Policy 4.5 - Tobacco-Free College Policy

Date: December 16, 2024

Supersedes:
NA

Purpose

SUNY Schenectady, as an educational institution, understands the responsibility in ensuring its employees, students and visitors are provided a safe and healthy working and learning environment. SUNY Schenectady recognizes the risks associated with the use of tobacco products, as research shows such tobacco use, including smoking and secondhand smoke, causes a significant health hazard. This policy outlines SUNY Schenectady’s goal in providing a safe and healthy college community by enforcing a tobacco free college.

Policy

SUNY Schenectady is committed to providing its employees, students and visitors with a safe and healthy environment. The College recognizes that the use of tobacco products on the College premises is detrimental to the health and safety of all. To that end, the use of tobacco products will not be permitted at any time on College grounds and facilities and in vehicles owned, leased or controlled by the College. This policy shall be implemented with an emphasis given towards positive methods of ensuring compliance whenever possible. The Tobacco-Free College Policy supports the resolution passed by the State University of New York Board of Trustees on June 12, 2012.

Definitions

  1. Tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, blunts, pipes, bidis, hookahs, chewing tobacco, dip, smokeless tobacco, snuff, vapors, electronic cigarettes (e-
    cigarettes) or any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products.
  2. Tobacco use includes smoking, chewing, dipping, vaporizing/vapor, or any other use of tobacco products.
  3. For purposes of this policy, College Premises includes any property in use by the College; property leased or owned (including all grounds, facilities, sidewalks immediately abutting College facilities and grounds, vehicles, parking lots); property used for official functions sponsored by the College; and property used by the College in the conduct of any of its courses.

Regulations

  1. Students, employees, visitors, volunteers, contractors or other persons performing services on behalf of the College shall not be permitted to use any tobacco product at any time while on college premises.
  2. The sale or free distribution of tobacco products or merchandise on College premises shall be prohibited.
  3. Tobacco advertisements shall be prohibited in college-run publications and on College premises.

Compliance

  1. It shall be the responsibility of all SUNY Schenectady employees and students to comply fully with the policy.
  2. Students who repeatedly violate this policy will be handled through the student disciplinary process.
  3. Employees who repeatedly violate this policy will be referred to their supervisor. Repeated violations by employees will be handled through the appropriate employee disciplinary process.
  4. Visitors, volunteers, contractors or other service providers who repeatedly violate this policy shall be asked to leave college premises.

Procedures

  1. Communication: Communication signage and other forms of communication will be posted in a manner and location that adequately notify students, employees, visitors, volunteers, contractors or other persons performing services on behalf of the College about this policy.
  2. Education: SUNY Schenectady will consult with appropriate health organizations and resources to identify and provide programs and opportunities for students and employees to gain a greater understanding of the health hazards of tobacco use.
  3. Cessation: SUNY Schenectady will consult with appropriate health organizations and resources to identify and provide programs and opportunities for students and employees to access support systems, programs, and services that encourage them to abstain from the use of tobacco products.