2008 Woodie Awards
Southeast enforces smoking policy
Tamara Hastings
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: News
Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents approved a new smoking policy limiting the use of tobacco products on July 8.
Enforcement of this policy began Aug. 1, prohibiting smoking both indoors and outdoors on University property, except in designated areas.
The policy was recommended by an ad hoc committee on smoking policies and procedures, and also prohibits smoking in university vehicles and the use of smokeless tobacco inside all university buildings other than residential housing units.
"Based on the Committee's findings, the general consensus was that the University's policy should be aimed at protecting non-tobacco users from the hazards and nuisance of tobacco use rather than imposing a universal ban," said Dr. Dennis Holt, vice president of enrollment management and student success. "The policy restricts smoking to designated areas, thus reducing the likelihood of unwanted exposure to indirect smoke."
The committee membership contained a mixture of smokers, non-smokers and former smokers including Alissa Vandeven, assistant director of human resources. The committee researched national trends and policies at other institutions and held several student employee focus groups to obtain feedback on the topic from the University Community, Vandeven said. The committee also issued campus wide surveys to students, faculty and staff via the University portal to gain additional feedback.
Liz Reisenbichler, senior administrative assistant in Southeast's Facilities Management and a smoker who served on the committee, says she is satisfied with the outcome and doesn't think the new policy will be a problem for smokers on campus.
"I was very pleased with the way the committee handled the process," she said. "We found from the survey that a minority of people on campus wanted to be completely smoke free, but the majority did want designated smoking areas. From the smoker's perspective, I don't think we'll notice a huge difference. We may have to walk a little further to our designated area, but I think there are a sufficient number of locations."
Enforcement of the outdoor smoking areas will begin at the start of the fall semester, Vandeven said. Questions can be directed to Human Resources at (573) 651-2206. Efforts to establish tobacco usage cessation programming through the University's Fitness and Wellness program will be developed during the upcoming year.
Enforcement of this policy began Aug. 1, prohibiting smoking both indoors and outdoors on University property, except in designated areas.
The policy was recommended by an ad hoc committee on smoking policies and procedures, and also prohibits smoking in university vehicles and the use of smokeless tobacco inside all university buildings other than residential housing units.
"Based on the Committee's findings, the general consensus was that the University's policy should be aimed at protecting non-tobacco users from the hazards and nuisance of tobacco use rather than imposing a universal ban," said Dr. Dennis Holt, vice president of enrollment management and student success. "The policy restricts smoking to designated areas, thus reducing the likelihood of unwanted exposure to indirect smoke."
The committee membership contained a mixture of smokers, non-smokers and former smokers including Alissa Vandeven, assistant director of human resources. The committee researched national trends and policies at other institutions and held several student employee focus groups to obtain feedback on the topic from the University Community, Vandeven said. The committee also issued campus wide surveys to students, faculty and staff via the University portal to gain additional feedback.
Liz Reisenbichler, senior administrative assistant in Southeast's Facilities Management and a smoker who served on the committee, says she is satisfied with the outcome and doesn't think the new policy will be a problem for smokers on campus.
"I was very pleased with the way the committee handled the process," she said. "We found from the survey that a minority of people on campus wanted to be completely smoke free, but the majority did want designated smoking areas. From the smoker's perspective, I don't think we'll notice a huge difference. We may have to walk a little further to our designated area, but I think there are a sufficient number of locations."
Enforcement of the outdoor smoking areas will begin at the start of the fall semester, Vandeven said. Questions can be directed to Human Resources at (573) 651-2206. Efforts to establish tobacco usage cessation programming through the University's Fitness and Wellness program will be developed during the upcoming year.
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Glen Williams
posted 8/29/08 @ 10:18 AM CST
This is wonderful news! Our right to breathe clean air is a basic civil liberty. In other words, one person's liberty ends where another's begins. The university has acted responsibly, and I applaud Alissa Vandeven's work heading up the committee that explored this matter. (Continued…)
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