Effective 7/1/2017, all University campuses have become tobacco-free. This applies to the River Campus, the Eastman School of Music, and all other University properties, including the Medical Center, which has been smoke-free indoors and outdoors since 2006.
The decision to now become completely tobacco-free—including cigarettes and e- cigarettes, cigars, pipes and vape pens, and smokeless tobacco—comes after a University working groupexamined the effects that the change would have on students, employees and visitors. The group concluded that becoming a wholly tobacco-free campus is in keeping with being an academic and medical institution that promotes health and wellness, and being a workplace that is welcoming and comfortable to everyone.
As part of this change, free tobacco cessation programs and resources will be promoted to University community members who wish to take advantage of them. However, with the understanding that a tobacco addiction can be significant challenge to overcome, a small number of outdoor smoking shelters have been installed on River Campus, which follows a model that the Medical Center adopted in 2006.
Signs are posted at building entrances and displayed prominently in outdoor areas to inform all individuals entering or occupying University property. The success of the tobacco-free policy will rely on University community members’ participation and help with enforcement—tobacco users will need to abstain or use the smoking shelters while on campus, and everyone will be asked to respectfully inform or remind others about the policy as needed. The tobacco-free policy will be communicated to prospective and enrolling students, as well as new employees. Organizers of University events will be responsible for communicating the policy to vendors and guests.