5.33 Tobacco Use and Sale Policy

Policy Information

PDF Version

Number: 5.33

Name: Tobacco Use and Sale Policy

Effective Date: 26 May 2021

Next Review Date: AY 2025–2026

Regulatory Authority:

• Minn. Stat. §§144.411 to 144.417 (2013) – Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act

Part 1. Philosophy

North Hennepin Community College is committed to creating a clean, safe, and healthy learning and working environment; and recognizes its responsibility to promote the health, welfare and safety for students, employees, and others on college property.

Part 2. Policy Statement

With the exception of designated outdoor areas, North Hennepin Community College is a tobacco free campus and prohibits the use of any smoking and tobacco related products on NHCC campus property. “Tobacco Use” includes use of lighted and electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or any other lighted smoking materials, chew and snuff. This definition does not include smoking cessation products. The sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products is prohibited on all college facilities and grounds, both physical and virtual. All students, employees, and guests are required to abide by this policy and its corresponding procedure 5.33.1.

Exceptions will be made in accordance with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, MS 144.4167, which allows tobacco use in traditional Native American ceremonies, scientific studies, and theatrical productions.

Part 3. Definitions

Subpart A. Smoking

Defined as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or other product intended for inhalation, in any manner or in any form. Smoking also includes the use of an e-cigarette which creates a vapor, in any manner or any form, or the use of any oral device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking in this Policy.

Subpart B. Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco consists of the use of snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, or other forms of loose leaf tobacco.

Subpart C. E-Cigarette

Any electronic oral device, such as one composed of a heating element, battery, and/or electronic circuit, which provides a vapor of nicotine or any other substances for inhalation. The term shall include any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, or under any other product name or descriptor, but does not include any product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in medical treatment, such as an asthma inhaler.

Subpart D. Facilities/Grounds

Any building or structure, athletic playing field, parking lot, or any other outdoor property owned, leased or contracted by North Hennepin Community College. Any vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by North Hennepin Community College.

Part 4. Campus Review

History

• Rewritten to replace previous policy in place since 1999.
• Rejected and submitted for second review Fall 2019
• Reviewed Spring 2020. Not passed by Student Senate, to be reviewed Spring 2021—they desire designated smoking areas in the far reaches of the parking lot; concerns about inequity of allowing students to smoke in their cars.
• Reviewed Spring 2021 to allow smoking in designated outdoor areas only. Approved 26 May 2021 by President Rolando Garcia.