 Proactive Program (draft to be reviewed)

Student Tobacco Policy

1998-99

Executive Summary

Chronology Leading to Current Policy

Developed, implemented and fine tuned procedures for designated smoking areas, 1993-1996;

Began informing applicants during the admissions process at regional testing and semi-finalists weekends about NCSSM becoming a smoke free environment for students, 1995;

Revised the Code of Conduct making smoking in residence halls a Level III and on campus a Level II, 1996 (present status); and

Included on the Intent to Enroll form, which every Junior and Senior signs, that use of tobacco products is a major violation of the Code of Conduct and will result in sanctions, 1998.

Rationale for Recommendation

In preparation for a sound rationale for the following recommendation, data was collected on students who for various reasons did not graduate from NCSSM. The review covered the annual BOT report on Drugs and Alcohol Violations, lists of students under advisement to withdraw (prior to 1997-98 – used the C-/D list), Level III residential violations and students reaching Step 5 of Class Attendance.

The results were that 69-74% of these students spent a significant amount of their social time with the group labeled "smokers." A more accurate description would be "students who exhibit risky behaviors."

Recommendation
That possession of tobacco products on or off campus while under the jurisdiction of the school is a violation of the Code of Conduct.

This recommendation will be written as a separate statement within the Code of Conduct rather than a level. The advantage of not having the recommendation as a level would be to remove the focus from dismissal to interventions with the purpose of providing support for student success.

Proactive Program (on reverse side)

A program to include proactive solutions for concerns resulting from this recommendation has been developed in collaboration with Paul Nagy, Duke Alcoholism and Additions Program, Duke University Medical Center; Paul Savory, Durham Center, N-O-T Program; representatives from the tobacco industry and NCSSM Students, faculty and staff. This program addresses the issues relating to:

safety of our students;

enforcement of policy; and

procedures for implementation of programs to address healthy life styles.