We want to support a safe and healthy learning and working environment for all of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Smoking and secondhand smoke can increase a person's risk for heart disease, cancer, and respiratory problems, just to name a few. According to the Surgeon General, there is no safe exposure level to secondhand smoke.
Smoking or use of other tobacco products (see policy), such as e-cigarettes or vaping products, is not permitted in any facility or on the grounds of UW-River Falls. This includes property that is "owned or controlled" by UW-River Falls, which includes parking lots and sidewalks. A map of where the policy is in effect can be found by clicking on the "Boundary Map" link in the menu to the left.
All university employees, students, or visitors of UW-River Falls must comply with this policy.
Yes. Organizers and attendees at public events, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social events, cultural events, and sporting events using university facilities are required to abide by the tobacco-free campus policy. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating the policy to attendees.
Designated smoking areas are not consistent with the philosophy of the policy. UW-River Falls' tobacco-free policy is intended to create a healthy environment to live, work, and learn. Smoking areas send a message that tobacco use is acceptable. Designated smoking areas also create confusion and are a compliance challenge. In fact, rarely do people comply with designated smoking areas.
Prohibiting smoking on campus preserves everyone's right to breathe clean, smoke-free air while allowing adults who smoke to continue to do so off-campus. This decision supports the rights and privileges of both smokers and non-smokers alike.
No; there is no "right" to smoke under either state or federal law. In addition, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls administration has the authority to regulate the use of university property.
For the purpose of this policy (see policy), "tobacco" is defined to include any lighted cigarette (including clove, bidis, kreteks), cigars, pipes, and hookah products; any other smoking products (such as e-cigarettes or vaping products); and any smokeless, spit or spitless, dissolvable, or inhaled tobacco products, including but not limited to dip, chew, snuff or snus, in any form (such as orbs, sticks, pellet, etc.).
Establishing a comprehensive policy that includes all forms of tobacco is more equitable, easier to enforce, and has better health outcomes. The policy consistently addresses health issues, because there is no safe form of tobacco. The makers of smokeless tobacco would have people believe that their products are "safer" than cigarettes and can even be used as an aid in quitting smoking. The fact is that chewing tobacco and snuff contain over 28 cancer-causing agents.
In addition, smokeless tobacco use often creates unwanted and sometimes hazardous waste and byproducts that can be spilled both outdoors and indoors. These spills create more cleanup work for campus maintenance staff and harm the environment.
No. The FDA does not consider e-cigarettes or vaping products to be a safe nicotine delivery system or smoking cessation strategy and their use is prohibited on university property for purposes of this policy. See FDA information on e-cigarettes.
Yes. The use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco and snuff, is prohibited on all university property or in university vehicles for purposes of this policy.
No. The use of clove cigarettes is prohibited by the tobacco-free campus policy. The CDC reports that smoking clove cigarettes is associated with an increased risk for lung damage. See CDC information on clove cigarettes.
No. Hookahs, sometimes called water pipes, are prohibited by the tobacco-free campus policy. While some tobacco-free smoking materials are available for use in hookahs, there is insufficient research data to document that they are safe for use and that they will not pose a health risk to others. See CDC information on hookahs.
No. However, we are encouraging current tobacco users to explore this option. The university is committed to supporting all students and employees who wish to stop using tobacco products with cessation resources. Students, faculty, and staff choosing to continue using tobacco products may do so, but only on their own time and in areas not owned, operated, leased, occupied, or controlled by UW-River Falls.
Should they choose to do so, employees may use their allotted work breaks to travel off-campus to smoke. However, employees will not be given additional break time for smoking. Supervisors must be clear with employees on this matter