TOBACCO FREE CAMPUS

Policy and Procedure (Effective: January 1, 2011)

1. The use of any tobacco product in any form (smoking or chewing) is prohibited effective January 1, 2011. This applies to all students, faculty, staff, contractors and visitors on all Nicholls State University properties including the main Nicholls campus, Chauvin Garden, BRI, Nicholls Farm, the Nicholls research facility in Fouchon, etc.
2. Definition: Tobacco is defined as all tobacco–derived or containing products, including, but not limited to, cigarettes (clove, bidis, kreteks), cigars and cigarillos, pipe, hookah-smoked products, and oral tobacco (spit and spitless also known as smokeless, dip, snus, chew, snuff, orbs, etc.), e-cigarettes, water pipes, and all non FDA approved nicotine products.
3. The use of tobacco products is prohibited at all times:
   1. In all interior space on Nicholls State University’s main campus and all satellite locations;
   2. On all outside property or grounds of Nicholls State University campus;
   3. In all Nicholls State University vehicles;
   4. In all indoor and outdoor athletic facilities; and
   5. In all personal vehicles while parked on Nicholls State University property.
4. All tobacco industry promotions, advertising, marketing, and distribution in any format are prohibited on campus properties and for campus activities as will direct funding from tobacco companies for such programs.
5. The sampling and/or sale of tobacco products and tobacco related merchandise (including logo containing items) is prohibited on all university property and at university and student organization/group sponsored events, regardless of the operating vendor.
6. Organizers and attendees at campus events such as, but not limited to, conferences, meetings, lectures, social events, cultural events and sporting events using Nicholls State University facilities will be required to abide by the tobacco-free policy and procedure. University offices responsible for reserving facilities shall be responsible for informing organizers of events. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating the policy to attendees and for enforcing this policy.
7. Littering the campus with remains of tobacco products or any other disposable product is prohibited.

Student Violators: Complaints about student violators of this policy should be brought to the attention of the Dean of Students,  University Police, or Environmental Health and Safety. All complaints received by  University Police, Environmental Health and Safety should be forwarded to the Dean of Students.  

Visitor Violators: Offices responsible for reserving facilities will establish procedures for enforcing policy when violations involve visitors who are participating in events associated with their office. Complaints about campus visitor violators should be brought to the attention of the office responsible for the event or University.

Sanctions: Sanctions for student violators will be addressed by the Dean of Students. Consequences of violating the policy represent a range of sanctions that could include but are not limited to verbal warning, written documentation/warning, and dismissal/expulsion proceedings for both employees and students. See below for more information about sanctions.

Students

1. Sanctions for student violators will be addressed by the Dean of Students. Sanctions will follow a progressive format for all reported violations.
   1. First Violation: 
      1. Violator(s) will receive a verbal warning through the Dean of Students, and may incur a $25.00 fine added to your account.
   2. Second Violation: 
      1. Violator(s) will be placed on disciplinary probation and may incur a $50.00 fine added to your account and
      2. Any other disciplinary action as per the Student Policy and Procedure Manual (students) to be determined by the Dean of Students.
   3. Third Violation: 
      1. The violator will be charged with violation of probation and appropriate actions will be pursued including applicable dismissal procedures, and may incur a $75.00 fine added to your account.

Note: The University reserves the right to consider mitigating factors that may influence the process to make it stricter or more lenient depending on the particular circumstances.

Visitors

Visitors found in violation of the policy will be requested to comply. Those who do not comply will be asked to leave campus. Repeat violators may also be banned from campus. See Appendix A for information regarding reporting visitor violations.