Midwestern State University became a tobacco-free campus beginning January 1, 2010.
Midwestern State University seeks to provide a safe, healthy, pleasant environment for its faculty, staff, and students. To this end, the use of tobacco products, including smoke and smokeless tobacco, and the advertising, sale, free distribution, and discarding of tobacco products shall be prohibited in all indoor and outdoor facilities and in all university vehicles. The policy extends to faculty, staff, students, vendors, guests, and visitors.
- Specifications
- “Use of tobacco products” shall include
- Possession of a lighted tobacco product
- Use of smokeless tobacco products
- “Indoor and outdoor facilities and university vehicles” shall include
- All buildings and facilities owned or leased by Midwestern State University, including residential homes
- All outdoor areas owned or leased by Midwestern State University, including the grounds of the Main Campus and the South Campus and the grounds of residential homes owned by the university
- All university-owned or leased vehicles, including cars, pick-up trucks, vans, box trucks, and carts
- All private vehicles parked on property owned or leased by Midwestern State University
- Exceptions: None
- “Use of tobacco products” shall include
MSU is committed to providing its students, faculty, staff and visitors with a healthy, clean and safe environment - in which to work, live and learn.
A tobacco-free campus protects everyone from the health dangers related to secondhand smoke. This is significant in light of the latest U.S. Surgeon General's report, "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke," which concludes that no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke exists.
A tobacco-free campus demonstrates responsible stewardship of our environment by reducing litter, eliminating smoke-filled areas at building entrances and reducing associated fire danger.
A tobacco-free campus also serves as a positive example for others - especially secondary school students and children on our campus. Lastly, a tobacco-free campus supports the public health efforts of our community, state and nation. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Texas.
The tobacco-free campus policy applies to everyone on the MSU campus - including employees, faculty, staff, students, guests, spectators, visitors, volunteers, contractors, subcontractors, vendors and any other individual providing any type of product or service to the university.
The use of tobacco products is prohibited on campus. This includes use in vehicles parked on the MSU campus.
- It is the responsibility of all members of the campus community and campus visitors to observe the provisions of this policy.
- It is the responsibility of all students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors to uphold the honor of the university by affirming its commitment to this policy.
- Courtesy and consideration will be exercised when informing violators of this policy. No person will be retaliated against for informing others of the policy or asking others to comply with the policy.
- A complaint against a violator who fails to comply with the policy after being asked by another to do so, may be referred to a provost, vice president, associate vice president, dean, or director. Appropriate disciplinary action may be applied to a violator against whom multiple complaints have been received.
A wide selection of services are available through the MSU Student Wellness Center.