Statement of Purpose
The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) is committed to providing a safe and healthy on-campus learning and work environment for its students, faculty, staff, clients, contractors, vendors, visitors, lessees, and individuals residing on the UNLV campus.
UNLV acknowledges the multiple negative health impacts of smoking, using electronic smoking devices, and using tobacco products. It also acknowledges that these negative health impacts affect not just individuals who are smoking, using electronic smoking devices, and using tobacco products but also the people who are around them.
Among the many negative health impacts that UNLV acknowledges and recognizes are that:
- The Surgeon General has determined that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard.
- Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens.
- Exposure to secondhand smoke causes disease, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and lung cancer, as well as premature death.
- There is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
- Electronic smoking devices emit disease-causing toxic substances and that exposure to aerosol from electronic smoking devices is tantamount to levels of exposure comparable to those of passive smokers.
- Many of the harmful substances in tobacco smoke are also present in marijuana smoke.
UNLV understands that as of 2017, over 2,000 other universities and colleges across the United States had smoke-free policies in place.
UNLV acknowledges that the American College Health Association encourages colleges and universities to achieve a 100% indoor and outdoor campus-wide tobacco-free environment.
UNLV recognizes that the Nevada Revised Statutes prohibit smoking and using electronic smoking devices inside indoor places of employment, including in government buildings owned or occupied by any component of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).
UNLV acknowledges that the Nevada Revised Statutes permit additional, voluntarily designation of establishments as smoke-free.
UNLV recognizes that the public policy of the State of Nevada includes restricting tobacco use in public to protect health and safety.
UNLV understands that many of its entities and partner organizations support UNLV efforts to become a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus and endorse this smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policy. Letters of support from these entities and partner organizations demonstrate this endorsement.
Therefore, UNLV adopts this smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policy.
Entities Affected by this Policy
All UNLV entities.
Who Should Read this Policy
All UNLV Faculty, Staff, Students, Clients, Contractors, Vendors, Visitors, Lessees, and Individuals Residing on the UNLV Campus.
Policy
- Smoking, using electronic smoking devices, or using other tobacco products is prohibited on any UNLV campus, as the term is defined in this policy.
- All UNLV faculty, staff, students, clients, contractors, vendors, visitors, lessees and individuals residing on the UNLV campus must comply with this policy at all times.
- All UNLV faculty, staff, and students must advise contractors, vendors, visitors, lessees, and individuals residing on the UNLV campus of this policy.
- Neither UNLV nor any entity operating on the UNLV campus is permitted to sell, market, or promote tobacco products or marijuana products. Tobacco-related and marijuana-related advertising and sponsorship are prohibited on the UNLV campus, at UNLV-sponsored events, and in publications produced by UNLV except advertising in a newspaper or magazine not produced by UNLV that is lawfully sold, bought, or distributed on UNLV property.
- This policy shall become effective at the start of the first academic semester that begins 90 days or more after this policy is adopted and the posting and notification required in Section 6 of this policy are completed to allow those who smoke or use tobacco products time to adapt to its restrictions and to facilitate a smooth transition to a smoke-free and tobacco-free environment.
- Copies of this policy shall be posted on the UNLV website and included in handbooks, catalogs, and in recruitment materials for students, staff, and faculty. Signs that indicate that UNLV prohibits smoking, using electronic smoking devices, and using of other tobacco products on the UNLV campus shall be posted on the UNLV campus, including at all UNLV building entrances and along UNLV campus sidewalks, paths, landscaped areas, parking lots, fields, recreational areas, and stadiums. Signs shall also direct readers to an available cessation resource.
- Individuals are encouraged to inform others about the policy respectfully to enhance awareness of the policy and to promote compliance.
- UNLV is committed to supporting all faculty, staff, and students who want to cease smoking or using tobacco products. The Nevada Tobacco Quitline is available to UNLV students and employees for free to assist with cessation. Additional cessation assistance for faculty and staff may be available through UNLV-sponsored health insurance plans and for students through the Student Wellness Center and Counseling and Psychological Services. More cessation resources are listed in the “Related Documents” section of this policy.
