Smoke and Tobacco-Free UAA
Out of respect for others and the campus environment, tobacco use and smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes and similar products are prohibited on university property (UA BOR Policy P05.12.102).
Where is Smoke and Tobacco Use Permitted?
The UAA smoke and tobacco-free policy does not apply on public right-of-ways, public sidewalks, and in personal vehicles being driven to campus or parked in the parking lots. Tobacco use is not permitted inside UAA parking garages.
See anyone violating the policy?
Send an email to the UAA Smoke and Tobacco-Free Team to tobacco-free@alaska.edu. Provide the location, date, and time of the violation. We will do our best to inform
violators of the policy and direct them to tobacco cessation and control resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why a smoke and tobacco-free UAA?
Why a smoke and tobacco-free UAA?
A smoke and tobacco-free UAA is about respect for others and the campus environment. Cigarette trash is considered the number one source of litter in the world. Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
Research shows UAA students with challenged respiratory conditions or cardiovascular disease are double the number of smokers on campus. For faculty and staff with those particular health conditions, the numbers are triple those of smokers on campus.
A smoke and tobacco-free UAA helps both nonsmokers and smokers. Research shows that even 20 minutes of not smoking helps improve smokers’ health.
The smoke and tobacco-free policy encourages health and promotes a supportive environment for those who want to quit using tobacco. The policy also helps prevent young people from smoking and using tobacco in the first place.
Sources
- Impact of Campus Tobacco-Free Policy on Tobacco and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Initiation and Cessation among Students, Faculty, and Staff (2020)
- Summex Health Management assessment - UA employee wellness (2007)
- National College Health Assessment - UAA student health (2009)
- U.S. Surgeon General’s Report (2012)
- Ocean Conservancy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Where can I smoke or use tobacco?
Where can I smoke or use tobacco after Nov. 19, 2015?
The smoke and tobacco-free policy will be in effect for all UAA properties and surrounding areas, which include the UAA main campus and UAA student housing, University Lake buildings, Aviation Technology, 1901 Bragaw Office Building, UAA section of the University Center, the Alaska Airlines Center, and all UAA extended sites subject to lease agreements.
The policy is about respect for others and the campus environment.
Students, faculty, and staff can purchase nicotine gum ($2 for 10 pieces) at the Student Health Center (located at Rasmuson Hall) during business hours.
If you decide to use tobacco, please note that the UAA smoke and tobacco-free policy DOES NOT apply to:
- Personally owned vehicles parked or being driven on the campus, provided that the vehicles are not within a university parking garage
- Public sidewalks or public rights-of-way that border campus
Littering an area with, or with the remains of, tobacco-related or smoking-related products on campus is also prohibited and carries a $50 fine.
- Does the new policy include e-cigarettes?
Does the new policy include e-cigarettes?
Yes. The new smoke and tobacco-free policy includes e-cigarettes and similar products.
The new policy states:
“Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying of any lighted or heated or vaporized tobacco-related product or non-tobacco plant product, or operating an electronic smoking or vaping device, instrument or apparatus which can be used to simulate the experience of smoking, or which can be used to house a liquid containing nicotine for delivery in any form to the user, including but not limited to hookahs, water pipes, e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, and vape pens.
E-cigarettes are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for tobacco use cessation or harm reduction. For assistance in quitting tobacco use, please see cessation resources below.
- Does the new policy include marijuana?
Does the new policy include marijuana?
Possession or use of marijuana on university property remains prohibited.
The Office of the Dean of Students and Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development issued this statement:
"While the laws of the state and local communities are changing, UAA's policies and regulations regarding marijuana remain unchanged. Possession or use of marijuana on university property is prohibited. Students cannot possess, use, distribute, or be under the influence of marijuana on UAA property or at UAA events. UAA employees are subject to Drug Free Workplace requirements and UAA's Controlled Substance Testing Program."
- How will the new policy be enforced?
How will the new policy be enforced?
UAA will follow the enforcement policy outlined by the UA Board of Regents for the first year of implementation. This enforcement relies on community support to help enforce the policy.
However, it is the responsibility of every member of the university community (including visitors) to comply with the policy.
Additional enforcement measures are currently under review to help enforce the policy in subsequent years. Feedback on these recommendations is welcomed. Furthermore, peer educators will help educate the UAA community regarding the new smoke and tobacco-free policy.
