Tobacco Free Policy

On March 1, 2007, the Academic Health Center (AHC) became a tobacco and smoke-free institution.

The use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, on the Academic Health Center campus is strictly prohibited. This includes inside and outside all university-owned and leased Academic Health Center facilities, sidewalks, parking lots and green space. This also includes while in vehicles on AHC campus property and in university vehicles at all times.

As a major health institution, we expend considerable time and effort in preventing and treating illness and injury, as well as promoting positive health habits. Achieving a tobacco-free campus reinforces those efforts and our health commitment to employees, students and the community.

The Academic Health Center is not alone in implementing this health initiative. We are joined by nearly 20 local hospitals, including University Hospital and other Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati hospitals, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Cincinnati Shriners Hospital for Children.

If you are interested in more about available nicotine programs at UC, please call (513) 584-4457 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or to visit www.uc.edu/uhs.

The state of Ohio’s Tobacco Quit Line is also an excellent resource. Those interested should call (800) 943-4840 during regular hours: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Voice-mail messages can be left any time and will be returned within 24 hours.

In addition, the Academic Health Center offers help through clinical research to eligible smokers motivated to quit through its affiliated Tri-State Tobacco and Alcohol Research Center (Tri-TARC) located at the Genome Research Institute. The center is currently enrolling participants for clinical trials of investigational medications being tested as aids to smoking cessation. For more information, call (513) 558-7179.

If you have immediate concerns or questions regarding this policy, please contact your department manager.

Quick Facts

Effective: March 1, 2007

Purpose: To maintain a healthy environment for employees, students, patients and visitors, prevent secondhand smoke exposure, improve fire prevention and safety efforts and promote healthy lifestyles.

Areas Affected: The entire Academic Health Center campus, including owned and leased facilities and buildings (on or off campus), parking lots and garages, UC sidewalks and streets, green space, in any UC vehicle and in vehicles parked on campus.

Tobacco Products: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff and anything related.

Assistance: Smoking cessation services are available through the UC Wellness Center by calling (513) 556-6124, e-mailing quithelp@uc.edu or visiting www.uc.edu/wellness.

The Academic Health Center also offers help to eligible smokers motivated to quit through its affiliated Tri-State Tobacco and Alcohol Research Center (Tri-TARC) clinical trial located at the Genome Research Institute. For more information, call (513) 558-7179.

Enforcement: Violators will be subjected to Academic Health Center corrective action.

More Information: Employees should contact their department manager. Students should contact their academic program director.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “tobacco free” mean?
It means that smoking or the use of any tobacco products in any area of the Academic Health Center campus or within any Academic Health Center facility is prohibited.

Why did the Academic Health Center decide to implement this policy?
There are six main reasons for implementing this policy:
• To maintain a healthy environment for employees, students, patients and visitors.
• To encourage wellness by reducing exposure to tobacco products.
• To prevent exposure to secondhand smoke.
• To improve fire prevention and safety efforts.
• To promote healthy lifestyles throughout the community by encouraging individuals, especially those who work at or visit the Academic Health Center, to refrain from using tobacco products.
• To complement the efforts of our neighboring hospitals and treatment centers.

Who does this policy affect?
All Academic Health Center faculty, staff, students, patients, visitors, volunteers, vendors and contractors, or basically anyone present on the Academic Health Center campus or remote vicinities owned or rented by the Academic Health Center.

Does this include all tobacco products?
Yes. The ban includes all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff.

What areas are considered smoke free?
All areas of the Academic Health Center campus, including university-owned and leased facilities, campus sidewalks, parking lots, green space, university vehicles and in vehicles passing through or parked on campus property. See map for more details.

The Academic Health Center campus is so large—what exactly is considered “campus” property?
The Academic Health Center campus includes the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, Medical Arts Building, Cardiovascular Center, the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Hotel at the University of Cincinnati, Procter Hall, French East, Wherry Hall, Kettering Laboratory, Health Professions Building, Medical Sciences Building, CARE/Crawley construction site, Hoxworth Center (owned jointly by UC and the Health Alliance) and all parking structures and lots.

Applicable roadways include behind and along the Eden Garage and behind Wherry Hall and the Health Professions Building. This policy also applies to the Genome Research Institute and any other UC building located off campus.

Why is the Genome Research Institute included in this ban?
The Genome Research Institute is part of the Academic Health Center and therefore is included in the smoking ban. The tobacco-free policy, however, does not apply to the sidewalks in front of the GRI.

