Tobacco Policy FAQ
- The Tobacco-Free Policy applies to all University of Idaho owned and controlled properties, facilities, vehicles and grounds.
- The policy applies to all U of I students and employees, volunteers, visiting independent contractors and businesses and general campus visitors who are on U of I property for any reason.
- According to the U of I policy, the word “tobacco” means cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (chew), e-cigarettes and vapes.
FAQ
The University of Idaho (University) seeks to maintain and promote a healthy and safe environment conducive for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The University recognizes that (1) health hazards are associated with using tobacco products, (2) exposure to secondhand smoke can adversely affect the health of nonsmokers, (3) exposure to tobacco smoke and tobacco products can be unpleasant and distracting for nontobacco users, (4) smoking can ignite fires, (5) tobacco products can transfer toxic materials from hand to mouth, (6) tobacco waste and disposal is a costly ongoing maintenance issue.
For more information, see APM 35.28 – Tobacco-Free Campus.
This policy is for the health and safety of those at U of I. Everyone assumes the collective responsibility for policy enforcement, and all people are encouraged to politely and respectfully inform those violating the policy about its existence. If politely informing people of the policy does not rectify the situation, and someone is in persistent violation, please notify your supervisor and/or contact Public Safety and Security at pss-safety@uidaho.edu or 208-885-2254.
The policy encourages a healthy and safe environment for students, faculty and staff and promotes a tobacco-free lifestyle. Other benefits include: providing a cleaner learning and working environment and a decrease in costs and personnel resources related to tobacco litter cleanup.
The idea of a tobacco-free university has been a number of years in the making and was initiated by a student-led project. It was championed by people representing a broad and diverse group of our university constituents. Many discussions and open forums were held, opportunities for feedback were provided online and a draft was reviewed by a number of groups before being approved by then University of Idaho president, Chuck Staben. The policy went into effect July 1, 2016.
Exemptions that can be considered under this policy: for religious use, when use is in a personal vehicle and when academic research warrants the need. Additional limited exceptions may be granted by the assistant vice-president for facilities.
Browse the tobacco cessation resources page for more information on free, local classes available and support services to assist in quitting tobacco use.