FAU to be Smoke-Free with new Tobacco ban, Policy Takes Effect Jan. 1 2015

By CRA News Service

No ifs, ands and cigarette butts about it, Florida Atlantic University will implement a campus-wide tobacco ban beginning January 2015.

The last phase of the five-year plan aims to cultivate a smoke-free environment on campus. University officials say that second-hand smoke, health concerns, campus cleanliness and public opinion are all reasons for the new policy.

The smoke-free policy prohibits cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipes, and all types of smokeless tobacco from being used anywhere within campus boundaries. This includes all outside areas, currently designated smoking areas, inside buildings and parked cars, and traveling on and across campus. Visitors, vendors, employees—including faculty—are subject to this policy as well.

“Violations of this policy by faculty, staff and students may be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion…and violations of this policy by visitors, contractors, guests and other third parties may be grounds for terminating or suspending their access to and/or use of university property,” according to the policy.

There are 1,477 smoke-free campuses in the U.S., according to an Oct. 1 report from the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. Of those colleges and universities, 975 are 100 percent tobacco-free.

FAU will be the 24th university in Florida to transition to a smoke free campus.

For those students who opt to quit smoking, there is a cessation program offered through the Wellness Center, located above the Breezeway. The free six-week course provides group support, coaching, and strategies to quit.

Any students interested in participating may contact the Wellness Center at wellness@fau.edu or by calling 561-297-1048. Off-campus services are listed under Tobacco Free Quit Resources under Health and Wellness Education on the main FAU website.