Exemptions

This Tobacco-Free Campus Policy shall not apply to the following:

1. The use of FDA-approved nicotine replacement products, provided that those products deliver the nicotine dose directly to the user, without exposure to others. Examples of acceptable devices include skin patches, chewing gum, and lozenges.
2. IRB-approved research projects.
3. Any additional exemptions require the written approval of the Chancellor.

Download a PDF version of the policy

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are any of the WSU Campuses currently tobacco free?

All WSU campuses are tobacco-free as of August 22, 2016.

What does tobacco free mean?

No tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco (including chewing tobacco), pipes, e-cigarettes (including vaporizers) and any other lighted smoking equipment.

What is WSU’s current tobacco policy?

The current WSU policy is located here. E-cigarettes and vaporizers are considered the same as cigarettes under current policy.  Washington state law (RCW Chapter 70.160) also prohibits smoking in public places and places of employment.

Who does this policy affect?

The tobacco-free policy covers everyone who comes on campus—students, faculty, staff and visitors including vendors and contractors.

Where does the tobacco-free policy apply?

Smoking materials must be extinguished and disposed of prior to entering WSU Tri-Cities property or exiting your vehicle. Smoking is prohibited throughout all WSU Tri-Cities buildings, grounds, state-owned vehicles and equipment (motor pool, maintenance) including, but not limited to, parking lots, bus stops, county-owned and WSU-maintained streets or sidewalks, recreational fields and all open common areas within the WSU Tri-Cities campus and all leased properties.

Will the policy ban products intended to help me quit smoking?

The policy will not apply to FDA-approved tobacco cessation devices, such as nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges, provided that those products deliver the nicotine dose directly to the user, without exposure to others.

The policy will prohibit e-cigarettes and vaporizers, as none of these have been approved by the FDA.

Are there designated smoking areas on campus?

No. Offering smoking areas does not support the university’s goal of creating a healthy environment. Concentrating smoking to a limited area only increases the health-related risks to those in or near the designated areas and adds unnecessary cost and safety risk for all.

Isn’t tobacco use a personal, legal right?

There is no “right to smoke” under any federal, state or local law. The university owns its buildings and grounds and has the right and responsibility to enact policies to reduce injury and illness by eliminating hazards and unsafe acts and conditions from its premises. A tobacco-free policy is not an attempt to force individuals to change their lifestyle. Rather, the policy is intended to protect the greater campus community and the university’s interests. You are free to smoke or use tobacco products, but not while on WSU Tri-Cities premises.