FAQ
Why did Saint Mary鈥檚 University decide to go to a tobacco-free campus?
A tobacco-free campus demonstrates responsible stewardship of our environment by reducing toxic cigarette butt litter, eliminating smoke-filled areas at building entrances and reducing associated fire risk. It also sets a good example that tobacco use is not the social norm, particularly for children, youth and families that use our campus facilities.
We want to ensure that we send a clear message about tobacco use not being acceptable on our campus and that we strongly support the University鈥檚 goal to create a healthier environment.
A tobacco-free campus protects everyone from the health dangers related to second-hand smoke. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Tobacco-free policies have also been found to lower tobacco consumption among workplace employees, and may help individuals who smoke to quit and stay tobacco-free. Within universities, tobacco-free policies have been shown to reduce smoking, particularly among students who were not regular smokers before entering university. Hence we want to eliminate 鈥渢riggers鈥� to smoke that make it difficult for people trying to quit or stay tobacco-free.
What does 鈥渢obacco-free鈥� campus mean?
The use of tobacco and tobacco-related products is prohibited.
What type of tobacco products does this include?
All tobacco and tobacco-related products, as well as alternative devices. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, chewing tobacco, blunts, snus, snuff, as well as shisha, water pipes (hookahs), all smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes (vapours). It also includes herbal or simulated tobacco products including clove cigarettes (called bidis, beedies and kreteks).
When did the policy come into effect?
September 1, 2013.
Who does the policy apply to?
The tobacco-free policy applies to anyone on University property, including, but not limited to, students, staff, faculty, visitors, contractors, and sporting event spectators.
What areas of campus will the tobacco-free policy cover?
The policy includes any and all University owned, leased, rented or maintained property, including but not limited to buildings, facilities, parking lots, and grounds. In addition the policy includes all University owned, leased, or rented vehicles. This includes vehicles parked on the campus properties and in our parking lots, garages, and on green lawn areas.
How can students, staff, and faculty help with enforcement?
All students, staff, and faculty have collective responsibility to promote the safety and health of the campus community and, therefore, share in the responsibility of enforcement. We are offering a 鈥減olite and cooperative鈥� campaign and as such, have developed thank you cards. The cards read: 鈥淩eminder that Saint Mary鈥檚 University is a tobacco-free campus. Thank you for helping make our University a healthier place!鈥� We appreciate your cooperation.
These cards are held at all front-line service and information desks for departments to hand out across campus. We encourage everyone to take some cards and hand them out as you move about the campus on your daily journey. They can be used to thank people who are respecting the policy by using tobacco off property or as a reminder for people using tobacco on property.
We need everyone鈥檚 cooperation to make the policy work across our campus. We are optimistic that students, staff, and faculty will all champion the message behind the policy and do their parts by promoting good will as they ask individuals to nicely move off campus.
The following are suggested scripts to use as a helpful guide to promote the policy:
Example Script #1:
Situation: You see a person using a tobacco product on University property.
Response: "Hello. I want to make you aware that we are a tobacco-free campus. Use of tobacco and tobacco-related products is prohibited on our grounds. We would appreciate it if you would not use tobacco products while visiting our campus. Thank you for your cooperation."
Example Script #2:
Question: "Where am I allowed to smoke?"
Response: "If you need to use tobacco-related products you will need to leave the campus.
Example Script #3:
Situation: For registration, admission, and front-line office staff who are speaking to students and families:
"I'd like to let you know that our campus is a tobacco-free environment. Use of tobacco and tobacco-related products is prohibited on our grounds. We would appreciate if you would not use tobacco products while visiting our campus. Thank you for your cooperation."
If you do not feel comfortable approaching individuals, or experience rude comments and/or aggressive behaviour from tobacco users after approaching them, you may report individuals anonymously to Security at 420-5577. Security will advise individuals of the policy and ask that they refrain from using tobacco products on campus.
How will the policy be enforced?
University Security will advise the individual of the policy and ask the individual to leave campus. The University Security officers are authorized to issue notices for violations of the policy.
- If the individual does not leave, or is a repeat offender, University Security will request the person鈥檚 identification and complete an incident form.
- If the individual does not provide identification, University Security will ask the person to leave campus.
The University Security Office will give out notices, much like the parking notices, as well as track these notices to identify repeat offenders. After three violations, names of individuals will go back to the appropriate Supervisor.
University Security will forward names of:
- Students to the Senior Director of Student Services (420鈥�5761)
- Staff to the Senior Director of Human Resources who will forward the complaint to the appropriate manager (420-5564)
- Faculty to the Senior Director of Human Resources (420-5564); who will forward the complaint to the Office of the Vice-President of Academic and Research
- Visitors to the Department being visited
- Employees of contractor to the Senior Director of Facilities Management. (420-5572)
Complaints may be also reported to University Security at 420-5577.
Our University residences have been smoke-free for a number of years and will remain so under this new tobacco-free campus policy. Residence staff (including RSOs, RCs, RAs, and administrators) are authorized to issue fines and/or citations for violations of residence smoking policies and the tobacco-free campus policy within the residence complex.
The Tobacco Policy Working Committee will evaluate reports of repeated offenders, neighborhood concerns, and overall policy issues and will recommend actions for resolution.
Is there a place on campus where individuals can smoke?
There is a small outdoor area which is restricted to students who live in Residence. We have created a small pilot area which only operates from 10 pm until 6 am. This area is intended only for those students living in Residence and still need to remain in a safe area. The Tobacco Policy Working Committee will evaluate the value of this pilot area.
What efforts will be made towards educating stakeholders and departments about the policy?
The InBalance Health & Wellness Program Coordinator will be providing ongoing orientations and education across the University. For visitors, we believe reminders about the tobacco-free campus will be important. The University will provide on-going messaging on University affiliated materials, website, conference and vendor contracts, and as part of its various sporting events.
The InBalance Health & Wellness Program Coordinator is also working closely with various Student groups, including the International Student Centre staff and volunteers, to ensure that we bring awareness and expectations of the policy forward to all students. In addition, SMUSA (Student Union Association), TARS (Tobacco & Alcohol Research Society) and the Coordinator will be offering various activities towards an awareness campaign for all students.
What about concerns from the neighbors?
The University asks that our students, staff, and faculty help maintain a positive relationship with the neighbors who border the campus. We encourage respect for neighboring properties and ask tobacco users to refrain from congregating in large groups on sidewalks to smoke. We raise this as we want to avoid creating a lot of noise, littering with tobacco products, or even generating a cloud of second-hand smoke for people to walk through.
We also ask that individuals be extremely careful not to use tobacco products around the day care and nearby schools where children and families are close by.