Phase Two of Smoke-Free Policy on MU Campus to Begin in July

Smoking will be limited to top levels of parking garages and certain campus locations

April 6th, 2011

By Brad Fischer

COLUMBIA, Mo. – To improve the health and wellness of faculty, staff and students, University of Missouri officials will implement phase two of a three-phase policy that will eventually ban smoking on the MU campus. The second phase of the policy, which was adopted in 2009, goes into effect on July 1, 2011 and restricts smoking to designated areas. The plan calls for the MU campus to become smoke-free by 2014.

“The success of this policy relies on the thoughtfulness, consideration and cooperation of smokers and nonsmokers,” MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said. “MU is committed to providing a safe and healthy place for our faculty, staff, students and visitors.”

According to the policy, smoking is prohibited in MU-owned or -leased property currently. In phase two, smoking will only be allowed on surface parking lots, the top levels of parking garages, and at designated outdoor areas on campus. A map of those areas can be found at smokefree.missouri.edu. Exceptions to these restrictions include academic research approved by the Campus Institutional Review Board.

To assist employees, the T.E. Atkins UM Wellness Program will provide smoking cessation programs for employees while the MU Wellness Resource Center will provide smoking cessation programs for students. According to the policy, all members of the university community share the responsibility of adhering to and enforcing the policy. If conflicts or problems should arise, environmental, safety and health considerations will be considered first.

The University is moving in phases to give students, staff and faculty the opportunity to take advantage of smoking cessation programs offered on campus. Prescription smoking cessation drugs are covered under the University of Missouri Healthcare Program at the same level of benefits as other drugs.  For more information, visit the UM Faculty and Staff Benefits website at:  www.umsystem.edu\ums\departments\hr\benefits.

The smoking policy was developed in 2008 by a task force composed of students, faculty and staff. The task force held a series of open forums and conducted a campuswide survey on attitudes toward smoking. The task force forwarded its recommendations to the vice chancellor for administrative services. The vice chancellor reviewed those recommendations with members of MU’s Faculty Council, Staff Advisory Council, the Missouri Students Association and the Graduate Professional Council and developed the policy.

For more information on how to quit smoking, the policy and locations where smoking is permitted, visit smokefree.missouri.edu.