Date Established: 12/1/2009
Date Last Updated: 7/30/2021
Category:
  Administration and Governance
Responsible Office:
  President
  Provost
  Vice President for Finance and Administration
  Vice President for Student Life
Responsible Executive:
  Environment, Health and Safety
  Student Wellness

The University at Buffalo (UB, university) supports an environment where its students, employees, and visitors are not exposed to secondhand smoke. Therefore, smoking is prohibited on all university-managed property, both indoors and outdoors. This includes but is not limited to:

• All buildings on the North, South, and Downtown campuses, classrooms, lecture halls, residences, residence halls, apartments, laboratories (not including labs which have received a waiver from the Erie County Health Commissioner to conduct smoking research), offices, work areas, study areas, reception areas, meeting rooms, lobbies, hallways, stairwells, elevators, eating areas, lounges, restrooms
• Off-site locations such as the Anderson Gallery, UB Downtown Gateway, Educational Opportunity Center, Ira G. Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs Executive Development Center, and Baird Research Park
• Fields, open land areas, parking lots and garages, athletic fields, tracks, bleachers, grandstands, outdoor paths, and roads
• All partially enclosed areas including, but not limited to covered and uncovered walkways, breezeways, bus stop shelters, loading docks, building entrances, and exterior stairways and landings
• All vehicles owned and leased by the University at Buffalo or its affiliated organizations

Organizers of and attendees at public events, such as conferences, meetings, lectures, social events, cultural events, and athletic events using university-managed property will be required to abide by the UB Smoke-Free Policy. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating this policy to attendees.

Health risks associated with smoking are well documented. Research findings show that tobacco use, including smoking and breathing secondhand smoke, constitutes a significant health hazard. Smoking also contributes to institutional costs including fire damage, cleaning and maintenance, and costs associated with employee absenteeism, health care, and medical insurance.

This policy applies to all members of the university community including but not limited to faculty, staff, students, volunteers, trainees, supplemental staff employed through contract agencies or outside trade unions, vendors, guests, and visitors.

Secondhand Smoke

A mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, electronic cigarette, cigar, cigarillo, pipe, beedi, kretek, water pipe, bong, and hookah, and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers.

Smoking

Burning any type of matter or substance that contains tobacco including but not limited to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, beedies, kreteks, water pipes, bongs, and hookahs.

Tobacco-related

Applies to the use of a tobacco brand or corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, motto, selling message, recognizable pattern or colors, or any other indicia of product identical to or similar to, or identifiable with, those used for any brand of tobacco products or company which manufactures tobacco products.

University-managed Property

Property or facilities either owned, leased, or controlled by the University or its related entities.

University Organizations

Institutionalized organizations for students or staff that receive funding directly from the university, and which are coordinated or directed by university staff. Affiliate organizations include those societies, clubs, or the like which are formed because of the special interest of any particular group of students.

Effective implementation of this policy depends on the courtesy, respect, and cooperation of all members of the university at Buffalo community.

• Comply with this policy in a courteous, respectful, and cooperative manner.

• Communicate this policy to their employees and volunteers.

• Communicate this policy to event attendees.

The University at Buffalo shall be entirely smoke-free effective August 1, 2009:

• All designated smoking areas will be eliminated.
• All ash receptacles will be removed.
• New “No Smoking” signs or the international symbol for “No Smoking” will be placed at various locations on campus and in University-owned vehicles.
• Cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, beedies, kreteks, water pipes, bongs, and hookahs will not be sold on university grounds.

• The sale of tobacco products on campus is prohibited. This includes the delivery of tobacco products to the campus by means of a delivery service of any kind.
• The free distribution of tobacco products to university organizations is prohibited.
• University organizations and affiliated organizations are prohibited from accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies, directly or indirectly. This includes sponsorship of parties by tobacco companies, distribution of free, reduced, or full price tobacco products, or any promotional items. This does not apply to research funding.
• Tobacco-related advertising is permitted in a newspaper or magazine not produced by the university and which is lawfully sold, bought, or distributed on university-managed property; this includes student-run newspapers.
  
• Tobacco-related advertising or sponsorship is not permitted:
  • On university-managed property, including billboards or signage in stadiums or on campus, and at university-sponsored events
  • In publications produced by the university

This policy will be:

• Included with orientation information given to all enrolled students
• Communicated to all prospective hires, students, vendors, and contractors
• Communicated to newly hired employees in the New Employee Orientation
• Announced in various university publications and sites
• Distributed to all managers and supervisors for distribution to employees
• Distributed to all event sponsors

The university understands the addictive nature of smoking and the reality that breaking the habit is extremely difficult for many people. The university will make every effort to assist and encourage those who wish to stop smoking and will offer smoking cessation programs, accessible tobacco treatment, and counseling. Employees should contact the Wellness and Work/Life Balance Office and students should contact Wellness Education Services for assistance with smoking cessation.

Employees

Violations of this policy will be addressed through educational and corrective measures. Educational measures include smoking cessation programs, tobacco treatment, and counseling. Corrective measures are limited to those provided in the Compliance section of the original August 1994 Smoke-Free Policy included at the end of this policy. Enforcement for employees will not change from that provided in the original policy.

Students

Students will be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs & Student Advocacy.

Visitors, Guests, Volunteers, Trainees, Vendors, and Supplemental Staff employed through contract agencies or trade unions

These individuals are expected to observe the University at Buffalo Smoke-Free Policy. Department heads, building coordinators, sponsors, and hosts of university events are responsible for notifying individuals of the policy, including the restrictions on the sale or distribution of tobacco products. Individuals who smoke will be requested to extinguish the cigarette, electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc. and will be informed of the policy. Refusal to do so will constitute a violation of the policy and may result in removal from or denial of re-admittance to the building or event.