Beginning January 23, 2017, the West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) campus and property will be a tobacco-free environment.  This policy is intended to help reduce the health risks associated with tobacco use, smoking, and second-hand smoke.

The policy impacts students, faculty, staff, vendors, contractors, and guests.   In order to inform the WVWC community and visitors, signs will be posted throughout campus and the policy will be published on the WVWC website and social media avenues. 

The policy applies to all buildings including residence halls, the grounds including exterior open spaces, parking lots, on-campus sidewalks, streets, driveways, stadiums, recreational spaces, practice facilities, and in all WVWC owned or leased vehicles.  “Tobacco use” means but is not limited to the personal use of any tobacco product whether intended to be lit or not, which shall include smoking tobacco, nicotine, or other substances that are lit and smoked, as well as the use of electronic cigarettes, pipes, hookahs, or any other device intended to simulate smoking or vaporizing, and the use of smokeless tobacco, including snuff; chewing tobacco; smokeless pouches; any form of loose leaf, smokeless tobacco; and the use of unlit cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco.

Initiated in Spring 2016 by a student, Kayla Hinkley ’16, the movement gained support from Student Senate, faculty, staff, and administrators following an in-depth survey which overwhelmingly showed that a strong majority representing each group supported a tobacco-free campus.  Fall 2016 served as a transition period where individuals were permitted to utilize designated tobacco-use zones across campus and encouraged to utilize services and educational information in preparation for a tobacco-free campus. 

Campus security and residence life staff will be monitoring tobacco use and addressing situations when they arise.  Maintaining a tobacco-free campus is a community effort where peers are enabled to discourage the use of tobacco products and supervisors of faculty and staff are requested to advise their department(s) to serve as role models and supporters of the movement.

The policy changes will begin on January 23, 2017 followed by a week of celebratory events.  To help community members adjust to these changes, the Health & Counseling Center will have information available and the Wesleyan website will offer information about services available through the WV Tobacco Quit Line (1-877-966-8784). 

Thank you for your dedication to making West Virginia Wesleyan College a cleaner and healthier campus for each of you, our visitors, and for our future.