Policy on Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus

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Policy Category: Executive

Effective Date: 05/31/2023

Responsible Officer: Chief of Police

History: The Student Code of Conduct (Subsection 15)

Responsible Office: Wentworth Institute of Technology Police Department

Location: Link

Purpose

This policy is intended to help ensure a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment at Wentworth Institute of Technology (university) by eliminating the health and safety risks associated with tobacco products.

Scope/Availability

This policy applies to all persons, including all students, faculty, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors and visitors, anywhere on university property and in university vehicles, buildings and facilities on all campuses, including parking lots, green spaces, and pedestrian walkways.

Legal

Policy

The use of tobacco or smoking-related products is prohibited in all buildings, grounds, and vehicles owned or leased by Wentworth Institute of Technology, regardless of location.

No tobacco or smoking-related products or paraphernalia shall be used, sold, or distributed as samples in any campus buildings, grounds, or vehicles owned or leased by the university, regardless of location, including vending machines.

Definitions

Tobacco and smoking-related products

Any type of tobacco or smoking-related products intended to mimic tobacco products or the smoking or vaping of any other substance. This includes, but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco, electronic smoking devices (e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookahs) pipes, vaping pens, bidis, hookahs, chewing tobacco and snuff. This does not include cessation tools such as nicotine gum or patches.

Grounds

All university land, roadways, parking lots and other parking structures, athletic and recreational facilities, or any other outdoor area controlled by the university; as well as the interior of any vehicle located anywhere on the property of the university.

University Vehicle

Any vehicle that is owned, leased, or rented and used for transportation for university business and includes the driver and all passengers.

Procedure(s)

Expectations

It is the responsibility of all members of the community to comply with this policy, and it is expected that both smokers and nonsmokers will cooperate in the implementation of the policy in an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration.

All members of the university community are encouraged, if comfortable, to promote compliance with this policy by reminding students, faculty, staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors and visitors of the prohibition of use of tobacco and smoking-related products at Wentworth Institute of Technology, as necessary.

Exclusions

  • This policy does not apply to any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
  • The use of smoking products may be permitted with prior approval by the university for research, educational, clinical, or religious ceremonial purposes.

Sanctions

Violations of this policy may be grounds for referral for university disciplinary action.

  1. Faculty and staff in violation of this policy may be reported to the individual’s supervisor, if known, or Human Resources.
  2. Students in violation of this policy may be reported to the Dean of Students.
  3. Contractors/Vendors in violation may be reported to Wentworth Police Department.
  4. Violations by visitors may be reported to the office hosting the visitor, if known.

Additional Information & Related Documents

Interpretation & Revision

Any questions of interpretation regarding this policy shall be referred to the Wentworth Police Department. They will be the final authority regarding the interpretation of this policy.

This policy shall be reviewed every three (3) years, however minor changes and updates can be made at any time.

Wentworth will typically apply the policy in place at the time it receives a report concerning the respected policy.

Additionally, in instances where two or more policies are implicated, a case-by-case determination will be made to determine what policy will be used.

Review and Revision History

This policy was drafted by Representatives from the Wentworth Police Department, Dean of Students Office, and Human Resources. It was reviewed by Cabinet and approved by the President on May 31, 2023 and updated on 7/31/2024.

This is a new university policy, but replaces other existing guidance documents regarding this issue.