SMOKEFREE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:
TIPS FOR GOING SMOKEFREE

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ENSURE A HEALTHY CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE

  • Now – more than ever – our lungs matter.
    • Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure compromise lung function and even brief exposure to secondhand smoke makes breathing difficult.
    • Campus environments should not induce coughs, sneezes, wheezing, or shortness of breath, behaviors that can spread or exacerbate the virus.
  • One bad apple does, in fact, spoil the whole bunch.
    • It only takes one smoker to affect the hearts and lungs of everyone nearby.
    • Secondhand smoke travels indiscriminately and has the potential to compromise
      immune systems, particularly those with underlying conditions.
  • Returning to campus should be as worry-free as possible.
    • Everyone wants to feel confident about returning to regular activities. A smokefree campus will let everyone know that you are committed to protecting their health – even in the absence of the virus.

REVIEW AND ADOPT A 100% SMOKEFREE OR TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS POLICY

  • Work with school administrators, faculty, staff, and students to discuss the policy and its benefits. Your campus-based Tobacco-Free Generation coalition is a great resource for educational materials.
  • Design and provide an email signature that includes the policy implementation date and website information as a helpful reminder in messaging to students, faculty, staff, visitors and colleagues.

INFORM THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS EXCITING CHANGE

  • Post signs to inform everyone that the campus is now smokefree to protect the health of students, employees, and visitors. Use plenty of opportunities to spread the news about being 100% smokefree (posters, yard signs, etc).
  • Post signs in/at the parking lots to remind everyone about the smokefree policy.
  • Post a new audio announcement in the Student Center to remind students about the new policy and to thank them for their compliance. (“[Institution name] is now a smokefree and tobacco free campus. Thank you for helping us keep our campus community healthy.”)
  • Add a rolling banner notice on your website that makes note of the new smokefree policy in a positive way (“Welcome to [institution name]! Because your health is important to us, we will be smokefree as of [reopening date]).
  • Prepare staff to politely educate the public about the new smokefree policy. (“We now have a 100% smokefree policy on campus. Smoking is not allowed on campus property.”)
  • Set up a page on your website and social media sites for questions about the new policy, information on the implementation date, how to file a complaint, how to comply and enforcement procedures. Here’s an example from Tennessee-Knoxville.

Visit https://no-smoke.org/at-risk-places/colleges/ for more information on
adopting a tobacco-free campus policy and the benefits of smokefree environments.