US: UT Will Ban Tobacco, Including Vaping, Starting Aug. 1

Source from:  The Tampa Tribune 01/26/2016

The University of Tampa will ban all smoking and tobacco use on its 105-acre downtown campus starting Aug. 1.

The ban encompasses all forms of tobacco — including electronic cigarettes, chewing tobacco and hookahs — and extends to all athletic centers and fields, parking garages, offices and residential buildings. It applies to anyone on campus, student or visitor.

UT has restricted smoking on campus to four designated zones since 2013, a move that Associate Dean of Wellness Gina Firth said appears to have significantly curbed the number of smokers on campus. According to a 2012 survey, 61 percent of students believe overall health will improve if the university becomes a smoke-free campus.

Senior university administrators, formed the new policy with the student organization Breathe-Easy UT, which has worked for six years conducting surveys and focus groups with students, faculty and staff. The university will also offer cessation services to those hoping to quit. Enditem