Medical College of Georgia Administrative Policies and Procedures
Office of Primary Responsibility: Campus Safety Committee
No. 3.0.01

Tobacco Smoking Policy

1.0 Purpose
Tobacco smoking is widely recognized as a major preventable cause of many diseases in smokers and non-smokers alike. The Medical College of Georgia, as the Health Sciences University for the State of Georgia, is committed to the promotion of a healthy environment for all Georgia citizens, including the students, employees and patients of the Medical College of Georgia. Therefore, it is our policy, effective January 1, 1990, to make the Medical College of Georgia a smoke-free institution.

2.0 Procedure
General No tobacco products will be sold on MCG premises. Smoking tobacco products by any person - employee, student, patient or visitor - are prohibited, thus all MCG buildings, grounds and vehicles shall be smoke-free, except as follows:

2.1 Long-term care patients of the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home will be allowed to smoke tobacco to the extent allowed under the Georgia "Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities" and consistent with good fire safety practices.

2.2 Smoking will be permitted outside MCG facilities and on MCG grounds except that no smoking will be allowed within twenty-five (25) feet of any building entrance, exit, substantial building overhang or covered walkway unless in a designated smoking area. Outside smoking areas may be designated by the Vice President for Administration.

3.0 Enforcement

3.1 The monitoring and enforcement of smoking regulations are the responsibility of every employee, faculty member and student. It will be the responsibility of every employee, faculty member and student to politely bring this smoking policy to the attention of persons observed violating the regulations.

3.2 Faculty, staff and students refusing to abide by these policies should be reported to their department chair or immediate supervisor for appropriate action. Anyone violating this policy shall be subject to the applicable disciplinary procedures (for faculty, see "Statutes of the Medical College of Georgia, VII, Section 5"; for employees, see "Administrative Policies and Procedures of the Medical College of Georgia, No. 1.4.07"; for students, see "Student Disciplinary Principles and Procedures").

3.3 Visitors in violation of this policy should be politely informed of this fact. Visitors persisting in violating this policy may be reported to Public Safety.

3.4 The Human Resources Division shall include discussion of the tobacco smoking policy at time of orientation of all in-coming faculty and employees.

Date: 1 July 1984 | Rev. No: 05-1 | Rev. Date: 23 March 2005 | No. 3.0.01