Missouri State University

Tobacco Use Policy

Op11.18 Tobacco Use/Smoking Policy

This policy has revisions that become effective August 15, 2012. The revised Tobacco Use/Smoking Policy is listed below.

  1. Purpose

    The purpose of this policy is to promote wellness, ensure a healthy work environment, and provide guidelines for tobacco use on Missouri State University grounds and facilities.  It applies to all tobacco products.

  2. Background

    Each year, approximately 443,000 people die prematurely of diseases caused by smoking, accounting for 1 out of every 5 deaths in the United States (CDC 2003).  Smoking is the primary causal factor for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, for nearly 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and for early cardiovascular disease and deaths (CDC 2004). Use of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes, and other tobacco products leads to disease and death. In addition to causing direct health hazards, smoking and smokeless tobacco use contribute to institutional costs in other ways, including fire damage, cleaning and maintenance costs and costs associated with employee and student absenteeism, health care, and medical insurance. Smoking accounts for 5.1 million years of potential life lost and $96.9 billion in productivity losses annually in the United States (CDC 2004).

    It is the policy of Missouri State University to promote the health, well being and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors while on the campus.  Tobacco use and secondhand smoke have been identified by the Surgeon General to be the cause of preventable diseases.  Second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, of which more than 50 are known or suspected carcinogens.  No scientific authority or regulatory health body in the world has established a safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.  Second-hand smoke has been classified as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (an agency of the World Health Organization), the U.S. National Toxicology Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Missouri State University encourages students, faculty and staff to support and use tobacco cessation programs.  Missouri State University welcomes students of all ages through a variety of campus programs.  In order to support the health and welfare of visitors of all ages, the University will limit the use of tobacco products and will work to reduce exposure to second- hand smoke.

  3. Policy
    1. Smoking and the use of tobacco products (including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes, and other tobacco products) by students, faculty, staff and visitors are prohibited on all Missouri State University properties except as set forth herein.
    2. The use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited at all locations on campus.  The use of other tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and all other tobacco products) is prohibited at all times:
      1. In all interior spaces on the Missouri State University campus including leased facilities;
      2. In all University vehicles, including buses, vans, and all other University vehicles and vehicles leased by/to the University;
      3. In all indoor and outdoor athletic and entertainment facilities, as well as the grandstands of outdoor facilities; and
      4. In all other areas of campus not specifically identified in subsection III.C of this policy.
    3. Smoking and the use of tobacco products will be allowed only at the following outdoor locations:
      1. Designated smoking areas outside JQH Arena, Plaster Stadium, Hammons Student Center, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall during performances or events;
      2. Other designated smoking areas throughout campus; and
      3. Inside of private vehicles located on University parking lots.
    4. The University prohibits the sale, distribution, or free sampling of tobacco products on campus.
    5. The University prohibits the campus-controlled advertising of tobacco products on campus except for facilities leased for performances or events.
    6. Littering the campus with remains of tobacco products or any other disposable product is prohibited.
    7. Organizers and attendees at public events, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social events, cultural events, and sporting events using University facilities will be required to abide by the University policy.  Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating the policy to attendees and for enforcing this policy.
  4. Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Use Cessation Programs

    Preventing smoking and increasing cessation rates to prevent heart disease and stroke shall remain a priority on the campus of Missouri State University.  Leading causes of death, such as lung cancer and COPD, could become relatively uncommon in future generations if the prevalence of smoking is substantially reduced.  Quitting smoking by age 30 eliminates nearly all excess risk associated with smoking, and smokers who quit smoking before age 50 cut in half their risk of dying in the next 15 years (CDC 2002).  Missouri State University is committed to support all University students and employees who wish to stop using tobacco products.  Assistance to students, faculty and staff to overcome addiction to tobacco products is available through Taylor Health and Wellness Center via the Smoking Cessation Program.  The Missouri Tobacco Quitline is also available at no cost by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).  Free coaching, nicotine replacement patches or gum and educational material are offered here as well as interactive online support groups.  Referrals to cessation services are encouraged by all faculty, staff and students.

