WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

Pursuant to RCW 28B.30.150(1), the Washington State University (WSU) board of regents is granted authority to establish rules and regulations for tobacco use on property owned, operated, and/or maintained by the university.

Washington State University Vancouver acknowledges the findings of the United States Surgeon General that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard. The university further recognizes that the United States Environmental Protection Agency classifies environmental tobacco smoke as a class A carcinogen. In light of these health risks, and in support of a safe and healthy learning/working environment, WSU Vancouver establishes the restrictions in this section, WAC 504-37-010, and 504-37-030, otherwise collectively referred to as the WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy.

(1) Smoking or other tobacco usage is not permitted within the perimeter of WSU Vancouver property. Smoking materials must be extinguished and disposed of prior to entering WSU Vancouver property or exiting vehicles. Improper disposal, including spitting smokeless tobacco or discarding cigarette butts on the ground or out of a vehicle, is not permitted.

(2) The WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff or other persons using university facilities.

(3) The WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy is not intended to impede on institutional review board (IRB) research projects. IRB-approved research projects are exempt from this policy.

(4) Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms "tobacco products" and "premises" are defined as follows:

(a) Tobacco products. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah, all forms of smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, clove cigarettes and other alternative products made primarily with tobacco.

(b) Premises. All buildings, grounds, state-owned vehicles and equipment (motor pool, maintenance) including, but not limited to, parking lots, bus stops, county-owned and WSU-maintained streets or sidewalks, recreational fields and all open common areas within the WSU Vancouver campus.

(5) The sale and/or free distribution of tobacco products or tobacco-related merchandise is prohibited on university property.

(6) Sponsorship of campus events by tobacco-promoting organizations is prohibited.

(7) Advertisement of tobacco products at university events is prohibited regardless of sponsorship.

(8) Tobacco use on university property or improper disposal of smoking materials may result in disciplinary action. Employees may be subject to corrective or disciplinary action and students may be referred to the WSU Vancouver office of student conduct. Other violators may be trespassed from the WSU Vancouver campus and subject to other sanctions available to enforce the smoking and tobacco use policy.

(9) Signage: Signs declaring WSU Vancouver "tobacco-free" are to be posted at the campus entries and other conspicuous places.

(1) The enforcement of the smoking and tobacco use rules and regulations in this section, WAC 504-37-010 and 504-37-020 is the responsibility of campus public safety personnel with the assistance of all members of the WSU Vancouver community. Members of the WSU Vancouver community may notify public safety of repeat offenders and/or of disruptive behavior. The following WSU Vancouver persons and departments are responsible for ensuring that the WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy is communicated to employees, students, visitors and others in the WSU Vancouver community as indicated:

(a) Human resources regarding employees;

(b) Student affairs regarding students;

(c) Department leads regarding contractors and other visitors;

(d) Communications and scheduling offices for events with external visitors;

(e) Facilities operations for outside contractors and vendors working on campus;

(f) Public safety regarding campus visitors;

(g) Chancellor's office regarding partner institutions.

(2) Each of the above responsible persons and departments may establish procedures and protocols, consistent with each other and the WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy, designed to eliminate tobacco use from campus, increase compliance, and assist tobacco users in availing themselves of tobacco dependency treatment options.

(3) Any person who repeatedly violates the WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy may be asked to leave the premises and/or may be removed and subject to trespass admonition. Employees may be subject to corrective or disciplinary action and students may be subject to student conduct action. Public safety officers are authorized to control, and regulate facilities use as prescribed by this policy.

(4) Any person interfering with a university public safety officer in the discharge of the WSU Vancouver smoking and tobacco use policy may be in violation of WSU Vancouver policy and state law (RCW).