Administrative Policies

KCTCS Tobacco Free Policy

This Policy supersedes KCTCS Administrative Policy 3.3.14 KCTCS Smoking Policy and all other College policies enacted to address Tobacco Product use.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for its students, employees and visitors. In view of this commitment, KCTCS is a tobacco-free institution. This means Tobacco Products use (including e-cigarettes) will be prohibited System-wide at all 16 colleges and all campuses including the System Office.

Definitions:

“Tobacco Products” means all forms of tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes (hookah), electronic cigarettes/vaping, bidis, clove cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products (snuff, chewing tobacco, and dipping tobacco). Tobacco does not include nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, gum or prescription medication intended to assist an individual in quitting the use of Tobacco Products.

“Members of KCTCS” include its faculty, staff, students, volunteers, vendors, patrons, customers, guests, visitors, and persons employed as a KCTCS contractors.

“Property” includes buildings and structures, grounds, parking structures, enclosed bridges and walkways, sidewalks, parking lots, and vehicles owned, rented or leased by KCTCS.

This Policy applies to all Members of KCTCS.

The use of all Tobacco Products is prohibited on all Property that is owned, operated, leased, occupied, or controlled by KCTCS.

Enforcement of this policy will not extend to the use of Tobacco Products in private vehicles located on KCTCS Property provided users make a reasonable effort to contain Tobacco Products and smoke inside the vehicle (e.g., keeping windows, doors and roofs closed).

Tobacco Products use may be permitted for controlled research with prior approval of the president responsible for the college or campus.

Tobacco Products use may be permitted for educational, clinical, or religious ceremonial purposes with prior approval of the president, responsible for the college or campus.

Tobacco Products use may be permitted on properties that KCTCS owns, but leases or otherwise conveys an interest (e.g. an easement) to a non-KCTCS party, according to the provisions of the applicable lease or agreement.

This Tobacco-Free Policy relies on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of Tobacco Product users and non-Tobacco Product users for its success. It is the responsibility of all Members of KCTCS, as well as visitors to KCTCS to inform and observe this policy.

Authority for enforcement of this policy is vested with KCTCS President and each college President, in conjunction with the System Director for Human Resources, the college Director of Human Resources and the Dean of Students at each college.

Violation of this policy may result in corrective action under the Student Code of Conduct, or KCTCS Progressive Discipline Human Resource procedure as applicable. Visitors and others refusing to comply may be asked to leave the campus/property.