Enforcement

The responsibility for the enforcement and communication of this policy rests with all members of the university community. Visitors, contractors, and other individuals on campus who are in violation of the policy should be politely reminded of the policy and asked to comply by discarding the tobacco product or to leave the campus. All staff, faculty, and students violating the policy should be politely reminded of the policy and asked to comply by discarding the tobacco product.

Students

The Office of Student Conduct is the contact if a student refuses to comply. That office will follow up with the student regarding the policy and available resources. Continuing violations may also result in appropriate disciplinary action under the Valdosta State University Student Conduct Code. 

Staff or Faculty

If a staff or faculty member refuses to comply with the policy, the immediate supervisor shall be notified. The immediate supervisor will follow up with the employee to remind him/her about the policy and available resources. In addition, violators will be asked to indicate that they are a tobacco user in the ADP Benefits Portal, thus paying the additional monthly tobacco surcharge. Continuing violations may also result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, in conjunction with the University’s progressive disciplinary process. The Department of Human Resources will be the appropriate contact for staff or faculty who refuse to comply with this policy.

Contractors or Vendors

If a contractor’s or vendor’s employee refuses to comply with the policy, the contractor’s on-site manager will be notified. Continuing violations may also result in the offending contractor’s or vendor’s worker being banned from University property.

Visitors

If a visitor refuses to comply with the policy, the visitor’s University contact will be notified. Continuing violations may also result in the visitor being banned from University property.

 

Please note that University Police will not be ticketing anyone who is violating this policy; however, if any person becomes belligerent or aggressive, then University Police should be contacted.