Robillard discusses tobacco-free policy

Jean Robillard
Interim President

Dear students, faculty, and staff:

I am writing to let you know that as of Aug. 24, the University of Iowa is a tobacco-free campus.

The tobacco-free campus policy amends the university’s current smoke-free campus policy, which prohibits cigarette and cigar smoking on the UI campus. Among the additional products that will be prohibited from on-campus use under the tobacco-free policy are:

• Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes
• Chewing or smokeless tobacco
• Snuff or snus
• Pipes, water pipes (hookahs), bidis, and kreteks

Our objective is to support a healthy campus culture and to promote the health and well-being of all campus community members. The tobacco-free policy underscores our commitment to those goals.

There is a significant amount of research documenting health risks associated with tobacco use, and there is growing evidence of the potential health hazards around the use of e-cigarettes.

The policy change comes after months of study and careful consideration by a working group formed by former president Sally Mason’s office. That group assessed regional and national trends with tobacco-free policies in higher education and gathered input from the UI campus community on the proposed change.

The tobacco-free working group will continue to communicate with current and prospective students, faculty, and staff, as well as patients and visitors to the UI campus. Campus signage updates are in progress as part of this communication effort and will be completed during the fall semester.

There are on-campus services and incentives available for students, faculty, and staff to stop using tobacco.

• For students, call 319-335-8394 or email student-health@uiowa.edu.
• For faculty and staff, call 319-353-2973 or email livewell@uiowa.edu.

Thank you for helping us make the University of Iowa a healthy and inviting campus for all.

Jean Robillard
Interim President
The University of Iowa