Approved: April 20, 2015
Monitor: Vice President for Business Affairs
The University is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable, and productive work environment for employees and students. The right of non-tobacco users to protect their health and comfort shall take precedence over another person's right to use tobacco.
In accordance with the Illinois Smoke Free Campus Act, 410 ILCS 82/1-90, the use of all tobacco products is prohibited on all campus property, both indoors and outdoors, including buildings, grounds, parking lots, and vehicles that are owned, leased, occupied, operated, or otherwise controlled by Eastern Illinois University.
The advertising, sale, or free sampling of tobacco products is also prohibited on campus property.
Littering the remains of tobacco products or any other related waste product on campus property is further prohibited by the Illinois Litter Control Act, 415 ILCS 105/1-14.
This policy applies to any individual on campus property, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, other employees, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, visitors, and members of the public, and is applicable at all times.
Prohibitions of this policy shall not apply to any instance in which an individual is traveling through campus in a vehicle that is not owned by a State-supported institution of higher education. Employees, students and visitors may use tobacco while parked in their personal vehicle provided that all windows remain closed and provided that tobacco smoke is not released when exiting from the vehicle.
Tobacco use may be allowed in enclosed laboratories, not open to the public, in an accredited university or government facility where the activity of smoking is exclusively conducted for the purpose of medical or scientific, health-related research. Requests for exemptions should be requested from the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice-President for Business Affairs.
“Tobacco Use” does not include smoking that is associated with a native recognized religious ceremony, ritual, or activity by American Indians that is in accordance with the federal American Indian Religious Freedom Act, Sections 1996 and 1996a of Title 42 of the United States Code.
Requests for exemptions should be requested from the Office of the Vice-President for Business Affairs.
All forms of tobacco are prohibited, including any tobacco product that is smoked, snuffed, or chewed. All forms of tobacco, including cigarette, pipe, cigar, cigarillos, beedies, water pipes, hookah, marijuana, weed, herbs, non-tobacco plants or other lighted smoking equipment, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, electronic-cigarettes or vaporizers, and any non-FDA approved nicotine delivery are prohibited.
The success of this policy relies on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of tobacco users and non-tobacco users.
A strong focus of this policy is on education and awareness. Where appropriate, units within the university should strive to contribute to increased awareness and communication of this policy through the use of posters, signage, notices in event programs, marketing, promotions, and other materials designed for new students, employees, outside groups using university facilities, and visitors.
Members of the university community who see individuals using tobacco on university grounds may respectfully inform these individuals of the university policy prohibiting smoking anywhere on university grounds. Individuals who do not feel comfortable approaching someone violating the policy can contact University Police for assistance.
Complaints regarding specific individuals involving tobacco should be brought to the attention of the appropriate university office/individual. Complaints regarding this policy should be forwarded to the University Police Department or the Health Education Resource Center.
On-line Tobacco-Free Campus Non-Compliance Report Forms for problematic locations and/or individuals is available through the Health Education Resource Center at: https://www.eiu.edu/about/tobaccofree.php. Once notified, HERC staff will forward information on to appropriate university officials (building coordinators, parties noted in Individual Tobacco Related Complaint Section) for further investigation.
Sanctions and consequences may be administered for violations of this policy. Student violators will be referred to the Office of Student Standards. Employees who violate the policy will be subject to disciplinary measures including counseling, suspension or administrative fines in accordance with applicable Internal Governing Policies and collective bargaining agreements. Appeals may be made in accordance with applicable policies and collective bargaining agreements. Visitors and members of the public who refuse to comply with this policy may be asked to leave campus.
For faculty, staff, and students who wish to quit tobacco, tobacco cessation clinics are available through the Health Education Resource Center. Faculty and Staff who successfully complete the program are eligible to receive program registration fee reimbursement through the State of Illinois Central Management Systems. Student registration fees are partially subsidized through the Student Health Service Fee. Individuals interested in tobacco cessation may visit https://www.eiu.edu/herc/machform/view.php?id=64154 for additional information.