- UNLV shall establish and maintain a website that contains information about the impacts of smoking and tobacco use and cessation resources that will be available to faculty, staff, and students. In addition, the Student Wellness Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Faculty and Staff Treatment Center, and the Office of Human Resources shall provide information about available cessation resources to any member of the campus community seeking such information.
- The Office of Student Conduct shall address violations of this policy by students. Supervisors shall address violations of this policy by employees. The Office of Student Conduct and Supervisors shall address a first violation of this policy by a student or employee through education about this policy and about smoking and tobacco-use. Violations of this policy may result in verbal warning or written documentation of violations of UNLV policy for employees and students.
- Exempt from this policy is burning tobacco on the UNLV campus as part of university-sponsored activities by cultural or religious groups for ceremonial purposes and in compliance with state and federal law, which includes the ceremonial burning of tobacco by American Indians. All tobacco burning under this exemption must be approved by the UNLV Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost before the tobacco is burned.
Related Information
Links
- American Addiction Centers
- American Lung Association - Freedom from Smoking (Cessation program)
- CDC: How to Quit (Resources and options to cease tobacco use)
- Lung Helpline (Certified tobacco treatment specialists)
- Nevada Revised Statute (N.R.S.) § 202.2483
- Nevada Revised Statute (N.R.S.) § 202.2483(7)
- Nevada Revised Statute (N.R.S.) § 202.249
- Nevada Tobacco Quitline
- Southern Nevada Health District (Tobacco prevention resources)
- UNLV Student Wellness Center
Contacts
Definitions
- Electronic Smoking Device
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Any product containing or delivering nicotine or any other substance intended for human consumption that can be used by a person in any manner for the purpose of inhaling vapor or aerosol from the product. “Electronic smoking device” includes any such devices, whether they are manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookahs, vape pens, or under any other product name or descriptor.
- Marijuana Product
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All parts, whether growing or not, of a plant in the genus Cannabis, the plant’s seeds, or the plant’s resin extract and every manufacture, derivative, mixture, compound, salt, or preparation of the plant, the plant’s seeds, or the plant’s resin extract.
- Marijuana-Related
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Using a brand, corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, motto, selling message, recognizable pattern or colors, or any other indicia of product identical to, similar to, or identified with, those used for any marijuana product or company that manufactures, produces, or distributes a marijuana product.
- Smoking
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Inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, pipe, hookah, or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, including marijuana, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. “Smoking” also includes the use of an electronic smoking device that creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device.
- Tobacco Product
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Any product containing, made, or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means. “Tobacco product” includes but is not limited to: cigarettes; clove cigarette; cigars; little cigars; pipe tobacco; dry snuff; moist snuff/chewing tobacco; snus; dissolvables; hookah; blunt wraps; and any other preparation of tobacco. “Tobacco product” also includes any product or formulation of matter containing biologically active amounts of nicotine manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed with the expectation that its product or matter will be introduced into the human body by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption. “Tobacco product” excludes any cessation product specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating nicotine or tobacco dependence.
- Tobacco-Related
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Using a tobacco brand, corporate name, trademark, logo, symbol, motto, selling message, recognizable pattern or colors, or any other indicia of product identical to, similar to, or identified with, those used for any brand of tobacco product or company that manufactures a tobacco product.
- UNLV Campus
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All properties, facilities, structures, and vehicles owned, leased, rented, occupied, operated, or controlled by UNLV or NSHE as part of its UNLV operations in any location, whether indoors or outdoors. “UNLV campus” includes all enclosed spaces, such as buildings, offices, classrooms, hallways, waiting rooms, meeting venues, community areas, performance venues, and private residential spaces within UNLV housing for students or others. “UNLV campus” also includes all grounds, walkways, sidewalks, streets, paths, landscaped areas, parking lots, fields, recreational areas, stadiums, and personal vehicles that are on campus.