OSU-Oklahoma City Tobacco-Free Policy

OSU-Oklahoma City is committed to the promotion of wellness and healthy living for its employees and students. Part of that commitment involves taking a role in discouraging the usage of tobacco, by prohibiting its use on campus, by offering information on cessation programs and by offering educational materials on the dangers of Oklahoma’s biggest public health issue and leading cause of death.

Policy:

Effective January 1, 2008, it shall be the policy of OSU-Oklahoma City that the use of all tobacco products including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco be prohibited on the campus of OSU-Oklahoma City.

1. The use of tobacco products shall be prohibited anywhere on campus, including buildings, grounds and parking lots leased, owned or operated by OSU-Oklahoma City. Tobacco use is also prohibited in any vehicle leased or owned by OSU-Oklahoma City.
    
2. This policy applies to all persons on campus, including but not limited to employees, students, and visitors to the campus.
    
3. No smoking/No Tobacco Use signs and posters will be posted in all OSU-Oklahoma City facilities and in vehicles, starting in January 2008. Starting in October, (three months prior to the implementation date), signs and posters indicating the upcoming tobacco-free environment will be posted in all OSU-Oklahoma City facilities.
    
4. In addition to signs and posters, communication to the campus will take place through email, Information Orange, Cowboy Chronicle and other employee and student information systems.
    
5. The sale or promotion of tobacco products will be prohibited anywhere on campus. This will also include prohibiting sponsorship of any school activity by tobacco companies.
    
6. The Office of Human Resources will ensure that OSU-Oklahoma City job postings will contain information about the tobacco-free environment.
    
7. The Office of Human Resources will ensure that new employees receive information about the tobacco-free policy during new-hire orientation.
    
8. Creative Services and Public Relations will ensure that the public and the campus is made aware of the tobacco-free environment through press releases, Web-site announcements, Information Orange, the Cowboy Chronicle and other communication sources.
    
9. Departments that allow employees to take scheduled breaks may continue to do, but may not allow extra breaks for smoking. Employees will not be allowed to leave the campus to smoke during regularly scheduled breaks.

Compliance:

Compliance with this policy by all students and employees is expected based on our commitment to a healthy environment to live, work and learn. Emphasis will be placed on creating a positive and healthy culture, free of tobacco and should be a cooperative effort, encouraged by all faculty, staff and students.

Non-compliance with this policy will be handled in the same manner as any other policy violation and is subject to disciplinary process.

OSU-OKC Tobacco-Free Policy (pdf)