Very timely - we just revised our campus policy<http://www.policy.ku.edu/provost/smoking-policy> to treat e-cigarettes the same as other tobacco products: restricted within 20 feet from any entrance or overhang. Our housing advisory board was granted an exception to allow residential students to use e-cigarettes in their private rooms but not in the common areas of campus housing. We are also launching a tobacco-free campus initiative - an open forum is planned for tomorrow. The tobacco-free initiative was spurred by a resolution passed by Student Senate and our full University Senate (combines faculty, staff, and student senates) that called for a more restrictive smoking policy on campus.
The inclusion of e-cigarettes has been broadly supported. We have had a few complaints but most smokers are focusing on the larger tobacco-free initiative than the inclusion of e-cigarettes. Yes, it was covered in the media - here is a link: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/mar/27/ku-bans-e-cigarettes-campus-buildings/ Our justification has been two-fold: This change was recommended and backed by leadership and health professionals on our medical center campus. This change also aligns with the 2013 student senate and university senates resolutions to push the institution to develop more restrictive smoking policies for campus. Happy to answer more questions or provide additional details if you'd like. Thanks, Amy Amy E. Smith, M.S.E. Director, Policy Office Office of the Provost The University of Kansas Tel. +1 (785) 864-4906 | Fax. +1 (785) 864-4463 Email [email protected]|<mailto:[email protected]%7C> Web www.provost.ku.edu<http://www.provost.ku.edu/> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rippke, Sheryl L [U CSL] Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 9:11 AM To: '[email protected]' Subject: [acupa-l] E-cig backlash? Good morning, Our smoke-free policy does not address e-cigs. If we were to add a ban on e-cigs to the policy, it would require vetting and inviting of comments from the university community. I imagine we would get lots of comments both pro and con regarding a ban. For those of you who have revised your former policy to include a ban on e-cigs... * What has been the reaction from your institutional community? * Did the media report the story in your local community? * Have you been challenged to justify the ban by e-cig users? * What is your justification for banning e-cigs? Thanks! Sheryl Sheryl Rippke, Policy Administrator Office of University Counsel 3550 Beardshear Hall Ames, IA 50014 515-294-1385 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Policy Library<http://policy.iastate.edu/> In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marktwain164247.html> ~ Mark Twain<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain.html> ATTN: Please be aware that when you respond to an ACUPA-L e-mail, the reply will be distributed to the ENTIRE e-listing of members. If you do NOT want to send an e-mail to everyone, please reply directly to the individual who initiated the query (their e-mail address appears in the "From" line of their original e-mail). If you wish to remove yourself from the ACUPA e-mail list, please go to this web address and fill out the form. We will remove you from the list within 24 hours during normal business hours. http://www.acupa.org/MembershipForm_Discontinue.html
