Tobacco-free university policy: Resources available

Miami University's campuses went from being smoke-free to tobacco-free July 1. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, people will also be prohibited from smoking in their cars while parked on university property.

For the last year, a Tobacco-Free Implementation Team (T-FIT) has been working to help create a culture that supports the policy and respectfully informs smokers and other tobacco users that they are not allowed to use tobacco products on Miami's campuses.

With the help of a grant administered by the Ohio Department of Health, the team secured indoor and outdoor signs, small informational cards, table tents and window clings with information on the policy and tobacco-cessation resources.

Quitting tobacco use can be difficult and Miami University is committed to supporting those who are ready to take action. Human resources staff have created a website (miamioh.edu/hr/tobaccofree) that includes the policy, FAQs, a letter from President Hodge, cessation options (including classes, a nicotine replacement program and health coaching) and other resources, including a map showing university boundaries within which tobacco use is prohibited.

An important answer in the FAQs is that supervisors are expected to uphold the policy with theirs and other staff whom they see using tobacco.

The T-FIT has distributed a few thousand business-card sized informational cards to public reception areas, along with instruction sheets that explain the cards, and some indoor and outdoor signs are being installed.  On-campus students also received cards in their mailboxes. Offices are welcome to request some cards and indoors signs.  The idea behind the cards is that if those who are comfortable approaching tobacco users will do so with a friendly policy reminder and a card with our logo and cessation resources, the culture can change.

For information cards, table tents or indoor signs, please contact Melanie Lipps in Employees Wellness, at wienermr@miamioh.edu.