In an effort to maintain a healthy environment for all its students, faculty, staff and visitors, Union College is a tobacco/smoke-free environment. The initiative, which bans tobacco use within the buildings and/or on the ground owned or leased by the College, is the product of a combined student, faculty and staff task force.
Tobacco/Smoke Free Environment Poster
Union College Policy
Union College recognizes that smoking, breathing second hand smoke, or using tobacco products constitutes a significant health, safety, and environmental hazard for students, employees, visitors and campus facilities. The College is committed to promoting health, wellness, and prevention within its community, as well as providing a healthy learning and working environment for administration, faculty, staff, students, visitors, contractors, and vendors.
All areas of the College campus, all campus properties, and all campus vehicles are designated as smoke/tobacco free.
For the purpose of this policy, smoking and tobacco use is defined as using any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to, cigarettes (commercial, handmade, or electronic), cigars, cigarillos, pipes, hookahs, vape pens, oral tobacco (spit and spitless, smokeless, chew, snuff), or any other similar smoking material or delivery device including anything that simulates smoking.
The Smoke/Tobacco Free Policy strictly prohibits:
- Smoking or the use of any other tobacco product in all College campus buildings, on the College grounds, and on properties owned, leased, or rented by the College.
- Smoking and the use of any tobacco product in all College owned, leased, or rented vehicles.
- The sale of tobacco products on campus.
- The free distribution of tobacco products on campus.
- Tobacco advertisements in College-produced (run) publications.
Organizers and attendees at events, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social and sporting events, using College facilities, will be required to abide by the College’s Smoke/Tobacco Free Policy. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating and enforcing this policy
Success of the Smoke/Tobacco Free Policy depends upon the courtesy, respect, thoughtfulness, consideration and cooperation of all smoking and non-smoking members of the Union College community. All members of the community are responsible for implementation and enforcement of this policy. All members of the community are encouraged to advise other employees, students, and visitors about the policy, suggest to anyone smoking that they not smoke on the campus or on college-owned properties, and, when appropriate, direct smokers off the campus. Individuals violating this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action and should be reported to an appropriate authority (supervisor, manager, Campus Safety, Human Resources, or Student Affairs administration).
Resources
Webinar Workshop:
Get Ready to Stop Smoking Webinar
In support of Wellness, a Get Ready to Stop Smoking workshop is available as a webinar! Provided by CDPHP, during this workshop participants will:
- learn about the negative impact of smoking and why it is so hard to quit
- create an individualized quit plan
- complete a self-assessment tool to identify your personal smoking triggers and plan coping strategies
- learn about tools and resources available to help you quit
You can view the webinar any time of day! For your convenience, the workshop handouts are attached.
To access the webinar:
- View the online event.
- Select the “Playback” Option.
- Complete the registration information (e.g. First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Company Name, and as applicable, CDPHP Member ID/Birth Date).
- You may choose to view using the WebEx add-on or Java.
- At the end of the webinar, a Survey Monkey evaluation will appear, please take a few minutes to provide feedback on this program.
Workshop Handouts
For CDPHP members:
- CDPHP's smoking cessation counseling member benefit covers comprehensive tobacco control programs offered through a physician/trained educator in a physician's office. Members may receive up to four tobacco counseling visits or support sessions per year in addition to tobacco cessation medications.
- The Butt Stops Here program is offered throughout the Capital Region at community locations. CDPHP will cover the participant fee for any CDPHP member who registers and completes the program. Members can call (518) 459-2550 for more information or to sign up.
- CDPHP members can talk to a health coach about quitting smoking by calling (800) 365-4180 or logging in to the secure member portal at www.cdphp.com. Health coaches are available 24/7.
- Members can complete the online health support program called Quitting Smoking. This online, interactive program offers members who are thinking about quitting smoking support to do so.
For Employees:
- E4 Health/LifeScope EAP offers a range of resources, including access to work/life consultants, tip sheets, dial-in support groups, workshops and discussions.
For Students:
- Students can access smoking cessation resources through the Wicker Wellness Center. The center provides access to aids such as patches, gum, inhalers, Bupropion and Chantix. Pills and inhalers are billed to insurance. Wicker also facilitates the bulk purchase of patches and gum.
- Individual and group smoking cessation counseling through the Counseling Center.
Open to all:
- Ellis Family Health Center in Schenectady offers an ongoing program for a $45 fee. Call (518) 382-2260 for information.
- The New York State Smokers' Quitline provides information and support for smoking cessation. Speak with a certified smoking cessation counselor by calling (866) NY-QUITS or (866) 697-8487. Visit their website at www.nysmokefree.com to access resources.
- The Tobacco Quitline offers information and counseling both in NYS and nationally. Call (800) QUITNOW or (800) 784-8669 or go to www.smokefree.gov.