Tobacco Free

January 1, 2011

Trine University is putting an emphasis on wellness. Several programs across campus have been initiated for both employees and students. The university′s goal is to improve the health and quality of life for students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors.

Smoking or use of any tobacco product will not be permitted in any facility or on the grounds of Trine University.

Tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes (traditional and e–cigarettes), chew, pipes, cigars, hookah or waterpipe smoking, snuff, and snus.

The policy applies to every person who comes to the Trine University campus, including visitors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, volunteers, contractors, and service representatives.

Yes. When this change is enacted on January 1, 2011 Trine will join more than 300 other United States colleges and universities with tobacco–free and smoke–free policies in place for the entire campus, indoors and out. Some campuses in Indiana include: Bethel College, Goshen College, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Taylor University, Valparaiso University, University of St. Francis.

No. The Trustees of Trine University have the authority to govern the use of university property and regulate its use.

No. The entire campus is tobacco free.

There are two reasons why Trine University decided not to create designated smoking areas. First, designated smoking areas are not consistent with the policy. The aim of Trine′s tobacco–free policy is to create a healthy environment to live, work, and learn. Creating smoking areas sends a message that tobacco use is acceptable; rather, the university promotes healthy lifestyles and provides assistance for students and employees who are ready to quit and for those who need to manage their addiction symptoms while on campus.

Second, designated smoking areas create confusion and are a compliance challenge. Experience on other college campuses and best practice for tobacco policy pointed us in the direction of a comprehensive campus wide tobacco–free policy with no designated smoking areas.

Trine University does not have jurisdiction over the use of city owned streets, sidewalks and right–of–ways in regard to tobacco–related activities. However, please note that many streets and adjacent sidewalks on the campus are university property.

No

No

Yes

Yes, with one exception. The tobacco free policy does not apply to Zollner Golf Course.

Yes

No. Trine University′s tobacco free policy has no jurisdiction over Greek properties. However, please check with individual Greek organizations for policies and procedures they may have in regard to tobacco use on their individual property.

The policy is in place to promote a healthy environment in which to work, study, and live. The enforcement of this policy will depend upon the cooperation of all faculty, staff, and students not only to comply with this policy but also to encourage others to also comply. Accordingly, tobacco users are expected to voluntarily comply with the policy.

All university employees and students have a role of responsibility in the enforcement of the policy.

Anyone who observes a possible violation may courteously and without confrontation inform the individual of the tobacco policy. Those who suspect another is violating the policy may report it to the appropriate department for possible disciplinary action.

If the person is an employee and that person continues to use tobacco products on Trine University grounds please advise an immediate supervisor or the Office of People Services of the incident by calling 260.665.4111. If the person is a student, please advise the Office of Student Life by calling 260.665.4168. For branch campuses, please contact the campus director of that location.

If an employee refuses to comply with the policy, the immediate supervisor shall be notified. The supervisor will follow up with the employee to remind the employee about the policy and available resources for assistance with smoking cessation. Continuing violations may also result in appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with progressive disciplinary policies in place for employees.

If a student refuses to comply with the policy, the Office of Dean of Students shall be contacted. This office will follow up with the student regarding the policy and available resources for assistance with smoking cessation. Continuing violations may also result in appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with progressive disciplinary policies in place for students.

You may simply state, "Trine has adopted a tobacco free and wellness initiative for all of campus. This includes everyone who visits our campus. While we are glad to have you on our campus, we hope that you will comply with our efforts in promoting healthy lifestyles for our campus community, thank you".

It is recommended that managers/supervisors inform all employees of this policy both in writing and in person.

No, the university cannot mandate that you quit using tobacco, but you cannot use tobacco on university property.

Offering educational programs and presentations, conducting physical and readiness assessments, recommend on-line and phone-in cessation programs, distributing print collateral stating available resources.

• Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (ITPC)
• Indiana Tobacco Quitline which is free to all Indiana residents. (1-800-QUIT NOW)
• Request a Quit Packet at www.indianaquitline.net
• The National Cancer Institute has a toll–free quitline in English and Spanish. The toll–free number is 1-877-44U-QUIT (7848) and it is available Monday–Friday, 9–4:30, local time
• Quitnet offers a way to devise your own quit plan, forums where you can communicate with others and expert advice. Go to www.quitnet.com and click on " Get Started Now" in box on right. They also have information in Spanish and an online chat area where quitnet members can go "when you need help right now."
• There′s a great site especially for college students at http://www.tobaccofreeu.org/
• The American Lung Association, whose Web site is in both English and Spanish, has an online smoking cessation program called "Freedom from Smoking" that can be accessed by going to http://www.lungusa.org/. The site also has great information on steps to take when you′re planning to quit. If you would like to use printed guides or attend smoking cessation sessions, contact the local office of the American Lung Association at (317) 573-3900.
• The Center for Disease Control Web site, in both English and Spanish, has educational information and information on how to quit. Go to http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco.
• Women who are pregnant and quit smoking are more likely to go full–term and give their babies more oxygen and a chance to have good lung function and normal birth weight. After birth, smoking cessation means that you lower the baby′s chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and lung–related infections. If you are looking for specific information about pregnancy and smoking, go to www.americanlegacy.org/greatstart , http://www.helppregnantsmokersquit.org or call toll-free1-866-66-START (78278)
• Tobacco Free Nurses (tobaccofreenurses.org)
• Your personal primary care physician can also assist you in quitting and locating the cessation program closest to you.

We hope civility and respect for others will guide all of us during the transition toward a tobacco–free campus. We realize that this policy may be taxing for tobacco users, but we hope that smokers will respect the right of their fellow members of the university community to breathe smoke–free air.

We also hope that non–smokers who feel compelled to remind violators of the tobacco–free policy will do so with courtesy and civility.

Director of people services
260.665.4111
tobaccofree@trine.edu