2006 NKU Clean Air Act
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The Northern Kentucky University campus smoking policy shall be known as the “The 2006 NKU Clean Air Act.” (See Exhibit A)  

This policy shall supersede Northern Kentucky University Administrative Regulation AR-II-5.0-11 “Campus Smoking Policy” enacted August 4, 1993. The 2006 NKU Clean Air Act shall take effect no later than five (5) months after enactment by the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents.

General Regulations

Definition(s)
For the purpose of this policy:
“smoking” is defined as burning any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, bidis, and pipes; and
“facility” is defined as any structure(s), building(s), area, site, place or property under the supervision and/or control of Northern Kentucky University.

1. The Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights campus shall be designated as non-smoking within all common pedestrian areas, such as the Loch Norse area, Norse Commons, University Plaza and other highly populated areas, unless otherwise stipulated in this policy. Further, the campus shall be designated as nonsmoking within a thirty-foot (30) perimeter of all campus facilities, unless othe rwise stipulated as a smoking area in this policy (See Section 1A).

1. The six designated smoking areas are: 1) the south entrance of the lower level of Landrum Hall; 2) the north entrance of the Applied Science & Technology Building; 3) the east entrance of the University Center on the ground floor; 4) near the Sun Dial in the University Plaza; 5) the Herman Science Center plaza; 6) the south side of Health Center. (See Exhibit B)


 

2. Smoking shall be prohibited in all common pedestrian areas and public thoroughfares. 
    

3. Smoking shall be prohibited in all university buildings. 
    

4. Smoking shall be prohibited in all university vehicles. 
    

5. Smoking shall be prohibited in the University Plaza except for designated areas marked with signage. 
    

6. Smoking shall be prohibited on all ramps and bridges leading to facility entrances.
    

7. Smoking shall be prohibited on, or around the entire lake area (Loch Norse) and green space surrounding the lake.
    

8. Smoking shall be prohibited inside the residential village facilities and outdoors within thirty (30) feet of all residential facilities and common pedestrian areas within the residential village.
    

9. Smoking shall be prohibited on and within thirty (30) feet of all athletic and intramural facilities.
    

10. Smoking shall be prohibited on and within thirty (30) feet of all Northern Kentucky University satellite campus facilities.
     

11. “No-smoking” and “smoking permitted” signs shall be posted in the appropriate areas. If smoking signage is not readily visible, the area shall be assumed to be a no-smoking area.
     

12. The use of smokeless tobacco inside any University facility or vehicle is prohibited.
     

13. Littering of cigarette butts and all other tobacco products (smokeless tobacco), including the packaging of such products on campus is prohibited. The spitting or expectorating of smokeless tobacco onto University property shall also be considered littering.
     

14. This policy shall not pertain to residential facilities outside of the residential village owned by Northern Kentucky University not being used for academic, office space, or common public space.
     

15. The Vice President of Administration and Finance shall be responsible for assigning future smoking areas within the main campus outside of residential housing.
     

16. The Director of Residential Housing shall be responsible for assigning smoking areas within the residential village.
     

17. Northern Kentucky University shall appropriate adequate funds to inform the campus community of and to effectively enforce this policy.
     

18. Northern Kentucky University shall develop a smoking cessation program for members of the campus community.

2. The sale of tobacco products on the Northern Kentucky University campus shall be prohibited.

3. The free distribution of tobacco products by tobacco companies, their agents, or distributors on campus shall be prohibited.

4. Northern Kentucky University student organizations are prohibited from distributing free tobacco products or accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies unless approved by the Vice-President for Student Affairs.

5. All tobacco product advertising shall be prohibited on Northern Kentucky University’s campuses.

6. Enforcement:

1. Deans, directors, department heads, supervisors and administrators are responsible for disseminating this policy, for encouraging compliance with this policy, and for monitoring the appropriate signage.

2. Monitoring and enforcement of this policy shall be the responsibility of the unit heads. The policy will be administered in accordance with established disciplinary and grievance policies.

3. Student organizations that violate section four of the General Regulations of this policy shall be subject to discipline by the Dean of Students.

4. Organizers and attendees of public events, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social events and cultural events, using Northern Kentucky University facilities sha ll be required to abide by this policy. Organizers of such events shall be responsible for communicating this policy to attendees and for enforcing this policy.

5. Third party vendors, owners, principal managers, proprietors, or any other persons in control of a business on Northern Kentucky University property shall be responsible for communicating this policy to all subordinates, employees and agents.

7. Policy Review:

1. This policy shall be reviewed periodically by the Vice-President for Administration and Finance to assess its effectiveness in providing a healthy environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Minimally, one review shall take place annually.

2. The Vice-President of Administration and Finance shall be responsible for designating future smoking permitted areas. In making a determination of smoking permitted areas, the following general guidelines, shall be used:

1. Smoking shall be prohibited in all campus buildings and outside in areas of the campus where non-smokers cannot avoid exposure to smoke.

2. Smoking shall be prohibited within all main thoroughfares and walkways unless designated by appropriate signage.

3. Smoking shall be prohibited up to 30 feet outside any enclosed facility (and common pedestrian areas) where smoking is prohibited to ensure that secondhand smoke does not enter the area through entrances, windows, ventilation systems, or any other means.

4. Smoking shall be prohibited in all partially enclosed areas such as covered walkways, breezeways, and walkways between sections of buildings, areas immediately adjacent to building entrances; and exterior stairways and landings unless designated by appropriate signage.

5. Generally, it shall be the policy of Northern Kentucky University to attempt to lower the prevalence of tobacco use among its students, faculty, staff, and visitors, not by discriminatory hiring or admission practices, but by promoting sound health policy. Thus, the Northern Kentucky University smoking policy should trend towards the reduction in the relative number of designated smoking areas.

EXHIBIT A

Campus Smoking Policy Rationale

It is important to note that the four major conclusions of The 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on the Health Consequences of Smoking were:

• Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing the health of smokers in general.

• Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits, reducing risks for diseases caused by smoking and improving health in general.

• Smoking cigarettes with lower machine- measured yields of tar and nicotine provides no clear benefit to health.

• The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer. These are in addition to diseases previously known to be caused by smoking, including bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, and throat cancers, chronic lung diseases, coronary heart and cardiovascular diseases, as well as reproductive effects and sudden infant death syndrome. U.S. Surgeon Gen., The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (2004).

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a Class A carcinogen. Envtl. Prot. Agency Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders (1993). Attempts to stop exposure to secondhand smoke through limiting smoking to enclosed spaces is ineffective because smoke can easily travel through open doors, space in door frames, and through heating vents.

Northern Kentucky University has a responsibility to its employees, students and visitors to provide a safe and healthy environment. Research findings show that tobacco use in general, including smoking and breathing secondhand smoke, constitutes a significant health hazard. In addition to causing direct health hazards, smoking can contribute to institutional costs in other ways, including fire damage, cleaning and maintenance costs, and costs associated with employee absenteeism and health care.

Therefore, Northern Kentucky University has resolved to institute a restricted, campus wide, indoor and outdoor smoking policy to protect nonsmokers who cannot avoid exposure to second hand smoke. This policy does not intend to vilify or embarrass current smokers, yet, proposes to create a healthier environment on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.