8.10 Smoking and Tobacco Use

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to foster a healthy environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests on the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) campus and owned and leased spaces off campus, by eliminating the use of tobacco and tobacco-related/tobacco-like products. 

For the purposes of this policy, the phrase “smoking and use of tobacco products” is defined as the smoking of tobacco via cigarettes, cigars or pipes or the use of devices or products that may be used to smoke or mimic smoking including water pipes (hookahs), vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, etc. and the use of smokeless tobacco including snuff and chewing tobacco. 

The university recognizes its social responsibility to promote the health, well-being and safety of university students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests of the university.  This policy is designed to assist the university in becoming a healthier and safer environment.

Policy Statement

The policy of the University of Northern Iowa is to provide a smoke and tobacco-free environment for its students, faculty, staff, administrators, visitors and the general public on campus. Smoking and use of tobacco products are prohibited on university owned or leased property, and in University vehicles and any vehicle located on University property.

Chapter 8: Facilities/Grounds

Exception: Smoking and use of tobacco products, to the extent not prohibited by federal or State law (e.g., Code of Iowa Chapter 142D Smokefree Air Act), is permitted in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Lang Auditorium, UNI Interpreters Theatre, Bengston Auditorium and the Strayer-Wood Theatre when it is called for by the director of a production as part of the production. This exception only applies to the specific characters during rehearsals and performances of the production. The appropriate department in charge of the production shall include notification that there will be smoking in the show if there will be any vapors, fumes, aerosol, or other emissions as a result of the use of this exception. Smoking and use of tobacco products in the green rooms is prohibited.

This policy applies to all events and persons on campus or on owned and leased property including, but not limited to students, faculty, staff, contracted personnel, vendors and visitors to the university.

Background

The Iowa Smokefree Air Act enacted in 2008, establishes prohibitions for smoking in places of employment and on school grounds, including institutions governed by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa pursuant to Iowa Code section 262.7. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been designated the oversight authority.

Procedure

A. University Owned or Leased Property

  1. Smoking and use of tobacco products are prohibited on university owned or leased property including grounds, parking lots, athletic fields, recreation fields, tennis courts and any other outdoor area, as well as any vehicle located on the university’s property. This policy applies to walkways and sidewalks adjacent to city streets that adjoin university property including the grassed area between the sidewalk and the street.
  2. No Smoking/No Tobacco Use signs shall be posted at all entrances to university owned or leased buildings.

B. University Owned Buildings and Leased Space

  1. Smoking and use of tobacco products is prohibited in any university owned or leased facility or property. This prohibition shall apply to any area enclosed by the outermost walls of the building and will include atriums, balconies, stairwells and other similar building features.
  2. No Smoking/No Tobacco Use signs shall be posted at all entrances to university owned or leased buildings.

C. University Owned Passenger Vehicles and Moving Equipment

  1. Smoking and use of tobacco products is prohibited at all times in any university owned, leased, or rented vehicles, or vehicles provided by or through the University.
  2. This prohibition applies to passenger vehicles and all other state-owned mobile equipment to include light and heavy trucks, cargo and passenger vans, buses and any other applicable mobile equipment.
  3. No Smoking/No Tobacco Use signs shall be posted in every vehicle owned, leased, or rented by the university, or vehicles provided by or through the University.

D. Complaints and Enforcement

All members of the campus community share the responsibility of adhering to and enforcing this policy and have the additional responsibility to communicate the policy to visitors in a courteous and considerate manner.

  1. The IDPH is responsible for maintaining a system for receiving and investigating complaints of non-compliance with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act.
  2. The IDPH designates the law enforcement authorities of the state and for each political subdivision of the state, to assist with the enforcement of the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. A peace officer may issue a citation instead of arresting a violator of this Act and the violator shall pay a civil penalty (Iowa Code Section 805.8C(3)) for each violation. The UNI Police Department is the designated law enforcement authority for the campus.
  3. Any person may register a complaint with the IDPH by calling the toll-free number, 1-888-944-2247, by registering a complaint on the IDPH web site, https://smokefreeair.iowa.gov/ or by downloading a complaint form from the IDPH web site.
  4. The responsibility to inform applicants and current employees that university-owned and leased facilities and grounds are smoke and tobacco-free environments is held with the following individuals:The Dean of Students will be responsible to inform and promote compliance among students. 
    1. Human Resource Services Director or designee for all institutional official and staff positions.
    2. Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, or designee, for faculty, graduate assistants along with other academic positions within Academic Affairs.
    3. Director of Career Services, or designee, for student employment positions.
  5. The Dean of Students will be responsible to inform and promote compliance among students.
  6. Individuals found to be noncompliant with this policy will be subject to campus disciplinary action:
    1. For students, noncompliance will be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students.
    2. For employees, noncompliance will be referred to the employee’s supervisor, Associate Provost for Faculty or Director of Human Resource Services, as applicable.
    3. For contractors and subcontractors, noncompliance will be referred to the campus unit responsible for monitoring performance of the applicable work or contract.
    4. Visitors and members of the public who refuse to comply with this policy will be referred to the University Police Department and may be asked to leave campus or may be served a civil citation if they are smoking.

This policy is effective on final approval and supersedes all previous University smoking policies. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to Environmental Health and Safety at (319) 273-5800. 

Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations, approved October 21, 2016
President’s Cabinet, approved February 20, 2017           
President and Executive Management Team, approved February 27, 2017    
Updated by Environmental Health & Safety Office, February 1, 2018