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The Bulldog - For the SWOSU Family

Tobacco Policy

Southwestern Oklahoma State University Tobacco, Smoke and Vape-free Policy

Introduction

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) cares about the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff and strives to create an environment that supports and encourages healthy living. SWOSU supports the surgeon general’s report on use of tobacco products as a major cause of preventable death. Tobacco use research documents the health problems of those who engage in the practice of tobacco use and those who are subjected to an environment where smoke is present. We recognize that we can help improve the physical and mental health and wellness of our employees, students, and members of the community, by implementing and promoting tobacco, smoke and vape-free policies.

Definitions

The definitions for Tobacco Product and Vapor Product are per Oklahoma statutes. For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

Campus Property includes all real and personal property that is owned, leased, rented, or maintained by SWOSU, regardless of geographic location. This includes, but is not limited to, buildings, grounds, sidewalks, roadways, parking lots, facilities, and all SWOSU-owned or -leased vehicles, whether in motion or parked. SWOSU Property also includes any property temporarily under the control of SWOSU for official events or activities, and private vehicles parked on campus property.

Faculty and Staff include, but is not limited to, all employees of SWOSU in any capacity whether in a paid or unpaid (volunteer) status.

Smoking means lighting tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, or other products for consumption.

Student includes, but is not limited to, all students enrolled in SWOSU classes and/or classes held on campus.

Tobacco Product includes all forms of tobacco, and is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, chewing tobacco, snuff, and all other kinds and forms of tobacco, or non-tobacco, prepared in such a manner to be suitable for spit tobacco use, smoking, or both. This term also includes herbal tobacco products and simulated tobacco products that imitate or mimic tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, vapor cigarettes, pipe or other types of inhalation devices.

Tobacco, Smoke, and Vape-Free Location means the use of tobacco in any form is prohibited, and the use of tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, or other products consumed in a smoked or vaporized manner is prohibited.

Vaping includes using a device to heat, aerosolize, or vaporize tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, or other products for consumption.

Vapor Product means any noncombustible product that may or may not contain nicotine that employs a mechanical heating element, battery, electronic circuit, or other mechanism, regardless of shape or size, which can be used to produce a vapor in a solution or other form. Vapor Product shall include any vapor cartridge or other container with or without nicotine or other form that is intended to be used with an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device and any vapor cartridge or other container of a solution, that may or may not contain nicotine, that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, or electronic device.

Visitor includes, but is not limited to, guests, spectators, contractors, vendors, volunteers and anyone else providing any type of product or service to the university.

Applicability

Unless otherwise specified, this policy applies at all times to every student, faculty, staff, visitor, vendor, and any other person present on campus property or at a campus-sponsored meeting or event.

We are committed to ensuring that our campus is a tobacco, smoke, and vape-free environment at all times; that means:

  • The use, sale, or distribution of all forms of tobacco products and/or vapor products, is prohibited
  • Tobacco use is prohibited in parked and moving vehicles while on grounds owned or under the control of on campus property.
  • The campus will not accept any sponsorship from a tobacco or vapor company and will not allow tobacco or vapor advertising or promotion on campus property and if applicable, at any off-site campus-sponsored meeting or event.
  • No one (including students, faculty, and staff) is allowed to smoke, vape, or use tobacco products at any off-site campus-sponsored meetings or events.
  • No one is allowed to smoke, vape, or use tobacco products in campus-owned or leased vehicles.

Tobacco Cessation Support

SWOSU provides services to students, faculty, and staff who wish to participate with tobacco use cessation programs through the use of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (1-800-QUIT-NOW or OKHelpline.com). In addition, SWOSU should make available appropriate educational materials and possible activities concerning the harmful health consequences of tobacco use.

  • BCBSOK has a Tobacco Cessation program available to help employees quit smoking. This program provides personal coaching, online tools, an audio health library, and discounts on wellness related products and services.
  • SWOSU offers smoking cessation and coping programs to students and employees and encourages them to participate. For more information, please contact the Center for Health & Well-being at 580-774-3776.
  • Free cessation counseling is also offered by the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
  • All Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cessation aids.
  • Employees are provided access to the University's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Voluntary participation in or supervisory referrals to the Employee Assistance Program are on a confidential basis.
  • SWOSU shall make available methods of communication regarding tobacco use, prevention efforts on campuses related to policy, prevention and cessations to:
    1. current and prospective students and employees through its website and annual student and employee handbooks (including employee insurance information)
    2. new students at the time of orientation
  • Contractors conducting business on SWOSU property are subject to the tobacco free policy the same as anyone else on state property.

Implementation and Enforcement

Compliance with this policy is shared responsibility of all students, faculty and staff. Violations of this policy shall be addressed as follows:

  • All students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the tobacco, smoke, and vape-free property will be notified of the policy by posting, at minimum, tobacco-free signs on campus property.
  • A copy of this policy shall be included in campus handbooks, faculty and staff training materials, and student orientation materials. Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this policy. Compliance with this policy is mandatory.

Any violation of this policy will be addressed in accordance with the campus’ standard procedures.

  • The designated office director or designee will inform students, faculty, staff or visitor of the tobacco-free campus policy.
  • The designated office director or designee will inform this policy is a cooperative effort encouraged by all students, faculty and staff.
    • SWOSU Students Residing in SWOSU Housing reported for violating this policy should be directed to and handled by Residence Life & Housing. If the violation merits such action, the complaint may be escalated to the Dean of Students.
    • All Other SWOSU Students reported for violating this policy shall be directed to and handled by the Dean of Students.
    • Faculty shall be directed to and handled by Academic Affairs.
    • Staff shall be directed to and handled by Human Resources.
    • Visitors shall be directed to and handled by Campus Police. The visitor may be asked to leave the campus for failure to comply.

For faculty, staff and visitors, when discipline is necessary, steps may include but not be limited to verbal warning, written warning, suspension and/or termination. This does not prevent SWOSU from pursuing other corrective discipline deemed appropriate.