- What happens to those who violate the policy?
What happens to those who violate the policy?
Individuals who do not comply with the policy, repeatedly or deliberately, may be subject to the following actions.
- Students will be referred to the appropriate university student affairs representative for educational resources with an emphasis on cessation.
- Faculty, staff, and volunteers will be referred to their respective supervisors for appropriate action.
- Contractors and vendors will be referred to their respective employers and/or Procurement and Contracting Services for appropriate action.
- Visitors and guests may be required to leave the campus if they fail to conform to the tobacco-free policy or regulation.
- How do I approach those violating the policy?
How do I approach those violating the policy?
- GREET. Introduce yourself and let the person smoking or using tobacco know that UAA is now a smoke and tobacco-free campus.
- ASK. Once the person smoking or using tobacco is done, respectfully ask them to responsibly throw away litter in the trash. There is a $50 fine for littering on campus.
- ASSIST. Help the person violating the policy. If the person is ready to quit, let them know about the student health center or the HealthyRoads program for employees. If they’re not ready to quit, let them know they can go to their car or public sidewalks next time to smoke or use tobacco.
- How do I get help if I want to quit?
How do I get help if I want to quit?
Cessation, or “quit smoking” services are currently offered for students through the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center (907-786-4040) and off campus through Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW).
Faculty and staff are encouraged to seek cessation services through the Healthyroads incentives program (1-877-330-2746) and health insurance resources in addition to Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW).
Students, faculty and staff should be on the lookout for events that will include free quit kits and other incentives.
Quitting tobacco and need more support? Contact us for information on support groups and cessation classes.
- How do I report those violating the smoke and tobacco-free policy?
How do I report those violating the smoke and tobacco-free policy?
Send an email to tobacco-free@alaska.edu. Provide the location, date, and time of the violation. We will do our best to inform violators of the policy and direct them to tobacco cessation and control resources.
You can report those violating the policy using this link.
Please also contact us at tobacco-free@alaska.edu to request a peer educator to help with policy compliance.
- How did this policy come about?
How did this policy come about?
The smoke and tobacco-free movement at UAA is not an anti-smoker campaign. The movement focuses on creating a healthier and safer community for everyone. For those who want to quit, a smoke and tobacco-free UAA also provides support. More importantly, the new policy helps prevent future generations from smoking or using tobacco in the first place.
- 2012-13
The UAA student Asian Pacific Islander Community Wellness Club (APICWC), Master of Public Health (MPH) students and students from the School of Nursing begin advocacy efforts for a smoke-free UAA. - July 2013
UAA's Smoke and Tobacco-Free Facebook page launched. - August 2013
The UAA Smoke-Free Task Force “Say Yes” campaign begins. Research shows UAA student support for a smoke and tobacco-free UAA. - Nov. 21, 2013
UAA Chancellor Tom Case designates “Smoke-Free UAA Day” in honor of the Great American Smokeout - January 2014
USUAA votes to put the smoke-free UAA referendum on the ballot for a student vote - April 2014
UAA students vote for a smoke-free UAA. - June 2014
UAA Smoke-Free Task Force members testify at a University of Alaska Board of Regents meeting for smoke and tobacco-free campuses - August 2014
New research shows UAA faculty and staff support for a smoke and tobacco-free UAA - December 2014
University of Alaska Board of Regents passes a smoke and tobacco-free policy for all UA campuses and properties statewide effective December 2015 - January 2015
Planning for implementation of the new smoke and tobacco-free policy begins - April 2015
Along with the Earth Day campus litter clean-up event, volunteers at the event counted the number of cigarette butts litter they picked up and where the butts were located in UAA's first Cigarette Butts Study - March 2015
Students gathered March 18 for the national Kick Butts celebration. The chancellor announced that UAA will go tobacco-free on Nov. 19, 2015, also marking the Great American Smokeout. - Nov. 19, 2015
UAA implements the new smoke and tobacco-free policy on the date of the Great American Smokeout
With the policy, UAA joins more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the U.S. that are smoke or tobacco free. UAA also joins Providence Alaska Medical Center, the Alaska Native Medical Center and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium as tobacco-free campuses. Most of the U-Med district has been tobacco free since 2006.
- 2012-13