Non-Smoking Policy
Policy
As a result of the well-established hazards of smoking, the Council on Postsecondary Education prohibits smoking of any kind, including, but not limited to, tobacco and/or cannabis products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or other smoking tobacco and/or cannabis products, and the use of any electronic nicotine, cannabis or other substance-delivery system including vaping areas within the buildings and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Council on Postsecondary Education. This policy shall direct the actions at Rhode Island College, the Community College of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner.
- There shall be no smoking in all buildings and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Council on Postsecondary Education, except in areas specifically designated by the president/commissioner of the institution/agency.
- If permitted, smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor smoking areas which are fifty (50) or more feet from any building and/or structure.
- There shall be no smoking in the rooms in which meetings or conferences sponsored by the Council on Postsecondary Education, Rhode Island College, the Community College of Rhode Island and/or the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner are held.
- Rhode Island College, the Community College of Rhode Island and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner shall clearly and conspicuously post in every place under their respective control, along with the entrances to same, “No smoking” signs or the international “No smoking” symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it). Areas within the buildings and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Council on Postsecondary Education where smoking is prohibited, shall have posted at every entrance a conspicuous sign clearly stating that smoking is prohibited. All signs necessary to comply with this section shall be attached at eye level and shall contain the following words, “It is illegal to smoke in this establishment.”
- Any person who desires to register a complaint under this policy may initiate such a complaint with the Rhode Island Department of Health.
- Employees and students alike may obtain additional information about the dangers of smoking and assistance with quitting through the Rhode Island Department of Health, which posts this information on their website, https://health.ri.gov.
- The prohibitions of this policy shall not apply to the use of tobacco products as part of a pre-approved, limited classroom demonstration, a pre-approved research project or a pre-approved theatrical performance.
- Rhode Island College, the Community College of Rhode Island and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, through the designation of the president/commissioner of each institution, shall determine how to address the use of prescription cannabis on campus/in office with the understanding that no employee may use any type of mind- altering or illegal drug during their work hours.
- The non-smoking policy shall be available to all employees and students under its jurisdiction and shall be posted at each institution/agency and on their websites.
