5.31 Tobacco Free Campus

Purpose

To create healthy, clean, and safe learning and working environments for all students and employees and to comply with the intent of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities guidance, and other relevant legislation.

The U.S. Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that exposure to second-hand smoke and the use of tobacco and cannabis products are significant health hazards and may cause lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. The college is a tobacco-free environment.

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

Applicability

Effective July 1, 2011 (revised July 26, 2023), the use or sale of cannabis and tobacco (including smokeless tobacco or cannabinoids) is prohibited on college-owned, operated, or leased buildings, property, and vehicles.

Cessation Programs and Services

To support Riverland students and employees who wish to reduce and/or quit using tobacco products, a variety of tobacco cessation resources and services are available through Student Services and Human Resources offices.

Violations

In the event of a violation, the person is informed verbally of Riverland Community College’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. Should that person continue to violate the policy, a report is made to the appropriate office: for an employee, to the person’s supervisor; for a student, to the college student conduct officer; for a visitor, to the President’s Office or Safety Administrator.

Violations of this policy by employees are handled through the progressive disciplinary process as outlined in the employee’s bargaining unit contract.

Violations by students are handled through the progressive disciplinary process as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct policy.

Persistent offenders may be subject to additional sanctions per the Student Code of Conduct policy.

Policy Exceptions

1. All research, educational, and/or artistic purposes that involve the use of cannabis and tobacco on campus must be approved by the college president or 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 cultural practices, including those of American Indians 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 college president or designee.
3. Tobacco use inside private vehicles is permitted if users demonstrate respect for individuals and the environment. Cannabis use inside private vehicles is prohibited.

Scope

All employees and students.

Definitions

Smoking: The burning of any type of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, bidi, clove cigarette, electronic cigarette, or any other smoking equipment, whether filled with cannabis, tobacco, or any other type of smoking material.

Smokeless Tobacco Products: Smokeless or spit tobacco including, but not limited to, snuff, dip, chewing tobacco, snus, smokeless pouches, or other forms of loose-leaf tobacco in any form.

Tobacco: The leaves of the tobacco plant that have been dried and processed for people to roll up and smoke. Tobacco is the main ingredient in cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

Electronic delivery device: Any device containing or delivering nicotine, lobelia, or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or any other substance through inhalation of vapor from the product. Electronic delivery devices include any component part of a product, whether marketed or sold separately. Electronic delivery device does not include any product approved or certified 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 marketed and sold for such an approved purpose. (2014 Minnesota Session Laws, Ch. 291, Art. 6, Sec. 33.)

Cannabinoids: Every chemical substance, regardless of structure or origin, that joins the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain and has effects similar to those produced by the Cannabis sativa plant.

Does this policy have a procedure?

3.6 Student Code of Conduct Policy

Forms

• 3.6, 3.6.1 Student Code of Conduct Policy and Procedure
• MN State Statute 609.985 — Sale of Tobacco to Person under age 21
• Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA)

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Date Implemented:

5/4/2011; 9/11/2014; 9/21/23

Responsible Division / Author

Administration / Human Resource Director

Date Revised

10/9/2014; 3/8/2022 new template; Adhere to new MN law - Recreational use of cannabinoids;