Policy Statement

 Many tobacco smokers and non-smokers have become increasingly concerned about consideration, cooperation and co-existence. The University is committed to maintaining a comfortable and productive working atmosphere for all faculty, staff and students. To preserve a pleasant working environment and allow both smokers and non-smokers to co-exist, a University smoking policy is adopted, effective July 1, 1993.

 The intent of the policy is to designate where smoking may or may not occur, not to ban completely smoking on campus. This policy will apply to all facilities located on the University campus or under the University's day-to-day operating authority. It will encompass the procedures that should be followed to determine areas where smoking will be allowed and a limitation on the number of public areas in which smoking will be permissible. Exceptions to the policy may occur when a University facility is used for public meetings. However, in those instances, a smoking policy must be developed for that facility based on the procedures listed in this policy. All people who work in or pass through University facilities are affected by this policy. However, visitors may not be aware of the University policy and therefore, tolerance and courtesy should guide any interactions with visitors concerning smoking. In the final analysis, a smoking policy will work only if smoking and non-smoking individuals within the University community are considerate, cooperative and tolerant. The spirit of compromise will be necessary. Some smokers will have to curtail smoking on the job, while some non-smokers will have occasional exposure to tobacco smoke. All persons at the University share the responsibility of adhering to and enforcing the smoking policy. Voluntary compliance will make the working environment more healthy and pleasant for everyone.
 
 

Procedures for Implementation

 Responsibility
The Chancellor, each vice chancellor, the athletic director and each dean shall determine how the smoking policy will be implemented in the space currently allotted to his or her division or college. A vice chancellor or dean may delegate the responsibility for implementing the smoking policy to a department head. In cases where two or more divisions or colleges share the same space or building, vice chancellors and deans are encouraged to develop a uniform implementation of the smoking policy.

Restricted Areas
Smoking may be allowed in private offices, some shared offices and public areas clearly marked as designated smoking areas. Unless designated "smoking permitted," smoking is not permitted in hallways, stairways, elevators, restrooms, lobbies, entrances, waiting rooms, reception areas, lounges, mail rooms, conference rooms, copy rooms, group offices, office suites, office clusters, classrooms, laboratories, stockrooms, and workshops.

 Smoking also may not be allowed in University-owned vehicles unless specifically assigned to one person.

 If not ordinarily assigned to private offices, persons who wish to smoke while in their offices should be grouped together. Smoking could be allowed in those offices. Non-smokers should not be assigned space in these offices. Persons who are permitted to smoke in their offices should be considerate of visitors who do not smoke.

 Designated Areas
Areas where smoking is permitted will be designated, clearly marked and stocked with ashtrays. These areas will be determined by the dean or other designated person, based on the number of people requiring designated smoking areas and their location.

 Signage and Receptacles
Consistent with the decisions made by the Chancellor, the vice chancellors, the athletic director, deans or their designees, signs specifying smoking areas shall be uniform and displayed appropriately. Design, installation and maintenance of smoking signs will be the responsibility of the University Physical Plant.

 Ashtrays or other receptacles will be located not only in the designated smoking areas, but at all entrances to buildings. Physical Plant will be responsible for purchasing and supplying uniform, adequate ashtrays and receptacles for designated smoking areas and entrances to buildings.

 Signage, ashtrays and other receptacles will be placed in designated areas only upon notification of Physical Plant by the vice chancellor, dean or designee with responsibility for the room, public area, or building.

Exclusions
The Chancellor, vice chancellors, the athletic director and deans may request, in writing, exclusions for on- and off-campus University facilities. However, to do so, they must develop a smoking policy, subject to approval by the Chancellor, which is considerate of the needs of both employees and members of the public who use those facilities and who may or may not smoke.

 Although no smoking policy currently exists for student residence halls, one will be developed during the 1992-1993 academic year.

 Who is included
All persons working in or passing through University facilities are encompassed by this policy.

 Communication
Information concerning the University smoking policy will be given to all new employees during their orientation. Colleges and departments need to clearly communicate this policy to current employees, including any college or departmental policies developed in conjunction with the University policy. Information on the University smoking policy will also be published in the Faculty Handbook, Staff Employee Handbook, Handbook for Advising and Teaching, and Student Handbook.
 
 

CONTENTS