É«ÖÐÉ«

Policy Statement

É«ÖÐÉ« is committed to creating a clean, safe and healthy learning and working environment for all students and employees.

Purpose/Authority

As of July 1, 2010, smoking to include E-cigarettes, tobacco use, tobacco sales (including the use or sales of smokeless tobacco products) and cannabis are prohibited on college owned, operated, or leased property.

Scope/Applicability

The success of this policy will depend upon the cooperation of all faculty, staff, students to comply with this policy, and to encourage others to comply with the policy, in order to promote a clean, safe, and healthy environment in which to work, study, and live.

Definitions

Smoking: is defined as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe, cannabis, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or other product intended for inhalation, in any manner or in any form. Smoking also includes the use of an e-cigarette which creates a vapor, in any manner or any form, or the use of any oral device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking in this Policy.

Smokeless Tobacco Products: Smokeless tobacco including, but not limited to: snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, or other forms of loose leaf tobacco.

E-cigarette: means any electronic oral device, such as one composed of a heating element, battery, and/or electronic circuit, which provides a vapor of nicotine or any other substances for inhalation. The term shall include any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, or under any other product name or descriptor, but does not include any product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in medical treatment, such as an asthma inhaler.

Cannabis: É«ÖÐÉ« Employees are expected to adhere and comply with this policy, even though the Minnesota cannabis law allows Minnesotans to use, distribute and grow marijuana, the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, including the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1989, and Board Policy 5.18. Therefore, the use, possession, production, manufacture, sell and/or distribution of marijuana continues to be prohibited within and outside É«ÖÐÉ« buildings, including the College’s owned or controlled property, or at any event authorized or controlled by the College or an entity doing business with the College.  

Major Sections

Cessation Programs and Services

To support É«ÖÐÉ« students and employees who wish to reduce and/or quit using tobacco products, a variety of tobacco cessation resources and services are available through the Human Resources Office.

Violations

Violations of this policy by employees will be handled through the progressive disciplinary process as outlined in the employee's bargaining unit contract.
Violations of this policy by students will be handled through the Student Code of Conduct process as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Policy Exceptions

1. All research, educational, and/or artistic purposes that involve the use of tobacco on campus, must be approved by the President or his/her designee. Such use must be preceded by reasonable advance notice to the public.
2. This policy does not apply to specific activities when tobacco is used in connection with the practice of cultural activities including those of American Indians that are in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 1996 and 1996a. All ceremonial use exceptions must be approved in advance by the President of the College or his/her designee.
3. Use under this policy inside private vehicles is permitted.

Date of Last Review: 11/30/2023