Effective January 1, 2016, Volunteer State Community College is a tobacco and smoke free campus that prohibits the use of tobacco by all persons, including students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors, on any campus property. The use of tobacco products and electronic vaping devices (e-cigarettes) is prohibited in all college buildings, grounds, and any buildings owned, leased, or rented by Volunteer State Community College, as well as all state and privately owned vehicles. This includes vehicles owned by students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors. This policy is in effect 24 hours a day year-round and applies to all forms of tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, herbal chew products, and any other smokable substances, as well as smokeless electronic vapor cigarettes or similar devices and any other devices that use tobacco.
VSCC promotes a healthy, sanitary environment free from tobacco smoke and tobacco-related debris. The VSCC community acknowledges that long-term health hazards may exist for people who use tobacco products or who are subjected to second-hand smoke. The failure to address the use of tobacco products on campus constitutes a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, Non-Smokers Protection Act, and Tennessee law.
All members of the VSCC community must comply with this Tobacco and Smoke Free Campus Policy. Violations of the policy will be dealt with in a manner that is consistent with campus procedures. There shall be no reprisals against anyone reporting violations of this policy.
Enforcement Policy
- Campus Police will inform the applicable supervisor of any employee violations, Student Services for student violations, and Plant Operations of any contractor violations. Employee violations will be addressed using the employee discipline policy. Student violations will be addressed using student disciplinary procedures. Campus Police will inform visitors who violate the policy that they must adhere to the policy to remain on campus.
- Any violator of the policy who refuses to comply with the policy or becomes abusive toward any reporting and/or responsible party reporting the violation will be reported to Campus Police and dealt with according to campus policy and/or the applicable law.
VSCC Source: September 8, 1988, President; August 16, 2004, President’s Cabinet; January 15, 2009, President’s Cabinet; September 9, 2013, President’s Cabinet; February 5, 2016, President’s Cabinet