  5. Compliance

    Adherence to the policy cited above is the responsibility of all University students, faculty, staff and visitors.  It is expected that all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus will comply with this policy.  Members of our campus community are empowered to respectfully inform others about the policy in an ongoing effort to enhance awareness and encourage compliance.  A complaint against a student who fails to respond to a request to comply with this policy may be reported to the Dean of Students’ office.  A complaint against an employee who fails to respond to a request to comply with this policy may be reported to a dean, director, or supervisor.  Refusal of University employees or students to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action as set forth in the Employee Handbook and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

  6. Tobacco-Free Campus

    This is an interim policy.  Missouri State University has the goal of being smoke free by August 15, 2012.  At that time, it is anticipated that this policy will be replaced.

For more information, please visit www.missouristate.edu/tobaccofree. 

The following revisions become effective August 15, 2012.

  1. Purpose

    The purpose of this policy is to promote wellness, ensure a healthy work and educational environment, and provide guidelines for tobacco use on Missouri State University grounds and facilities. It applies to all tobacco products.

  2. Background

    Missouri State University has for many years had a Tobacco Use/Smoking Policy that restricted smoking and the use of tobacco products on campus. Over the years, this policy has been modified with the goal of promoting the health of our campus citizens and visitors to the campus. In 2009 a number of groups on campus discussed the University Tobacco Use Policy, the health hazards contributed to tobacco use and second hand smoke, and considered potential changes to the policy. Rather than have individual groups working in parallel on this issue, the President of Missouri State University appointed one committee representing major campus constituencies to advise the administration and to make coordinated recommendations for any policy changes. The result from this Presidential Committee was a policy change following a two year interim policy period which included educational and informational campaigns and the use of campus designated smoking locations. The interim policy was designed to transition to a new Tobacco Use Policy by August 15, 2012.

  3. Policy (Effective August 15, 2012)
    1. Smoking and the use of tobacco products (including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes, and other tobacco products) by students, faculty, staff and visitors are prohibited on all Missouri State University properties except as set forth herein.
    2. The use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited at all locations on campus.
    3. The use of other tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and all other tobacco products) is prohibited at all times:
      1. In all interior spaces on the Missouri State University campus including leased facilities;
      2. In all University vehicles, including buses, vans, and all other University vehicles and vehicles leased by/to the University;
      3. In all other indoor and outdoor areas of campus not specifically identified in Subsection III.D of this policy.
    4. Smoking and the use of tobacco products will be allowed only at the following outdoor locations:
      1. Designated smoking areas outside JQH Arena, Plaster Stadium, Hammons Student Center, and Juanita K. Hammons Hall during performances or events;
      2. Inside of private vehicles located on University parking lots.
    5. The University prohibits the sale, distribution, or free sampling of tobacco products on campus.
    6. The University prohibits the campus-controlled advertising of tobacco products on campus except for facilities leased for performances or events.
    7. Littering the campus with remains of tobacco products or any other disposable product is prohibited.
    8. Organizers and attendees at public events, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social events, cultural events, and sporting events using University facilities will be required to abide by the University policy. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating the policy to attendees and for enforcing this policy.
  4. Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Use Cessation Programs

    Preventing smoking and increasing cessation rates to prevent heart disease and stroke shall remain a priority on the campus of Missouri State University. Leading causes of death, such as lung cancer and COPD, could become relatively uncommon in future generations if the prevalence of smoking is substantially reduced. Assistance to students, faculty and staff to overcome addiction to tobacco products is available through Taylor Health and Wellness Center via the Smoking Cessation Program.

  5. Compliance

    Adherence to the policy cited above is the responsibility of all University students, faculty, staff and visitors. It is expected that all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus will comply with this policy. Members of our campus community are empowered to respectfully inform others about the policy in an ongoing effort to enhance awareness and encourage compliance. A complaint against a student who fails to respond to a request to comply with this policy may be reported to the Dean of Students’ Office. A complaint against an employee who fails to respond to a request to comply with this policy may be reported to a dean, director, or supervisor. Refusal of University employees or students to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action as set forth in the Employee Handbook and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

For more information, please visit www.missouristate.edu/tobaccofree.