Can I smoke outside UC Physicians offices on Victory Parkway?
UC Physicians has also adopted a tobacco-free policy, prohibiting tobacco use on all property surrounding UCP facilities. This includes the UCP Business Center at Victory Parkway, Medical Arts Building, University Pointe and the Montgomery Medical Arts Building.

Why does the tobacco-free policy apply to the Kingsgate Marriott?
The Kingsgate Marriott is located on Academic Health Center property and therefore must abide by Academic Health Center policies.

Why does the East Campus smoking policy differ from that on the West Campus?
The decision to make the East Campus property tobacco free was made because of the health mission of the Academic Health Center. It also complements the policies of our neighboring health institutions, including University Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Cincinnati Shriners Hospital for Children.

Will there be any kind of tape, painting or signs indicating smoking boundaries?
Signs will be posted throughout the campus. In addition, a map detailing smoking boundaries can be downloaded here.

Will the Academic Health Center provide any sort of designated smoking areas?
No. Smoking and the use of tobacco is strictly prohibited on the Academic Health Center campus. In addition, existing smoking huts and ashtrays will soon be removed.

Where can I smoke while at work?
Smoking and the use of the tobacco products are prohibited on the Academic Health Center campus. If you wish to smoke during work hours, you must leave the campus to do so.

Isn’t this smoke-free policy a violation of my civil liberty rights as a smoker?
No. We are not forcing anyone to stop using tobacco products as a lifestyle choice. Rather, we are enforcing a tobacco-free policy on campus. Enforcing this policy is not a violation of civil liberties.

Will UC allow me to leave campus to smoke during work hours?
Employees may leave the premises to smoke during department-approved breaks and lunches. The Academic Health Center will not extend additional time off to leave campus to smoke.

May I smoke during my lunch break?
Only if you leave Academic Health Center property.

May I smoke while in my car?
Smoking in a vehicle while on the Academic Health Center campus is prohibited. This includes smoking in the Eden Garage.

May I smoke while walking to work?
Smoking once you arrive on the Academic Health Center campus is prohibited.

Can’t I just walk over to the Veteran Affairs Medical Center property and smoke there?
The Veteran Affairs Medical Center is considered federal property and currently does not have an exterior smoking ban. However, out of respect for our neighbors and the health of patients entering and exiting the hospital, we urge Academic Health Center employees and others to refrain from smoking on the VA grounds.

What happens if I get caught smoking on campus?
The Academic Health Center administration expects all employees and students to conduct themselves in accordance with Academic Health Center policy. Violators will be subjected to Academic Health Center corrective action.

Who will enforce this policy?
Academic Health Center administration will enforce this policy. Those violating this policy will be subjected to Academic Health Center corrective action.

What other hospitals or medical centers have implemented a similar policy?
Nearly 20 local hospitals and medical centers have enacted similar tobacco-free policies. These facilities include:
• Adams County Hospital
• Brown County Regional HealthCare
• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
• Dearborn County Hospital
• The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
• Christ Hospital
• University Hospital
• Jewish Hospital
• Fort Hamilton Hospital
• Drake Center
• Margaret Mary Community Hospital
• McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital
• Mercy Health Partners of Southwest Ohio, including the Anderson, Clermont, Fairfield, Mt. Airy and Western Hills branches
• Cincinnati Shriners Hospital for Children
• TriHealth
• Bethesda North Hospital
• Good Samaritan Hospital

How will the Academic Health Center get everyone to quit?
This policy is not an attempt to force people to quit smoking. It is to provide a healthy tobacco-free environment for our faculty, staff, students, patients and visitors.

Where can I get help to quit smoking?
Education, information and cessation support are available through the UC Wellness Center. Those interested in learning more about available nicotine programs are encouraged to call (513) 556-6124 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, e-mail quithelp@uc.edu or visit www.uc.edu/wellness.

Help can also be found through Ohio’s Tobacco Quit Line. Those interested should call (800) 943-4840 during regular hours: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Voice-mail messages can be left any time and will be returned within 24 hours.

Will the Academic Health Center reimburse me for smoking cessation or education classes?
The Academic Health Center is not able to reimburse people for the cost of smoking cessation education classes. However, support is provided free of charge to university employees and students at the UC Wellness Center.

Does our health insurance cover prescriptions for a diagnosis that I need to quit smoking, or cover any education classes that might be more beneficial than those offered through the university?
Employees would have to check their individual health insurance coverage to determine whether this is covered in their plan.

Who should I go to with my questions or concerns about this policy?
All employees should take questions and concerns to their department manager. Students should contact their academic advisor or program director.

Where can I review the entire policy?
The entire policy is accessible by contacting your department manger or academic program director, or by calling the Academic Health Center human resources office at (513) 558-3954.