Student Handbook

3.26 Tobacco Use

Smoke-Free Campus
Effective Date: August 1, 2009; Revised August 1, 2020

NJC TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS

Introduction

The purpose of this procedure, Tobacco-and Smoke-Free Campus, is to create and maintain a healthy environment for the well-being of faculty, staff, students, volunteers, guests, and visitors for whom this Procedure contains pertinent information.  Northeastern Junior College (“NJC” or “College”) will comply with banning tobacco products and smoking in state-owned property and limit the use of tobacco products, vaping products and e-cigarettes by youth. NJC will also comply with the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act 2006 (C.R.S. 25-14-201 et. seq.), Smoke Free Colorado Law.

To the extent that any provision of this procedure is inconsistent with State or Federal law, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Policies (BPs) or Colorado Community College System President’s Procedures (SPs), the law, BPs and SPs shall supersede and control. BPs and SPs are subject to change throughout the year and are effective immediately upon adoption by the Board or System President, respectively. Employees, faculty, and students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the BPs, SPs as well as College directives, including but not limited to this procedure.

Scope

This procedure  applies to all employees, students, volunteers, guests, contractors, and visitors at NJC.

Definitions

Smoking:

  1. Setting alight or vaporizing any tobacco product or other substance for the purpose of inhalation or introduction into the mouth (including, but not limited to, cloves, herbs, synthetic substances, and marijuana products);
  2. Carrying in one’s hand or mouth, or placing into an ashtray or other receptacle a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or any other lighted or electronic smoking equipment, and allowing smoke or vapor to diffuse into the air;
  3. Inhaling or exhaling smoke or vapor from a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, electronic smoking or vaping equipment.

Tobacco Product(s):

  1. Any product containing, made, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff, but not including cessation exceptions outlined in this procedure);
  2. Any electronic smoking device;
  3. Notwithstanding any provision of subsections (1) and (2) above to the contrary, “tobacco product” includes any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately.

Electronic smoking device:

Any device that when activated emits a vapor, aerosol, or smoke or can be used to deliver nicotine or any other substance to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens, e-hookahs, inhalant delivery systems, or any other similar product by any other name or descriptor. An electronic smoking device includes any component, part or accessory of such device whether or not sold separately, regardless of nicotine content or any other substance intended to be vaporized or aerosolized for human inhalation during the use of the device.

College property: 

Includes but is not limited to NJC-owned or leased facilities, buildings, grounds, parking lots, airspace, College owned or leased vehicles, athletic fields, lawns, and any other outdoor area under control of the college.

Off-site location(s):

Locations not owned or leased by NJC where classes or events are held and/or sponsored by NJC.

PROHIBITIONS

  1. Smoking, vaping, all uses of tobacco, and the sale of tobacco are prohibited in all buildings and all grounds owned, leased, or controlled by NJC, including but not limited to
    1. All enclosed college campus areas designated as places of employment, work areas, private offices, conference and meeting rooms, classrooms, lounges and cafeterias, hallways, restrooms, elevators, stairs, stairwells, residence hall rooms, and all other enclosed spaces and buildings;
    2. All outdoor college campus areas, green space, courtyards, breezeways, terraces, and access ramps, outdoor plazas and patios, recreational facilities and fields, roadways, walkways, and sidewalks;
    3. Outdoor practice and competition equine arenas, college-owned and leased equine stables, NJC agricultural properties.
  2. Smoking, vaping, and all forms of tobacco are prohibited in all vehicles owned, leased, or rented by NJC. 
  3. Advertising of tobacco, vaping, and related products in campus publications (except for non-NJC supported magazines and newspapers), on College property, at any College sponsored event, or as part of any College owned or sponsored media is prohibited.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROCEDURE

The success of implementing this procedure at NJC depends on the cooperation of tobacco product users and non-tobacco product users. The NJC community shares the responsibility for enforcing the procedure as follows:

  1. Leaders, managers, and supervisors are responsible for leading by example and can respectfully communicate this procedure to employees, students, authorized volunteers, guests, and visitors.
  2. Concerns can be referred to the appropriate NJC personnel for review and action.
  3. Employees and students found to be non-compliant will be subject to corrective or disciplinary action for violations.  Others may be asked to leave campus.
  4. NJC students and employees attending or holding classes or events at other off-site locations, such as a hospital, internship site, athletic complex or other facilities, must adhere to all rules and regulations regarding smoking and use of tobacco products set forth by the off-site location or facility.

CESSATION

NJC will assist with compliance by providing smoking cessation resource information and materials to assist staff and students in overcoming their reliance on and addiction to nicotine. For the purpose of cessation, FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products, such as patches, gum and cough drops/lozenges, are permitted on NJC property.

TOBACCO AND SMOKE FREE SIGNAGE

  1. Signage shall be posted in prominent places on NJC property to notify all that smoking or other use of tobacco products is prohibited.
  2. Signage should be placed appropriately at entrances and exits of buildings, parking lots and on NJC owned and leased vehicles.
  3. References to a tobacco and smoke-free environment may be published in all employee and student handbooks, posted on bulletin boards, at staff meetings and at college sponsored events.
  4. Installation and maintenance of signage are the responsibility of the Facilities Department in consultation with the Marketing Department and Dean of Students Office.

EXEMPTIONS FROM THIS PROCEDURE

Possession of unlit tobacco products, tobacco products as a prop in performance art or a material in artistic work, or in health awareness related courses, programs or training sessions, or as otherwise approved by the President.

REVISING THIS PROCEDURE

NJC reserves the right to change any provision or requirement of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately