May 15, 2013
TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:
As you know, the University of California is a national leader in healthcare and environmental practices. Research demonstrates that smoking on campuses not only affects the individual's health, but also exposes others to second- and third-hand smoke, and is deleterious to the environment. As part of the University's leadership role and commitment to protecting the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, the public, and the environment, in a letter dated January 9, 2012, President Yudof asked each chancellor to form a committee and to task it with implementing a smoke-free policy for its campus by January 2014. I asked Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas to chair UCSB's Smoke-Free Campus Steering Committee. The full membership is listed below.
The President advised the chancellors to include the following key elements in their campus smoke-free policy:
Smoke-free means that smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e.g., "e-cigarettes") will be strictly prohibited in indoor and outdoor spaces, including parking lots, private residential space, and the Medical Center campuses.
The policy will apply to all UC facilities, whether owned or leased.
Sale and advertising of tobacco products must be prohibited in University-owned and -occupied buildings.
Enforcement should be primarily educational, with an emphasis on cessation resources.
The draft policy proposed by the UCSB Smoke-Free Campus Steering Committee contains these elements and, if adopted, would replace our current policy on smoking. (For the current policy, see http://www.policy.ucsb.edu/policies/policy-docs/smoking.pdf.) The draft includes a resource section (V) that provides links to cessation programs and a helpline. The draft also includes an optional Appendix that provides data about why the Office of the President has tasked the campuses with implementing a smoke-free policy.
In order to learn more about the proposed policy, please visit our campus's Tobacco-Free website at http://tobaccofree.ucsb.edu. I've attached UCSB's proposed draft policy for your review and comments by July 1, 2013. Please send your comments to info@tobaccofree.ucsb.edu. Over 1,100 campuses nationwide have adopted a smoke-free policy, with close to 800 campuses having adopted a tobacco-free policy. Offering a smoke-free and tobacco-free environment will contribute positively to the health and well-being of all of our community and the environment.
For more information about the impetus for the policy, including the Smoking Policy Subcommittee of the Occupational Wellness Forum, its report to the President, and other resources, please visit http://www.ucop.edu/risk-services/reports-resources/partners/smokingpolicy-subcommittee.html.
I look forward to your comments.
Sincerely,
Henry T. Yang
Chancellor
UCSB Smoke-Free Campus Steering Committee
Gene Lucas, Chair; Executive Vice Chancellor
Sharon Conley, Professor, Education
Joe Harkins, Acting Fire Marshal, Environmental Health and Safety
Laury Oaks, Associate Professor, Feminist Studies
Jeanne Stanford, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
Michael Takahara, Health and Wellness Educator, Dean of Students Office
Associated Students representative (TBA)
Graduate Students Association representative (TBA)
Ex officio:
Marc Fisher, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services
Chuck Haines, Director, Capital Development
Pamela Lombardo, Director, Environmental Health and Safety