6.6 Tobacco Use and Sale Policy

Related Minnesota State Board Policy:

Related Minnesota State Board Procedure:

Purpose: Normandale Community College is committed to creating a clean, safe, and healthy learning and working environment; and recognizes its responsibility to promote the health, welfare and safety for students, staff and others on college property. We continually strive to strengthen and improve the positive impact we have on our students and community: transforming their lives, as well as our own, through our work, therefore Normandale Community College adopts the following Tobacco Use and Sale Policy.

Part 1: Policy

Smoking, tobacco use, and tobacco sales (including the use or sale of smokeless tobacco products and other products that simulate smoking or tobacco use, such as electronic cigarettes) are prohibited on college owned, operated, or leased property including in college vehicles.

This policy applies to all persons on college property.
Organizers and attendees at public events, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social events, cultural events, and athletic events using the Normandale Community College facilities will be required to abide by the Tobacco Use and Sale Policy. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating this policy to attendees and for enforcing this policy.
To the extent possible, Normandale Community College will provide access to cessation programs to assist students and employees who presently use tobacco products.

Part 2: Definitions

Tobacco Use. Tobacco use is defined to include burning or the act of smoking any cigarette, pipe, cigar, cigarillo, or other smoking equipment (whether filled with tobacco or any other type of materials) or the use of smokeless tobacco (snuff, dip, chew, smokeless pouches, or other forms of loose-leaf tobacco), and any other tobacco product in any form. The definition also encompasses products that simulate smoking or tobacco use, including electronic or e-cigarettes.
Facility/Grounds. Any building or structure, athletic playing field, playground, parking lot or any other outdoor property owned, leased or contracted by Normandale Community College; vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by Normandale Community College.

Part 3: Enforcement

Enforcement will begin with notifying the campus community of the tobacco policy. Compliance and enforcement of this policy will depend on the cooperation of all students, staff, faculty and visitors to promote a clean, safe, healthy environment. Normandale Community College will enforce the policy to its fullest extent, which may include, but is not limited to, disciplinary actions and/or sanctions.

Administrative citation ($25) issued to offender by Public Safety.
Employees may be handled through the progressive disciplinary process as outlined in the employee’s bargaining unit contract.
Student offenders may be subject to additional sanctions per the Student Conduct Code.
Individuals not subject to employee and/or student sanctions may be issued a citation and/or Trespass from college property.

Part 4: Exceptions

Tobacco use in private vehicles is permitted.
Tobacco use or products for instructional purposes in laboratory and classroom instruction/experiments, or artistic purposes is permitted, but 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, and such use must be preceded by reasonable advance notice to the public.
This policy does not apply to specific activities 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.

Part 5: Cessation Programs and Services

To support Normandale Community College 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 Life, the Human Resources Office and GPS LifePlan www.gpslifeplan.org (see the Personal Plan).

Policy History:

Date of Adoption: In existence prior to 2012

Department / Owner: Facilities

Date and Subject of Revisions:

08/03/2014 added e-cigarettes as mandated by state law

08/01/2019 updated MnSCU to Minnesota State

Next Review Date: