Smoke-Free Task Force - Smoke-Free Campus Policy - Health and Wellness

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Smoke-Free Task Force

Health and Wellness

Smoke-Free Campus Policy

Smoke-Free Enforcement

As Towson University transitions to a smoke-free environment, our primary goal is to achieve voluntary compliance by educating students, faculty, staff, and visitors about the policy and providing smoking cessation assistance to those who seek it. That said, enforcement is often necessary to aid in the adoption of a new policy, and there will be an enforcement agency monitoring compliance with the policy. TU Police and Resident Assistants are also authorized to issue smoking citations. Any faculty, staff, student, or visitor who does not comply with the policy is subject to the disciplinary actions listed below.

Faculty and staff who violate the policy are subject to a $75 fine and progressive disciplinary procedures in accordance with the university’s human resource policies. Supervisors will be notified of violations and will assist in the discipline process. Supervisors are expected to remind individuals of the policy and seek cooperation with compliance. Students who violate the policy are subject to a $75 fine and disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct and Civility Education. Visitors who violate the policy will be informed that Towson University is a smoke-free campus. Visitors who continue to violate the policy following a warning will be escorted off-campus.

How You Can Aid Enforcement

Faculty, staff and students who see individuals smoking on university grounds are asked to inform these individuals politely that university policy prohibits smoking anywhere on university grounds. This can be done verbally through conversation, or by handing the smoker one of the policy reminder cards available at the Dowell Health Center, residence hall community centers, the Office of Human Resources, and the University Union Information Desk. Individuals who do not feel comfortable approaching someone violating the policy can submit the area and type of violation to enforcement staff using the smoke-free reporting form available below. Individuals should not contact the Towson University Police Department to report a violation of the policy.

Smoke-Free Reporting Form

Smoke-Free Citations

Individuals who receive a smoking citation must pay the citation through the Towson University Bursar's Office. Citation recipients will receive an eBill notification in their Towson e-mail account, similar to tuition statements and other university bills. The fine may be paid online, in person or through the mail. Additional information about payment options, accepted forms of payment and fees assessed on late payments is available on the Bursar's Office website.

Payment Information

To contest a smoking citation, the citation recipient must put in writing their reasons for contesting the citation and send it within 25 calendar days to: Smoking Citations Review Panel, c/o Administrator Jerry Dieringer, Housing & Residence Life, Towson University, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. The information will be reviewed by the smoking citations review panel and the person will be informed of the panel’s decision either by e-mail or in writing. The panel is comprised of one student representative appointed by SGA, one staff representative appointed by TUSC, one faculty representative appointed by the University Senate, and one Administrator, who serves as the panel's tie breaker. All decisions made by the panel are final.

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