UA Campus Smoke-free Policy Takes Effect in New Year

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — As part of ensuring the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors, The University of Alabama will become smoke-free effective Jan. 1, 2015. Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, will be prohibited in all facilities, grounds and parking areas on the UA campus.

This is the next step in a long-standing policy prohibiting smoking inside University buildings and limiting smoking areas outside buildings.

The Faculty Senate, the Professional Staff Assembly, the Office, Clerical and Technical Assembly, the Black Faculty/Staff Association and the UA Association of Residential Communities have passed resolutions in support of a smoke-free campus.

The policy protects the UA community from the dangers of second-hand smoke, promotes a healthier environment and reduces the problem of littering and the risk of accidental fires due to discarded cigarettes.

The University is providing resources to support our community as this policy takes effect. The Student Health Center, the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, and the College of Community Health Sciences/University Medical Center will offer assistance to individuals who want to stop smoking. Links to these resources can be found on the Smoke-Free Campus website at www.ua.edu/smokefree. Employees can enroll for special January sessions of the QuitSmart program by following these links.

Faculty and staff covered by the University’s insurance plan will be provided current benefits for smoking cessation products and services. At this time, this includes a waiver of co-pays for some services. (See other benefits on the Human Resources link on the Smoke-Free website at http://www.ua.edu/smokefree/.)

The University is confident that both smokers and non-smokers will be cooperative, responsible and understanding during this time of transition as the campuswide policy takes effect.

UA joins more than 1,400 colleges and universities across the country that have become smoke-free.