It is the policy of the University of Southern Indiana to promote and maintain a clean and healthy working and learning environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
The University expects the cooperation and commitment of all students, faculty staff and visitors in maintaining an environment free of cigarette smoke, smokeless tobacco waste and toxic vapors.
The University of Southern Indiana prohibits the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes; pipes; cigars; smokeless tobacco including snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches and loose-leaf tobacco; and all electronic vaping devices on University-owned, operated or leased property and vehicles (see student housing exception below). The use of all above mentioned products is permitted only inside personal vehicles.
The use of all previously mentioned tobacco products and electronic vaping devices is prohibited inside all student housing facilities. This includes residence halls, apartments, common areas, balconies, building entries, student rooms and the Community Center. The use of all tobacco products and electronic vaping devices is only permitted outdoors within student housing areas, per Vanderburgh County ordinance, at least 10 feet outside any enclosed area where smoking is prohibited to ensure that tobacco smoke does not enter any such enclosed area through entrances, windows, ventilation systems or any other means.
Enforcement of this policy will depend upon all members of the campus community complying with and encouraging others to comply with this policy in order to ensure a healthy environment to work, study and live. Primary enforcement of this policy will be the responsibility of those persons who head individual units, departments, buildings, student housing units, those who supervise faculty and staff, Public Safety personnel and others designated by the University.
Violations of this policy will be handled through existing processes already in place for students, faculty, and staff. Student violations will be processed under the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior.
Complaints regarding violations of this policy should be referred to the appropriate dean, director or Human Resources manager for faculty and staff and to the Dean of Students Office for students.
Tobacco Cessation Resources:
- Vanderburgh County Health Department - Free from Smoking Program: 812-435-2400 (https://vanderburghhealth.org/freedom-from-smoking-program/)
- Quit Now Indiana – Indiana Tobacco Quit Line: 1.800.Quit.Now (https://www.quitnowindiana.com/)
- Smokefree.gov - https://smokefree.gov/