In order to promote health, wellness and safety, Missouri Western State University is a tobacco-free campus beginning July 1, 2013. A new policy prohibits the use of tobacco products throughout campus inside and outside. It applies to all students, employees, contractors, volunteers and visitors on university owned, leased or controlled property. Tobacco products include, but are not limited to: cigarettes (traditional and electronic), cigars, pipes, hookahs and smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, snus).
“The primary reason for the smoke-free initiative is to maintain a healthy and safe environment conducive to learning for all students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said Sally Sanders, director of human resources. “Tobacco use is not compatible with that environment. Research is clear that smoking, breathing secondhand smoke and the use of smokeless tobacco result in a significant health hazard. Missouri Western is pleased to be a community leader in the effort to provide a healthy, tobacco-free environment.”
Missouri Western’s health and wellness services will coordinate efforts to notify, educate and promote the tobacco-free initiative. Free tobacco cessation classes are available to students and employees. Those who attend the classes will also receive free nicotine replacement therapy products such as the patch or gum to help them quit successfully.
“Most people, including those who use tobacco products, understand the harmful effects of tobacco and we want to provide them with health tools and resources to have a tobacco-free lifestyle,” Sanders said. “With the cessation classes, we can help people quit successfully and enhance the quality of life on our campus.”
Missouri Western’s Board of Governors approved a resolution supporting a tobacco-free campus at its April 2012 meeting. The office of human resources and the university’s Wellness Committee drafted the policy and won the support of the Student Government Association, the Faculty Senate and the Staff Senate. The proposal was recommended by Missouri Western’s Governance Advisory Council on Oct. 16 and signed by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president, on Oct. 23.
“All faculty, staff and students will have a collective responsibility to promote the safety and health of the campus community and therefore share in the responsibility of enforcement,” Sanders said. Missouri Western reserves the right to initiate disciplinary procedures against any individual found to be in continuous violation of the new policy.
More than 780 colleges or universities currently have tobacco-free policies.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St.
Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social
development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.