Smoking Policy - Facilities Management Policy - 10140

The purpose of this policy is to provide a safe, healthy and clean work and academic environment, improve indoor and outdoor air quality, and promote the comfort of students, faculty, staff, and guests.

2.1 Smoking or inhaling any substance, by any method, including, but not limited to, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and aromatic smoking products, such as clove cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, or any other similar device(s) are prohibited:

• inside all College-owned and managed buildings and facilities;
• inside all College-owned, leased or rented vehicles;
• in non-designated College smoking areas; and
• within twenty-five feet (25 ft.) of all entries and exits at College-owned or managed buildings and facilities.

2.2 Prohibitions:

• All tobacco and smoking products will be disposed of appropriately; smoking receptacles must be used for all lighted tobacco residue.
• The sale or promotional distribution of tobacco products on all College-owned and managed buildings and facilities is explicitly prohibited.

2.3 Exceptions:

Smoking in a theatrical production that is required by the script or for character motivation shall be accomplished using non-tobacco substitute material. If a combustible product is used there must be prior approval pursuant to the College’s Open Flames Policy 10150. Audiences must be notified that there will be smoking on stage.

3.1 It is the responsibility of the college community to comply with this policy and to inform visitors and service providers about this policy. This policy remains in full force and effect even in the absence of signs prohibiting smoking. The policy applies to any and all faculty, staff, other employees, students, contractors, performers, and visitors. Employees should tactfully direct individuals to the appropriate designated smoking areas.

3.2 Smoking is allowed on College property only in identified, designated smoking areas. Receptacles for cigarette disposal will be placed in these designated areas for use by smokers.

3.3 Employee failure to abide by “no smoking” designations may result in disciplinary action, as determined by the appropriate standards of conduct: Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) Policy 1.60, Standards of Conduct for classified employees or Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Policy 3.12, Faculty Sanctions for faculty-ranked employees. Student failure to abide by “no smoking” designations may result in disciplinary action as determined by the Germanna Community College Student Conduct.

3.4 The College Police Department will be responsible for the enforcement of this policy by administrative or criminal action in accordance with state and federal laws.

4.1 Smoking: the burning, lighting or use of a tobacco product and any other smoking device or equipment, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), hookahs, marijuana and pipes.

4.2 E-cigarette: a powered delivery system by any method, including but not limited to a battery, such as an electronic cigarette, electronic vaping device, personal vaporizer (PV), or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) which simulates cigarette or tobacco smoking. Although e-cigarette aerosol delivers lower levels of many toxins than cigarette smoke, the aerosol still contains nicotine, ultrafine particles, other toxic chemicals, and carcinogens.

• Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act (15.2-2820 thru 15.2-2833 of the Code of Virginia)
• Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order 41 (2006) Banning Smoking in State

Offices and Vehicles

• Guidelines for Executive Order 41: Smoking Ban in State Offices and Vehicles
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62
• Virginia Code 18.2-371.2. Prohibiting purchase or possession of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products by minors or sale of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products to minors.
• California State University-Fullerton, Smoking Policy
• College of Charleston, Smoking Policy
• Berea College, Smoking Policy
• Longwood University, Smoking Policy

Chief of Police

President’s Council – February 20, 2015

College Council – February 27, 2015

College Board – March 19, 2015