Tobacco Policy
Lincoln University Tobacco Policy
Policy Lincoln University strives to present a healthy, safe and clean campus environment for its students, employees, and visitors. For this reason, use of any tobacco product, including but not limited to cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes is prohibited on campus. The policy applies to all buildings on and off the main campus whether owned or leased by Lincoln University, university vehicles, open-air spaces, and common areas.
Purpose To ensure that all Lincoln University facilities and properties are tobacco‐free in an effort to provide Lincoln University’s faculty, staff, students and visitors with a healthy, respectful working and learning environment. This policy applies to all students, employees, including faculty and staff, visitors, vendors, and members of the President’s Cabinet/Board of Curators.
Rationale The prevalence of evidence and the trends reflected in that evidence all indicate that tobacco use, smoking and exposure to second‐hand tobacco smoke are significant health hazards. Under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines, secondhand smoke is a Group A carcinogen (cancer‐causing agent), known to cause heart disease, cancer, respiratory issues and irritation of the eyes and nose.
In keeping with Lincoln University’s desire to protect the health of its faculty, staff, students, visitors, other campus constituencies, and the public in general, it is Lincoln University’s policy to provide a tobacco‐free environment in all University facilities and outdoor areas.
Procedure Tobacco use is prohibited in all of Lincoln University’s facilities and outdoor areas.
Organizers of public events on campus are responsible for communicating this policy to attendees.
Responsibilities:
Faculty, staff and students have a joint responsibility to share in the enforcement of this policy. Individuals found in violation are to be reminded in a professional and courteous manner of the University policy. In the event a person is uncomfortable confronting another person about smoking violations, individuals may e-mail StudentHealth@lincolnu.edu to report violations; or they may notify the contact person in the individual buildings.
Enforcement:
Lincoln University reserves the right to initiate the progressive disciplinary process against any individual found to be in violation of this policy. Disciplinary actions will be as follows:
Faculty/Staff – First line defense will be education. For example, giving out resources and helping support the individual in making a healthy decision. Repeated offenses will be referred to the individual’s immediate supervisor in which a documented verbal warning will be given. If the behavior continues a written warning is given. The third violation will result in a fine of $50. If the fine is not paid within 60 days of issuance, it will be deducted directly from the employee’s check.
Students – First line defense will be education. For example, giving out resources and helping support the individual in making a healthy decision. Repeated offenses will be referred to the student conduct system in which the student will be given an assignment of doing research on the harms of tobacco use. If the behavior continues a student will be made to attend a mandatory training on tobacco (via webinar, internet training, etc). The third violation will result in a fine of $50. If the fine is not paid within 60 days of issuance, it will be applied directly to the student’s account. Please refer to student code of conduct.
Visitors - Visitors who violate the Tobacco Use Policy will be informed that Lincoln University is a tobacco‐free campus. Visitors who continue to violate the policy following a warning will be escorted off campus.
Definitions
Tobacco Use:
The act of using any tobacco product in any University facility or outdoor area, including, chewing tobacco, snus, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes (that involve the use of tobacco and tobacco products) and the act of smoking or carrying a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other smoking material or device.
University Facilities:
Any facility or property that is owned, leased, used or occupied by Lincoln University, including but not limited to: private offices, lounges, dining areas, recreational facilities, residence halls, storage area service shops, garages, tunnels, sidewalks, facilities operations areas, athletic facilities, all university vehicles (owned or leased), and personally owned and rented vehicles when used to transport Lincoln University faculty, staff, students, and/or guests on any University‐related business, academic or student life activities.
Outdoor Areas:
Any University outdoor area that is open to access by the public or campus community, including but not limited to parking lots, sidewalks, athletic fields, lawn areas and any University facility entrance or egress.
Visitor:
Individuals that are not classified as either a student, faculty or staff. This also includes but is not limited to vendors, service technicians, guests, etc.