UK Tobacco-Free Policy Violators Report Line Now Available

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2012) − A new email report line (ReportTFviolation@uky.edu) is now available for anyone to use to report offenders of the University of Kentucky's Tobacco-free Policy on campus. UK joined more than 700 college campuses across the country in November 2009 by going 100 percent tobacco-free. UK takes compliance with the tobacco-free policy seriously, and Human Resources and the Dean of Students are committed to enforcing the policy. 

The report line was developed by UK's Tobacco-Free Task Force, not only to bring attention to people who are not complying with the policy, but to also help educate those who are not familiar with UK's policy. To report a violation, send an email including the time, location, and other detailed description.

Students who violate the policy are reported to the Dean of Students for corrective action according to the Student Code of Conduct. Employees are reported to their supervisor and human resources for corrective action.

UK's Tobacco-Free Policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, snuff, snus, water pipes, pipes, etc.) on any University property including all campus grounds inside and out, parking areas, and student housing.  The policy includes the medical campus and all UK HealthCare owned facilities.

UK continues to provide free nicotine replacement and behavioral support for students, employees and sponsored dependents. Low cost nicotine replacement is also available for those who need to manage their cravings while on campus. All of the tobacco treatment resources can be found on the policy website at: www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree.

"Students, employees, and visitors overwhelmingly support our tobacco-free campus policy. We encourage people to use the report line to help us manage the few hot spots that remain,” said Ellen Hahn, professor and co-chair of UK’s Tobacco-free Task Force.

To promote an environment of compliance with UK's Tobacco-Free Policy, a team of designated Ambassadors, known as Tobacco-Free Take Action! (TFTA!), was formed in the Spring of 2011. Members of TFTA! value the goal of the policy: to create a healthier place to live, work, and learn. Ambassadors are trained in the proper way of approaching violators, including scripting techniques, how to respond if a violator refuses to comply with the policy, and how to properly document and report the violation. TFTA! ambassadors can be reached at: Tobaccofree@lsv.uky.edu

"The message we are trying to convey is compliance is everyone’s business," said Melinda Ickes, faculty in Kinesiology and Health Promotion and director of TFTA!

UK will celebrate the third anniversary of going tobacco-free on Nov. 19 which coincides every year with the Great American Smoke-Out. For more information on the national Tobacco-free College Campus Initiative go to: http://sph.umich.edu/tfcci/

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu