Responsible Executive: Vice President for Finance and Administration

Approving Official:          Vice President for Finance & Administration

Effective Date:                 January 1, 2014

Last Revision Date:        Unrevised at this time.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY

• BOT Decision March 8, 2013

OBJECTIVE

• To prohibit the use of all tobacco products and simulated tobacco products on property owned or managed by Florida State University within the state of Florida beginning January 1, 2014.

RATIONALE

• Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.
• Research findings confirm and the U.S. Surgeon General affirms that tobacco use and exposures to secondhand smoke by non-users constitute a significant health hazard.
• Existing university policy prohibits the sale, distribution, sampling and advertising of all tobacco products and tobacco-related merchandise on all university-owned and -managed property and at university-sponsored events.
• Existing university policy prohibits tobacco use inside all campus facilities and within designated Breathe Easy zones (25- to 50-foot no-smoking areas around certain buildings).
• Surveys of the FSU community have determined that a majority of students and employees support a policy change that protects them from exposure to tobacco and secondhand smoke
• Florida State University has an interest in protecting the health and wellbeing of its employees, students and visitors.
• Through its healthcare services and health education programs and courses, the university already promotes a healthy lifestyle (e.g. a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, etc.).
• Adoption of a tobacco-free policy has the potential to reduce maintenance costs, improve productivity, reduce initiation of new tobacco users and increase tobacco-cessation rates.
• Through the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, the state of Florida acknowledges that lighted tobacco products constitute significant health hazards to users and non-users.
• Lighted tobacco products are also a safety concern since they have been identified as contributing factors in numerous accidental fires. Currently 766 college campuses in the U.S. have adopted tobacco-free policies.
  1. DEFINITIONS
     1. “Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, carrying or possessing any lighted tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, water-pipes, hookahs or any other lighted tobacco products, as well as any product consumed in a similar manner; or the use of an electronic cigarette or any other device intended to simulate lighted tobacco use.
     2. “Tobacco products” means cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, dissolvable tobacco products like orbs (dissolvable tobacco pellets), sticks, and strips or any other forms of ignitable or smokeless tobacco.
     3. “University property” includes all property owned or managed by Florida State University in Florida including the interiors and exteriors of all buildings, land, parking facilities, university-owned or -leased vehicles (regardless of location), athletic facilities, and fraternities or sororities. Limited exceptions are outlined below.
  2. POLICY STATEMENT
     1. Effective January 1, 2014, tobacco use, including simulated tobacco use, is prohibited on property, interior and exterior, owned or managed by Florida State University within the state of Florida. Limited exceptions to this policy are outlined below.
     2. No tobacco use will be permitted in university facilities, common or private work areas, elevators, hallways, garages, restrooms, dining areas, employee lounges, conference and meeting rooms, and all other enclosed or semi-enclosed areas. Additionally, no tobacco use will be permitted in outdoor areas including parking lots, parking garages, grounds, rooftops, plazas, courtyards, entrance/exit ways, university-owned or -leased vehicles, and any other indoor or outdoor areas owned or managed by the university.
     3. This policy applies to all Florida State University students, employees, consultants, contractors, visitors and external individuals, companies renting university-owned space, and property owned or managed by Florida State University within the state of Florida.
  3. EXCEPTIONS
     1. This prohibition on tobacco use does not apply to public right-of-ways (sidewalks, streets, etc.) on the perimeter of university-owned or -managed property or adjacent property.
     2. The Florida State University president or designee may allow smoking in specific areas of campus for clinical-treatment purposes, including smoking-cessation programs, or research-related purposes.
     3. The university may establish designated outdoor areas for use of lighted tobacco products at facilities with large numbers of visitors. Such use may be restricted to the days and times that events take place at these facilities including the Fallon Theatre, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, Ringling Museum, Asolo Theatre, university parking lots during home football games, and areas outside of but adjacent to Doak Campbell Stadium and Dick Howser Stadium. These designated smoking areas may be located at least 25 feet from the entrances, outdoor (fresh) air intakes and operable windows of these facilities.
  4. COMMUNICATION
     1. Persons will be informed of this policy and the availability of smoking-cessation services via a public education and awareness campaign, the Florida State University website (including postings to Admissions, Human Resources, Environmental Health & Safety, University Relations, Athletics and others), signs posted in appropriate areas throughout university property, university and departmental newsletters, e-mail communication to all employees, students and alumni; and employee and student handbooks.
  5. COMPLIANCE AND SUPPORT
     1. Effective implementation of this voluntary policy depends upon the courtesy and cooperation of all members of the university community, not only to comply with this policy, but also to encourage others to comply with the policy. Visitors, contractors, and other individuals on campus who are in violation of the policy should be informed of the policy and asked to comply by discarding tobacco products. All employees and students violating the policy should be reminded of the policy and asked to comply by discarding tobacco products.
     2. For additional information related to this policy, or for suggestions about how to encourage others to support the policy, the following departments may be contacted:
        • Environmental Health and Safety with respect to indoor air quality issues.
        • Human Resources with respect to Employee-related issues.
        • Housing with respect to residence hall contract-related issues.
        • The Dean of Students with respect to student-related issues.
        • University Health Services or the FSU College of Medicine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) with respect to Smoking Cessation-related services.
     3. The university will provide access for students, faculty and staff interested in smoking-cessation services. Information regarding cessation resources is available through University Health Services or the FSU College of Medicine (see links above) or by calling the Health Promotion Department at University Health Services at (850) 644-8871 or the FSU College of Medicine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) IQuit Tobacco Program at (850) 645-9710.