Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Policy

I. Scope

This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, clients, contractors, and visitors. This policy is in effect during and after campus hours.

II. Purpose

Hiram College acknowledges and supports the findings of the Surgeon General that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard. Hiram College further recognizes that environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Class-A carcinogen. Therefore, in consideration of these health risks, and in support of a safe and healthy learning and working environment, on January 1, 2022, Hiram College implemented a 100 percent smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policy.

III. Definitions

For the sake of clarity in this policy, the following definitions are provided:


A. “Electronic Smoking Device” means any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that a person can use in any manner for the purpose of inhaling vapor or aerosol from the product. The term includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, e-hookah, vape pen, or under any other product name or descriptor.

B. “Hookah” means a water pipe and any associated products and devices used to produce fumes, smoke, and/or vapor from burning material including, but not limited to, tobacco, shisha, or other plant matter.

C. “Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, or pipe, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, including hookahs and marijuana, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or any form. “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 to circumvent prohibited smoking in this policy.

D. “Tobacco Product” means any substance containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, bidis, blunts, clove cigarettes, or any other preparation of tobacco; and any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine that is manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that the product or matter will be introduced into the human body by inhalation; but does not include any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.

IV. Policy

In light of the research-based evidence of the harm created by tobacco use, the Hiram College campus shall be entirely smoke and tobacco-free. The Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Policy applies to all Hiram College facilities, property, and vehicles, owned or leased, regardless of location. Smoking and the use of tobacco products shall not be permitted in any enclosed place, including, but not limited to, all offices, classrooms, hallways, waiting rooms, restrooms, community areas, performance venues, and private residential spaces within Hiram College housing. This includes, but is not limited to, lectures, conferences, meetings, and social and cultural events held on Hiram College property or grounds. Smoking and the use of tobacco products shall also be prohibited outdoors on all Hiram College campus property, including, but not limited to, parking lots, sidewalks, paths, fields, sports/recreational areas, and the stadium, as well as in all personal vehicles while on campus.

The sale of tobacco products or tobacco-related merchandise (including items that display tobacco company logos) is prohibited in and on all College property and at all College-sponsored events, regardless of the vendor.

The free distribution or sampling of tobacco products and associated products is prohibited on all college owned or leased property and at Hiram College-sponsored events, regardless of the venue. Tobacco industry and related company sponsorship of campus events, including athletic events and athletes, is prohibited.

Campus officials, staff, or other persons representing the campus, including campus organizations, shall not accept money or gifts or enter into any arrangement, association, or partnership with representatives of tobacco companies, including:

  • Sponsorship of campus events by organizations that promote tobacco use and/or allowing them to distribute free, reduced price, or fully priced tobacco products (shirts, hats, etc.) on campus.
  • All tobacco advertising, such as billboards and signs in the sports stadium owned and operated by Hiram College.

All tobacco promotion, advertising, marketing, and distribution are prohibited in and on Hiram College property, including college-run publications and athletic facilities owned or operated by the college.

Tobacco waste management products such as ashtrays, snus trays, and spittoons are not to be placed inside or outside of any college-owned building or property.

Hiram College will provide cessation resources information, including the following:

  • Tobacco treatment programs should be publicized regularly in staff and employee publications, posted in residence halls and academic buildings, throughout Student Services, the Health Center, and other appropriate means.
  • EAP (Employee Assistance Program) for all employees
    • LifeWorks through MetLife
    • 888-319-7819 available 24/7/365
    • EAP website at MetLife/Lifeworks EAP
      1. Username: metlifeeap
      2. Password: eap
  • Ohio Quitline number 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
  • Ohio Tobacco Quit information at Ohio Cessation Home Page
  • Portage County information at Portage County Tobacco Cessation or 330-296-9919, ext. 129
  • For those who want to quit, recently quit, want to say quit, or want to help others quit:
    • Resources and chat feature at SmokeFree.gov Page 3 of 3 V08.23.2022
  • American Lung Association Call Center at 800-548-8252
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Quit Smoking Resources Page

v. Implementation and Compliance

All students, faculty, and staff are responsible for adhering to and enforcing this policy.

The Office of the Dean of Students is responsible for overall student compliance. Residential Education and Commuter Services are responsible for enforcement in campus student residences, per the Hiram College Student Handbook. Human Resources will address faculty and staff violations.

This policy will be included in the student and employee handbooks, new employee and student onboarding documentation, and other campus documents where appropriate. In addition, Hiram College will provide a comprehensive marketing and signage effort to ensure that all college visitors, vendors, guests, and other people arriving on property owned or leased by the institution, are aware of this policy.

Policy violations will be treated in a manner congruent with offenses to the Student Code of Conduct (students) and the Employee Handbook (faculty/staff). Campus Security Officers may enforce this policy.

Violations may be reported by emailing a complaint to TobaccoFree@hiram.edu. Complaints should be filed within five (5) days of observing a potential violation to be facilitated promptly. Complaints may also be filed with Campus Safety.

The success of this policy will depend upon the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of all students, faculty, and staff.