Policy #45

Western Carolina University
Policy #45
Smoking in Campus Facilities

In regulating smoking in campus facilities, Western Carolina University seeks to accommodate the reasonable interests of both smokers and non-smokers while protecting University facilities and furnishings. The following policies are directed to those ends:

A. Smoking is permitted in WCU buildings only in designated areas. In accordance with North Carolina law, the following buildings are designated as nonsmoking: Hunter Library, Bird Building, Reid Health and Physical Education Building, Student Recreation Center, Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center, Breese Gymnasium, Jordan-Phillips Fieldhouse, Moore Hall. The Student Affairs Office may designate, through placement of appropriate signage, any residence hall as nonsmoking provided that it makes a reasonable effort to provide residential smoking rooms in residence halls in proportion to student demand for those rooms.

B. All buildings not designated as nonsmoking shall have one or more spaces areas designated for smoking that will provide reasonable accommodation for faculty and staff members and students who smoke. Doors should not be propped open or other actions taken that allow smoke to intrude into nonsmoking areas.

Building coordinators shall recommend location(s) in their respective buildings to be designated as smoking areas. In doing so, the following may not be designated as smoking areas: classrooms; laboratories; library reading, reference, and stack areas; conference rooms; elevators; areas in close proximity to explosive or highly flammable materials; administrative offices open to the public; and private offices lacking floor to ceiling partitions. Smoking may be permitted in single occupant, private offices that are fully enclosed. Smoking may be permitted in shared, fully enclosed offices if all occupants agree.

The Office of the Chancellor will accept or amend building coordinators recommendations for designated smoking areas. The approved designations shall be communicated to each building's tenants by memorandum from the building coordinator and to students and visitors by appropriately placed signs. Smoking areas shall be equipped with ash trays or other fire safe containers. Building coordinators shall review the smoking policies for their respective buildings not less than once biennially and shall forward recommended changes, if any, to the Office of the Chancellor for approval.

C. Employees who leave their work stations to use designated smoking areas must do so within the break time customarily allowed in State employment: fifteen minutes, twice a day.

Administering Office: Chancellor's Office
Formerly Executive Memorandum 91-101
Initially Approved: August 15, 1991
Revised: 2003
Posted: October 1, 2003