A cornerstone of the California State University and higher education is the principle of one's individual freedom to learn, teach, work, think and take part in their intellectual and career endeavors in a fulfilling, rewarding, safe and healthy environment.
For decades, the health hazards of tobacco and second-hand smoke to individuals have been well studied and chronicled.
Further, studies have clearly demonstrated the acute health benefits, medical costs savings, and organizational costs savings when individuals quit smoking.
Thus, in order to provide the California State University's faculty, staff, students, guests and the public with campuses that support the principle of one's individual freedom to learn, teach, work, think and take part in their intellectual endeavors in a fulfilling, rewarding, safe and healthy environment, the creation and implementation of a "smoke and tobacco free" policy systemwide is necessary and welcome. (EO 1108, April 7, 2017) Policy on Systemwide Smoke and Tobacco Free Environment
Smoke Free: "Smoke Free" means the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars and other "smoke" emanating products including e-cigarettes, vapor devices and other like products are prohibited on all University properties.
Smoke or Smoking: "Smoke" or "Smoking" means inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, cigarillo, pipe, hookah or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. "Smoke" or "Smoking" also includes the use of an electronic smoking device that creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking.
Tobacco Product:
- A product containing, made or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco and snuff.
- An electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe or hookah.
- Any component, part, accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately.
- "Tobacco product" does not include a product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product or for other therapeutic purposes where the product is market and sold solely for such an approved purpose.
Tobacco Free: "Tobacco Free" means the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuffs and other tobacco products are prohibited on all University properties.
The policy applies to every person who comes to the Stanislaus State campus, including students, visitors, faculty, staff, volunteers, alumni, vendors, contractors and service representatives. The new smoke- and tobacco-free campus policy applies to all University spaces indoor and outdoor, including parking lots and residential facilities. The new policy also applies to Stanislaus State facilities, whether owned or leased.
A Healthy Campus campaign has been implemented to provide information, guidance and resources to the campus community regarding the consequences of smoking, secondhand smoking and use of tobacco products. The campaign will also provide smoking cessation products and resources through Stanislaus State Student Health Center and employee health care providers.
University Properties: These include the interior and exterior campus areas of any California State University campus. This definition includes buildings (including residence halls),structures (including parking structures), parking lots, and outdoor areas owned, leased or rented by the University or one of its auxiliaries. Also included are vehicles owned, leased or rented by the University or one of the University's auxiliaries. Private vehicles on University-owned, leased or rented land or in University-owned, leased or rented parking structures will also be subject to compliance with Executive Order 1108.
Designated smoking areas have many disadvantages. A study from Stanford University found that in outdoor designated areas with multiple smokers, levels of toxic air contaminants from secondhand smoke may be the same or higher than indoors, therefore, creating a hazardous environment to individuals standing in or around these areas. Additionally, secondhand smoke is proven to travel outside of designated areas; distance depends on wind strength and direction. Designated areas have also been found to encourage tobacco use by creating a social environment for daily and non-daily tobacco users. By increasing the number of individuals smoking in one area, students are more likely to believe that more people smoke than actually do. This misperception affects the norm of smoking on campus and may also contribute to increased tobacco use. Finally, designated areas are often heavily littered and smell of toxic tobacco waste. To date, more than 600 colleges throughout the United States have successfully adopted 100 percent smoke-free policies.
Yes. EO 1108 III. POLICY TEXT, Tobacco Product: provides exception to (i) university-sponsored theater and dance productions, student-authored or sponsored scenes, showcases or workshops produced as part of the department of theater as well as ceremonial campus events may be authorized by the President or designee only when a required part of a specific performance. This includes smoking and/or tobacco use for traditional ceremonial activities of recognized cultural and/or religious groups. (ii) The use of nicotine cessation products regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treating nicotine or tobacco dependencies is permitted under the terms of this executive order. (iii) Institutional Review Board approved research on tobacco or tobacco-related products.
No. Stanislaus State acknowledges that the use of tobacco products is a personal choice. However, the use of tobacco does not fit with the culture of health and wellness Stanislaus State encourages. Though some may choose to use tobacco products off campus, by not smoking on University property Stanislaus State can better protect those who choose not to smoke from the effects of secondhand smoke, as well as help those who are trying to quit tobacco.
Compliance is grounded in an informed and educated campus community. The success of this policy depends on the thoughtfulness, civility and cooperation of all members of the campus community, including visitors.
Members of the CSU community are individually responsible to comply with the creation of a systemwide smoke and tobacco free environment. While compliance with this executive order is an individual responsibility, members of the CSU community should be aware that enforcement of this policy may occur in the following instances:
- University Police shall reserve all enforcement authority with regards to any violation of existing state and federal law.
- Individual agreements that prohibit smoking and proscribe penalties for breaches that are not impacted by this executive order (e.g. University Housing license agreements, other residential licenses or existing leases).
Educational campaigns, outreach, communication and the promotion of tobacco cessation treatment options will be the primary means to promote compliance. A comprehensive education and outreach campaign, including resources and referrals for cessation will be made available as part of campus implementation programs.
The progress this policy represents in promoting the ability of students, faculty, staff and visitors to have a healthier and pleasant campus experience aligns well with the CSU's mission. Individual campus support and diligence in moving forward with the implementation and amendment of current policies is sincerely appreciated.
Hostile and/or violent interpersonal conduct directed against members of the CSU community requesting that an individual(s) comply regarding compliance with the terms of this executive order will not be tolerated, and will be enforced under systemwide or campus policies, including but not limited to workplace violence policies.
Members of the CSU community are individually responsible to comply with the creation of a systemwide smoke- and tobacco-free environment. While compliance with this executive order is an individual responsibility, members of the CSU community should be aware that enforcement of this policy may occur in the following instances:
- University Police shall reserve all enforcement authority with regards to any violation of existing state and federal law.
- Individual agreements that prohibit smoking and proscribe penalties for breaches that are not impacted by this executive order (e.g. University Housing license agreements, other residential licenses, or existing leases).
You may respond with: Hello, my name is____, and I am a(n) (employee and/or student) here at Stanislaus State. I want to make you aware that as of September 1st, 2017, we are now a smoke- and tobacco-free campus, which means that smoking is prohibited on campus. Stanislaus State implemented this policy because we are committed to providing a cleaner and healthier, smoke-free environment for the entire campus community. We would appreciate it if you would not smoke or use tobacco products while on campus. Thank you for helping us keep our campus smoke and tobacco free.
Ashtrays will be removed from campus because they are a receptacle for a product that will no longer be used on Stanislaus State property.
Members of the Stanislaus State community are individually responsible to comply with the creation of a systemwide smoke and tobacco free environment. While compliance with this executive order is an individual responsibility, members of the Stanislaus State community are encouraged to provide education and information regarding the policy if they wish, but not to engage in enforcement. Instead, routine or recurrent violations of any policy should be reported to the University Police Department at 209-667-3114.
Possession of a valid medical marijuana card does not permit possession or use of marijuana in campus residential facilities (e.g. apartments and residence halls) or on University property. Stanislaus State, under Title IV, Part A of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act does not permit possession or use of marijuana on campus.
Hookah pipes (also known as water pipes, shisha) have a reputation for being the lesser of evils when it comes to smoking options, and from certain perspectives, this is true. Smoking a hookah doesn't have to mean smoking tobacco or taking in nicotine, which are common substances associated with smoking. But hookah smoking does have its own dangers -- combusted charcoal -- which carries health risks even when non-tobacco shisha is used.
When charcoal is burned to create the hookah effect, it releases chemicals in the process, namely carbon monoxide (CO) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In addition to inhaling byproducts of the shisha, waterpipe smokers also inhale fairly large quantities of these combustion-related toxins -- a hidden health risk associated with hookah smoking, even for non-tobacco shisha.
One recent study found that in a typical hookah smoking session, participants inhaled more carbon monoxide than someone who smokes a pack or more a day of conventional cigarettes. Some studies have shown that a person inhales 100-200 times more smoke (by volume) during a typical one hour hookah smoking session than when smoking one cigarette – because the hookah smoke is cooled by water, it can be inhaled more deeply and held for a longer length of time. While hookah tobacco (or non-tobacco shisha) can be bought with very trace amounts of nicotine, or even be tobacco-free, most hookah devices are solely designed for charcoal burning to be the mechanism of inhalation. Tobacco tends to burn more slowly than many of the fruit and molasses contents in non-tobacco shishas.
And so, while it may be true that you aren't inhaling tobacco smoke, the sustained burning of the charcoal carries the risk of extended exposure to these chemicals. Even at low levels of exposure, both CO and PAH have corrosive and carcinogenic properties, just like most combustion by-products.
E-cigarettes are a relatively new product with little information about their safety and effects on human health. Currently, the products are not regulated by the FDA, and it is illegal to market them as a way to quit tobacco. However, the FDA does have the authority to regulate e-cigarettes as a tobacco product. It's a common misconception that e-cigarettes emit a harmless water vapor. New research reveals that the solution used in e-cigarettes contains toxic contaminants, and these contaminants are released into the environment when a user exhales the vapor. Furthermore, recent research is showing a drastic increase in use of e-cigarettes, especially among youths and young adults. Since e-cigarettes are misunderstood to be a devices used to quit smoking, young people are more willing to experiment with the products, which may lead to long-term nicotine addiction. Comprehensive tobacco-free policies that include e-cigarettes and other nicotine products not regulated by the FDA for cessation purposes may discourage the initiation of novelty smoking and nicotine delivery devices.
The University is aware that nicotine is a highly addictive drug and simply waiting until a long break between classes, lunchtime or after work will be difficult for some. Some may decide to use nicotine replacement products such as gum or lozenges for times that are inconvenient to smoke.
Updated: May 19, 2023