EIU Media Relations

Smoking/Tobacco Use Prohibited on EIU Campus, Effective July 1, 2015

Beginning July 1, 2015, all smoking and tobacco use will be prohibited on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

In accordance with the Illinois Smoke Free Campus Act and university policy, the use of all tobacco products will be prohibited on all campus property, both indoors and outdoors, including buildings, grounds, parking lots and vehicles that are owned, leased, occupied, operated or otherwise controlled by EIU.  The ban includes e-cigarettes and vaporizers, as well.

Use of tobacco products will be permitted only in private vehicles traveling through or parked on campus provided that second-hand smoke is contained within the vehicle. 

The policy applies to any individual on campus property, including students, employees and visitors, and is applicable at all times.

It is anticipated that the policy will have minimal effect on the majority of Eastern’s constituencies, said Eric Davidson, associate director of EIU’s Health Service.  Polls of students indicate that most fall in two of three groups -- those who are excited about the prospect of becoming a totally smoke-free campus and those who believe they won’t be affected at all by the change.

He acknowledged that the third group represents a “fair number” of individuals who will likely disapprove of the ban.

According to Davidson, individuals caught smoking will likely receive a verbal reminder for the first offense, while habitual offenders will be dealt with on an individual basis, depending on their classification (student, employee, etc.).

Davidson described the ban as an extension of EIU’s Internal Governing Policy No. 171 – Smoke-free Campus, which was approved in January 2008.

See here for more on EIU’s Tobacco-free Campus.