A new campus-wide smoking policy designates specific areas where tobacco products, including new e-cigarettes, may be consumed.
The new policy began Jan. 1 and designates campus parking lots and roughly 20 smoking areas where tobacco products can be consumed. The new smoking areas are equipped with ash trays and some have seating.
“This policy aims to establish a smoke-free and tobacco-free environment for students, employees, contractors and visitors to the campus,” Susan Szpyrka, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, said.
The new smoking areas are 25 feet from a building entrance, window or air intake, are not in natural landscaped areas, and are more than 15 feet from bike and skateboard storage areas. Signs designate the new areas.
Last summer, an eight-member task force of faculty, staff and students recommend updating the campus policy. The new policy was reviewed by campus governance groups and approved by the Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak and a campus leadership team. . During the fall semester, the Department of Facilities Services equipped the new smoking areas with appropriate ashtrays and seating. Task force members included Carolyn Fox, university architect, Department of Facilities Services, Brian McPike, chief of police, Department of Public Safety, Chris Duval, manager of degree audit and transfer credit, Admissions Services, Chris Beiswanger, director, Admissions Counseling and Student Services, Mary Lile, accountant, Division of Resource Management, Barbara Joyce, associate professor, Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Donald Apelo, a student government representative. The task force was chaired by Ralph Giese, director, Department of Residence Life and Housing.
The new policy continues to prohibit smoking in UCCS buildings as well as in UCCS-owned vehicles. The sale of tobacco or nicotine products on UCCS property is also prohibited. Marijuana consumption remains illegal on the UCCS campus.
Violation of the campus smoking policy will be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and violators may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students or the Office of Residence Life and Housing for sanctions. Violations by staff or faculty will be referred to the Office of Human Resources for sanctions.
The policy will be reviewed annually by a Smoking and Tobacco Use committee with members from governance groups, and the Department of Facilities Services.
To see the policy, visit http://www.uccs.edu/Documents/vcaf/policies/2014/400-003SmokeMap.pdf
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