Inside Clemson

Clemson to go tobacco-free

 By Jackie Todd, Office of Media Relations

Clemson University will become tobacco-free on Jan. 1, 2016. The new policy has been approved by the university’s administrative council based on input from a task force comprised of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and community representatives.

“We want to improve the health of our student and employee populations by decreasing rates of tobacco use and by reducing unwanted exposure to tobacco smoke for non-tobacco users on university property,” said George W. Clay, executive director of Student Health Services and chair of the Tobacco-Free task force.

All forms of tobacco and smoke-related products will be prohibited under the policy. Along with cigarettes, the ban includes chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes.

The policy applies to all university faculty, staff, students and visitors and will be in place for all Clemson campuses, as well as university-owned and leased facilities.

Nearly 1,600 colleges and universities have tobacco-free policies, including TriCounty Technical College, Anderson University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Arkansas, the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky.

Choose to be healthy

For those who want to quit smoking, this might be the perfect time. Clemson offers its faculty, staff and students a number of smoking cessation resources.

One of those resources is the Quit for Life program, free to State Health Plan subscribers. Quit for Life encourages participants to live tobacco-free by using “the 4 essential practices” of living without tobacco. The initiative pairs participants with a “Quit Coach,” who provides support and assistance, a “Web Coach,” where participants can complete online activities and track progress.

According to the Joseph F. Sullivan Center, quitting the use of tobacco products improves your health within minutes, even if you’ve used them for years. The center’s “CU Quit” program helps faculty and staff move toward that goal through counseling and customized treatment plans. The “CU Quit” program is also offered to students through Redfern Health Center.

Visit www.clemson.edu/tobaccofree for more information about the tobacco-free policy, a list of frequently asked questions and answers, and online links to tobacco cessation resources.