By Steve Nakata, Student Affairs
PULLMAN, Wash. – When Washington State University students return for fall semester, a new tobacco- and nicotine-free policy will go into effect during the first week of classes on Monday, Aug. 22.
Use of tobacco and nicotine for cessation programs and for research projects approved by the WSU institutional review board are exempt.
The WSU Board of Regents in October adopted Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-38 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=504-38), which prohibits students, faculty and staff from using tobacco and nicotine products on the Pullman campus.
Prohibited items include:
• Tobacco products: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, all forms of smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, clove cigarettes, chewing/dipping tobacco and any other alternative products made primarily with tobacco.
• Nicotine products: patches, gum, nasal spray, inhalers, lozenges and any other products containing nicotine.
Implementation of the WAC will focus on promoting tobacco and nicotine cessation programs for faculty, staff and students. Cessation programs and resources are available at Health & Wellness Services (https://hws.wsu.edu/medical-clinic/services/) and Human Resource Services (http://hrs.wsu.edu/QuitTobacco).
Adam Jussel, assistant dean of students and director for the Office of Student Conduct, said students suspected of violating the code can be referred to his office.
“Consistent with our philosophy of working with students, we plan to take an educational approach in addressing violations,” he said. “What we want is a healthy environment for our community and I believe educating rather than punishing individuals will help support such an environment.”
In 2014 the Associated Students of Washington State University held a public forum and voted to pass a referendum supporting a tobacco- and nicotine-free campus. President Elson S. Floyd created an advisory task force made up of students, faculty and staff.
They determined there are more than 1,500 smoke-free campuses nationally and more than 1,000 tobacco-free campuses. Surveys implemented by the Task Force showed a majority of the graduate/professional students and WSU employees support a tobacco- and nicotine-free campus.
Contacts:
Adam Jussel, WSU assistant dean of students, 509-335-4532, adam.jussel@wsu.edu
Steve Nakata, WSU Student Affairs communications, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu
