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SUNY Cortland Tobacco- and Nicotine-Free Policy

Rationale and Benefits

As a leader in health and wellness, State University of New York Cortland (SUNY Cortland) understands that health is as important as education. SUNY Cortland is dedicated to providing a safe, healthy, comfortable and productive living and learning environment for the entire campus community. Among the SUNY Cortland campus priorities are to become a national leader in the promotion of the physical, emotional, cultural and social well-being of all community members and to provide outstanding opportunities and support for healthy living.

SUNY Cortland recognizes the overwhelming scientific evidence assembled by the U.S. Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Protection Agency, and World Health Organization, which demonstrates that tobacco is a profound agent of deadly diseases, responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year, both to tobacco users and non-users. The SUNY Cortland tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device free environment supports good health for the entire campus community. Additional benefits include campus sustainability and beauty.

Some of the reasons for SUNY Cortland’s commitment to remaining tobacco- and nicotine-free include:

  • Supporting the SUNY Cortland campus wellness priority.
  • Respect for others, our campus environment, and reduction of health hazards for all campus community members.
  • Prepare student for tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device-free workplaces.
  • Prevent student attending SUNY Cortland from being targeted by any marketing, promotion, or distribution of tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device products on campus.
  • Discourage students from adopting or continuing to use any form of tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices.
  • Continue being a leader among SUNY institutions in public health policy and wellness promotion.
  • Decrease the use of tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices through social norming.
  • Reduce adolescent addiction to and usage of smokeless tobacco, smokeless nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices.

Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following definitions apply:

  • “Tobacco product” is defined as any product made or derived from tobacco or which contains nicotine, intended for human consumption, including, but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, hookah, bidis, kreteks, electronic cigarettes, electronic aerosol delivery systems, and smokeless tobacco (including snus and chewing tobacco); term also includes herbal cigarettes (as defined by N.Y. Public Health Law 13-F) and nicotine-free electronic cigarettes. This definition does not include any product that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco use cessation product.
  • “Electronic Cigarette/Electronic Aerosol Delivery System” means an electronic device that, when activated, produces an aerosol that may be inhaled. This includes e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens or e-hookahs. Electronic Aerosol Delivery System includes any component, and any liquid or other substance to be aerosolized, whether or not separately sold. Electronic Aerosol Delivery System does not include drugs, devices, or combination products authorized for sale by the state or U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  • “University” is defined as SUNY Cortland.
  • “SUNY Cortland property” is defined as any property owned, leased or operated by SUNY Cortland.
  • “Tobacco company” is defined as a company that manufactures and/or markets branded tobacco products. This includes any subsidiaries (but not including parent companies) which engage in business activities that are not in any way related to tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices.
  • “Direct tobacco company holdings” are defined as corporate stock holdings directly owned by the university, not including stock holdings that may be owned through mutual funds or other indirect investments.

Key Policy Components

Tobacco and Nicotine Free Grounds 

  • Tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device use is prohibited everywhere within the perimeter on all SUNY Cortland property, both indoors and outdoors, as well as in university-owned vehicles, and in any vehicle on SUNY Cortland property.
  • Tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device use is prohibited at all university-sponsored, off-campus events.

Advertising, Promotions and Sales

  • Tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device sales are prohibited anywhere on the SUNY Cortland campus.
  • The university will not accept advertising, marketing, distribution, or promotion of tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device products.

Sponsorships, Gifts, Funding

All grants and gifts, solicitations and proposals to SUNY Cortland for such funds must have the approval of the university and must conform to the university's Mission Statement, culture of wellness, SUNY policies and applicable laws and regulations. In addition, SUNY Cortland will not invest in any direct tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device company holdings.

Cessation

Understanding the addictive nature of tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device use and that breaking that addiction is extremely difficult for many people, the university will make every reasonable effort to assist those employees and students who wish to stop using tobacco, nicotine or electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices. The campus will promote and provide evidence-based cessation resources. Students can access cessation treatment, including counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, at the Student Health Service. Employees can access support through the Employee Assistance Program. In addition, the New York State Tobacco Control Program has free resources online for assistance in quitting tobacco and nicotine. Please note that medically approved nicotine replacement therapy is not a violation of the policy.

Compliance

This policy is driven by respect for others and the environment and relies on the thoughtfulness, consideration and cooperation of tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device users and non-users for its success. Enforcement of this policy will depend on the cooperation of all members of the SUNY Cortland campus community, both to comply and encourage others to do so. It is the responsibility of all members in the university community to observe this tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device use policy.

SUNY Cortland will inform members of the campus community about the tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device policy by widely disseminating information about the policy on a regular basis. The tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device policy will be clearly posted in employee and student handbooks, on the campus website, and as part of other publications. 

The policy will be shared with parents, alumni and visitors through media, campus announcements, the website and other means. Key components of the policy will be posted on signage around campus (e.g., tobacco and nicotine use is not allowed on campus grounds). " Public announcements address the policy at events on campus.

Policy non-compliance prompts an initial educational response which includes information regarding the existence of the policy, the rationale for the policy and the availability of nicotine cessation support services both on and off campus. Annually, Student Conduct, Human Resources and Cortland Auxiliary Services Human Resources will provide the Tobacco and Nicotine Committee with the number of policy violations.

Repeated non-compliance is referred to the appropriate campus student conduct or employee supervisory system for resolution. Employees and students are treated respectfully in the consistent observance of the policy.

To enhance SUNY Cortland's commitment to a tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device-free culture, the university will encourage and partner with surrounding merchants, municipalities, landlords, residents, and tobacco and nicotine control advocacy groups and other local stakeholders to enact community tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery device free policies. 

Policy Review

SUNY Cortland maintains a broad-based Tobacco and Nicotine Advisory Committee to identify and address needs and concerns related to this policy, implementation, compliance, and cessation.

The Tobacco and Nicotine Advisory Committee will review this policy annually to ensure that it is sustained, effective, timely and in accordance with state and federal laws.

History and Policy Effective Date

Recognizing the hazards of smoking, in 1989 SUNY Cortland restricted smoking to certain designated areas on campus.  Since then, additional studies have indicated that exposure to secondhand smoke and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices is a significant risk for everyone.  All forms of tobacco, nicotine and electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices are now known to be harmful and highly addictive.  SUNY Cortland cares deeply about the health of all its campus members. As an employer and an institution of higher education, the university is committed to providing a safe working, living, and educational environment.  Tobacco and nicotine use is inconsistent with the Campus culture of wellness.

Therefore, SUNY Cortland became a 100% tobacco free campus on January 2, 2013 and in 2018, nicotine free was added due to electronic cigarette/electronic aerosol delivery devices.

Originally Endorsed by President’s Cabinet July 25, 2011

Revisions Approved by President's Cabinet May 7, 2018

Updated February 13, 2023

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