The Tobacco- and Smoke-Free Campus steering committee recently updated WVU’s compliance and enforcement strategy for students and employees who violate BOG Rule 5.6 – Tobacco- and Smoke-Free Campus.
Effective this semester, those who receive an initial citation for violating the tobacco- and smoke-free campus rule are eligible to pursue “amnesty” (i.e., removal of the citation from the individual’s record). Amnesty for first-time violations is designed to serve as an incentive for students, faculty and staff to pursue activities that foster tobacco cessation.
To receive amnesty, the individual must complete a recognized cessation program for quitting smoking, vaping or using smokeless tobacco. Documentation of the individual’s completion of the program must be provided to WVU’s tobacco- and smoke-free campus compliance office at 304-293-2545 or tobaccocompliance@mail.wvu.edu.
Note: Only an individual’s first citation is eligible for amnesty, and only one instance of amnesty is permitted. To qualify for amnesty, the individual must complete a recognized cessation program within six months of the citation and prior to any second offense.
A student’s first offense for violating the tobacco- and smoke-free campus rule will be documented by the compliance officer, who will provide the student the option for amnesty.
If the student successfully pursues amnesty, the citation will be removed from their record. Further, if the student receives another citation after receiving amnesty, the new citation will be treated as a first offense, and amnesty will not be an option. All other steps in the enforcement path will remain in effect.
Similarly, an employee’s first offense for violating the tobacco- and smoke-free campus rule will be documented by the compliance officer, who will provide the employee the option for amnesty.
If the employee successfully pursues amnesty, the citation will be removed from their record. In these instances, neither the citation nor the amnesty will be communicated to Employee Relations (staff) or the Office of the Provost (faculty).
If the employee receives another citation after receiving amnesty, the new citation will be treated as a first offense, and amnesty will not be an option. All other steps in the enforcement path will remain in effect.
Thank you for doing your part to promote a healthier WVU by keeping our campuses tobacco- and smoke-free.
Visit tobaccoandsmokefree.wvu.edu for more information and to view FAQs on the tobacco- and smoke-free campus rule.
Contact TobaccoSmokeFreeTaskForce@mail.wvu.edu with any questions.