Smoke Free Initiatives

Sacred Heart’s University’s Smoke-Free initiative is part of broader institutional efforts to maintain a campus culture of mutual respect, wellness and sustainability and seeks to provide a safe, clean environment while promoting the health of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.  

In addition to the implementation of the Smoke-Free Policy, the University’s Smoke-Free Initiative will include smoking cessation programs offered to both students (via the Wellness Center) and employees via the Office of Human Resources) as well as the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products on campus. 

In addition to facilitating the right of individuals to breathe clean air while learning, living and working on campus, there are several benefits which will be achieved by the Smoke-Free Initiative and the adoption of the SmokeFree Campus Policy.  

• Student, employee and visitor exposure to secondhand smoke, which is a known human carcinogen, will be severely reduced. Per the EPA, there is no safe exposure level to secondhand smoke.
• While the policy does not judge or exclude smokers, but rather asks them to not use tobacco where it can impact others, increased awareness of the risks and the availability of cessation programs may lead to lower smoking rates among employees and students which would lower their health risks.
• The amount of smoking-related litter on campus will be significantly reduced, which will allow the resources and staff time spent on cleaning up cigarette butts, emptying ashtrays and handling complaints to be redirected.
• The risk of fires caused by cigarettes dropped in planting areas and trash bins will be decreased.
• The University is preparing its graduates for the smoke-free workplaces they will likely encounter after graduation.

Sacred Heart University Smoke-Free Campus Policy

Purpose

In order to provide a safe, clean environment and promote the health of our students, faculty, staff and visitors, the Sacred Heart University campus is a tobacco-free environment.

Policy

Smoking is prohibited indoors in all Sacred Heart University-owned or leased facilities and outdoors on The use of cigarettes, tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and vapor products (defined below) are prohibited indoors in all Sacred Heart University-owned or leased facilities and outdoors on the grounds of any University-owned or leased property. Areas affected by the policy include all buildings owned, leased or controlled by Sacred Heart University, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, walkways, sidewalks, residence halls, parking lots, sidewalks that adjoin University property, and in any vehicle or equipment owned, leased or operated by Sacred Heart University. The sale, distribution, sampling or advertisement of cigarettes, tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and vapor products is prohibited on the campus.

Enforcement & Violations

All members of the SHU community share a responsibility for reinforcing the policy with visitors as well as with their fellow students and employees, who should be politely reminded of the policy. SHU reserves the right to initiate progressive disciplinary process against any individual found to be in violation of this policy. Disciplinary actions may include: verbal counseling and education about the effects of secondhand smoke or vapor; written warnings; a monetary fine; or other appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and the Human Resources Employee Handbook for faculty and staff. Visitors who continue to violate the policy following a warning will be escorted off campus. Organizers of public events on campus are responsible for communicating this policy to attendees, and organizations renting University space will acknowledge awareness of this policy in writing at the time of the rental agreement.

Definitions (taken from definitions used in CT House Bill 7200)

"Tobacco product" means any product, other than a cigarette, that is made or derived from tobacco and intended for human consumption, or likely to be consumed, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff and snus.

"Electronic nicotine delivery system" means an electronic device used in the delivery of nicotine or other substances to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or electronic hookah.

"Vapor product" means any product that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit or other electronic, chemical or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, to produce a vapor that may include nicotine, which is inhaled by the user of such product.