FAQ

January 1, 2020

Smoking or use of any tobacco product or vaping product will not be allowed in any WKU facility or on any WKU property.

The policy applies to every person who comes to WKU campuses, including visitors, faculty, staff, volunteers, students, alumni, contractors, and any other service representatives or vendors.

Yes, the policy applies to all areas of campus, including student housing.

Tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes (traditional, e-cigarettes and vaping mechanisms) chew, pipes, cigars, hookah, bongs or water pipe smoking, snuff, snus and other non-combustible tobacco product.

The entire WKU campus including all extended WKU campuses and any property owned by WKU. This includes parking lots or structures, vacant buildings owned by WKU, vehicles owned by WKU including shuttles.

No. The policy prohibits use of tobacco products in all WKU parking structures, parking lots, or shuttles serving WKU.

No, not if your vehicle is on WKU property. Tobacco use is prohibited in all WKU-operated parking areas, both inside and outside of vehicles, while on WKU properties.

Twenty-eight colleges and universities in Kentucky are tobacco-free/smoke-free, including University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

Designated smoking areas are not consistent with the purpose of this policy. The aim of WKU's tobacco-free policy is to create a healthy environment. Creating smoking areas sends a message that tobacco use is acceptable.

WKU wants a safe and healthy environment, promoting a “culture of health” for students, faculty, staff and all visitors. WKU strives to support research, which continues to conclude that tobacco use, as well as second-hand smoke exposure is a significant health hazard and a serious safety concern.

Smokeless tobacco products are harmful and are not a safe alternative to smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smokeless tobacco can cause cancer of the mouth, esophagus and pancreas; gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss; and also increases the risk for death from heart disease and stroke.

The successful implementation of the policy will require positive, compassionate reinforcement. With the passage of time, a tobacco-free campus will become the norm. As part of the WKU family, we all share responsibility for supporting and communicating expectations for policy compliance.

Members of the University community are encouraged to respectfully inform others about the policy in an ongoing effort to enhance awareness and improve compliance with this policy.

Violations of this regulation may result in corrective action under the Student Code of Conduct, Human Resource Policies and Procedures, or other applicable university regulations or policies. Visitors refusing to comply may be asked to leave campus.

• Student violations can be addressed at student.conduct@wku.edu
• Employee violations can be addressed at human.resources@wku.edu

Resources for employee cessation services can be found on the WKU Tobacco-free website: https://www.wku.edu/tobaccofree/cessation.php

Resources for student cessation services can be found on the WKU Tobacco-free website: https://www.wku.edu/tobaccofree/student_cessation.php

Information can be located on the WKU Tobacco-free website: https://www.wku.edu/tobaccofree/