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AP 19-30a Tobacco and Smoke Free Campus

Arapahoe Community College
Series 19 - Safety and Security
AP 19-30a Tobacco and Smoke Free Campus

Originated: January 14, 2019

Effective: August 1, 2019

References: Colorado Executive Order B-2018-011; Colorado Medical Marijuana Code: C.R.S. 12-43.3-101 et. seq.; Colorado Clean Indoor Act of 2006, C.R.S. 25-14-202, et. seq.; Smoke Free; Drug Free Schools; ; CCCS BP 19-30 and CCCS System Procedure (SP) 19-30

Approved:

Diana M. Doyle, Ph.D.
President, Arapahoe Community College

PURPOSE

This Procedure contains pertinent information affecting employees, students, authorized volunteers, guests, and visitors, current through the date of its issuance. 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. 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.

Nothing in this Procedure is intended to create (nor shall be construed as creating) an express or implied contract or to guarantee employment for any term. The College reserves the right to modify, change, delete or add to this Procedure as it deems appropriate.

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.  ACC 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. ACC will also comply with the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act 2006 (C.R.S. 25-14-201 et. seq.), Smoke Free Colorado Law.

SCOPE

This procedure applies to all employees, students, authorized volunteers, guests, and visitors to the college property of Arapahoe Community College (ACC and/or College), to include all college owned and leased vehicles. 

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; (for cessation exceptions see page 4)
  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 all College-owned facilities, grounds and parking lots at any ACC campus/site or facilities leased, owned or rented by ACC. This includes, but is not limited to, all vehicles used by the College for campus services, transporting students, staff, visitors or other persons. 

Off-site Location(s)

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

PROCEDURE

Prohibitions

  • Smoking, vaping, all uses of tobacco, and the sale of tobacco are prohibited in all buildings and all grounds owned, leased, or controlled by ACC, including but not limited to, green space, courtyards, breezeways, terraces, stairways, and access ramps, outdoor plazas and patios, recreational facilities and fields, roadways, walkways, sidewalks, and pick-up and drop-off points for campus and public bus transportation.
  •  Smoking, vaping, and all forms of tobacco are prohibited in all vehicles owned, leased, or rented by ACC. 
  • In addition, the following activities are prohibited:
    • Advertising of tobacco, vaping, and related products in campus publications (except for non-ACC supported magazines and newspapers), on College property, at any College sponsored event, or as part of any College owned or sponsored media;
    • The distribution of samples and redeemable coupons for tobacco, vaping, and related products on College property and/or at a College related event.

Enforcement

The success of this procedure depends on the cooperation of tobacco product users and non-tobacco product users. The ACC Community shares the responsibility for enforcing the procedure.

  •  Leaders, managers, and supervisors are responsible for leading by example and respectfully communicating this procedure to employees, students, authorized volunteers, guests, and visitors.
  •  Anyone who observe individuals smoking, vaping, or using tobacco products on campus property are encouraged and empowered to respectfully explain that its use is prohibited. Concerns about smoking, vaping, or tobacco products should be respectfully addressed in the moment whenever feasible.
  • Concerns should be referred to the appropriate College personnel for review and action. 
    • For students, concerns should be referred to Dean of Students Office or the appropriate Campus Manager. 
    • For employees (including student employees) and authorized volunteers, concerns should be referred to the appropriate supervisor. 
    • For visitors or guests, issues should be referred to the Campus Police or appropriate Campus Manager.
  • Individuals found to be non-compliant will be subject to existing accountability measures.
    • For students, non-compliance will be referred to the Dean of Students Office. Students will be held accountable to the Student Code of Conduct, AP4-30a, per the Student Disciplinary Procedure, SP4-30.
    •  For employees, non-compliance will be referred to the employees’ supervisor and/or Human Resources. Employees will be held accountable utilizing the employee code of conduct, AP 3-150.
    • For visitors or guests, non-compliance will be referred to the Campus Police and may result in being asked to leave campus.
    • For contractors/subcontractors, non-compliance will be referred to the project manager responsible for monitoring performance of the applicable contract.
    • Ticket and Fines: The Arapahoe Community College Police Department retains the right to issue tickets for non-compliance. Additionally, ACC retains the right to issue fines in alignment with the student or employee codes of conduct.
  • ACC students and employees attending or holding classes at other off-site locations, such as a hospital 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

ACC is strongly committed to supporting individuals to become smoke and tobacco free; therefore:

  • Tobacco cessation programs and support will be made available to employees and students through the appropriate offices.  
  • For the purpose of cessation, FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products, such as patches, gum and lozenges, are permitted on College property.

Funding

  • ACC will not apply for or accept any funding from tobacco or tobacco product companies and/or affiliates.
  • ACC will seek opportunities to provide additional resources and education opportunities for the ACC community.

Tobacco and Smoke Free Signage 

  • Signage shall be posted in prominent places on College properties to notify all that smoking or other use of tobacco products is prohibited. 
  • Installation and maintenance of signage are the responsibility of the Facilities Department in consultation with the Marketing Department and Dean of Students Office.
  • Signage must be placed appropriately on entrances and exits of buildings and parking lots and on College owned and leased vehicles.
  • References to a tobacco and smoke free environment campus may be published in all employee and student handbooks, posted on bulletin boards, at staff meetings and at school sponsored events.
  • Areas that experience difficulties with tobacco product use may request supplemental signage from the Facilities Department.

Transitional Period

As ACC transitions to a tobacco and smoke free environment, August 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, will serve as a transitional period during which time faculty, staff, students, volunteers, guests, and visitors will be notified of this procedure and adequate signage will be posted.  Any non-compliance during the transitional period will result in a non-punitive warning.  Upon completion of the transitional period, the aforementioned enforcement mechanisms related to non-compliance will take full effect.

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

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

APPENDICES