Use of Tobacco Products

Isothermal Community College exists to improve life through learning.  As an expression of this mission, The College is committed to providing its employees, students, and visitors with a safe and healthy environment.  Therefore, Isothermal Community College is tobacco-free effective January 1, 2019. This policy applies to all employees, students, contractors, vendors, and visitors.

The use of tobacco products is prohibited on the Isothermal Community College campus.  This includes all buildings, facilities, property owned or leased by the College, and campus grounds.  Smoking and tobacco use are also prohibited in vehicles owned, leased or rented by the College.  Tobacco use is permitted in personal vehicles only. 

The sale or free distribution of tobacco products, including merchandise, is prohibited on campus or at school events.

DEFINITION

For the purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined as any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to: any product containing, made, or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, or any component part or accessory of a tobacco product, including but not limited to cigarettes; cigars; little cigars; cheroots; stogies; periques; granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff; snuff flour; Cavendish; plug and twist tobacco; fine-cut and other chewing tobacco; shorts; refuse scraps, clippings, cutting and sweepings of tobacco; e-cigarettes; pipes; vaporizers; and other kinds and forms of tobacco.  A tobacco product excludes any product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product, as a tobacco dependence product, or for other medical purposes, and is being marketed and sold solely for such an approved purpose.

COMPLIANCE

Violations of the policy shall be handled as indicated below:

• Curriculum and continuing education students who repeatedly violate the policy will be issued a conduct violation through the college’s Curriculum Code of Conduct (Refer to Student Rights, Responsibilities and Judicial Procedures 601-02-00BP).
• Adult high school and high school equivalency students who repeatedly violate the policy will be issued a conduct violation through the College and Career Readiness Code of Conduct. 
• Employees who repeatedly violate the policy shall be referred to their supervisor and such actions may result in further personnel action such as reprimand (Refer to Employee Demotion, Dismissal, Probation and Non-Renewal 301-02-00BP).
• Visitors who repeatedly violate the policy may be asked to leave campus.

For the purposes of this policy, repeated student violations are defined as 3 incidents.

• First incident will be issued a verbal warning.
• Second incident will be issued a written warning.
• Third incident will be issued a formal violation of the respective Code of Conduct.
• Staff/Faculty must document each incident by completing an incident report form on the employee intranet. 

COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT

The College will provide appropriate signage and other notices of this policy to the campus and surrounding community.  Information on available tobacco cessation programs for those who request assistance in ceasing the use of tobacco products can be attained by contacting the Advising and Success Center.

Policy Number: 802-02-01BP

Adopted: April 1965

Amended: May 1984; November 1986; November 1987; November 1989; May 11, 1993; July 1993; August 2005; July 20, 2006; August 19, 2008, September 26, 2017, September 25, 2018