Washington State University
Environmental Health & Safety WSU Pullman is Tobacco and Nicotine Free

 

WSU Pullman is Tobacco and Nicotine Free

On August 22, 2016 the WSU Pullman campus, and all other WSU facilities in Whitman County became a tobacco and nicotine free campus with a focus on the promotion of tobacco and nicotine cessation programs for students, faculty, and staff.

Cessation programs and resources are available at Cougar Health Services and Human Resource Services.

At their October 2015 meeting, the Washington State University Board of Regents adopted Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-38.  Based on this WAC, the WSU Safety Policies and Procedures Manual (SPPM) section 6.10 was updated.

The updated policy restricts the use of tobacco and nicotine products at WSU Pullman, and applies to all students, faculty, staff, visitors, contractors, and other persons.  Smoking and nicotine products must be secured, extinguished, or disposed of prior to entering WSU Pullman property or exiting private vehicles.

FDA approved cessation products used in cessation programs such as patches, gum, nasal spray, inhalers, lozenges, and any other products containing nicotine used for research approved by the WSU Institutional Review Board, are allowed.  The following tobacco and nicotine products are prohibited: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, all forms of smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, clove cigarettes, and any other alternative products made primarily with tobacco or nicotine.
Improper disposal, including, spitting smokeless tobacco or discarding cigarette butts on the ground or out of a vehicle is also not permitted.

Background

In the Spring of 2014, the ASWSU held a public forum, and voted to pass a referendum supporting a tobacco and nicotine free campus. President Elson S. Floyd then created a WSU Tobacco Free Advisory Task Force made up of students, faculty, and staff who researched how many other universities nationwide were tobacco-free. The Task Force determined there were more than 1,500 smoke-free campuses and more than 1,000 tobacco-free campuses. In addition to the undergraduate student referendum, surverys showed a majority of the graduate/professional students and employees wanted a tobacco and nicotine free WSU Pullman campus.

WSU Tri-Cities also became a tobacco free campus on August 22, 2016.  WSU Vancouver and WSU Spokane are tobacco free campuses.

Other Resources

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your representative on the Tobacco Free Advisory Task Force.

Tobacco and Nicotine Use Safety Policies and Procedures Manual (SPPM) 6.10.