Celebrating one year of a tobacco-free campus
Resources and support for tobacco-free initiative are part of a larger effort to make the campus a healthy environment
We are now celebrating one year of being a tobacco-free campus.
This action was endorsed through resolutions by the Faculty Senate, Staff Employees Council, Graduate Student Association and the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, Reno. This effort has enabled us to join more than 1,000 other U.S. colleges and universities that are also tobacco-free.
Our tobacco-free campus initiative is in support of a larger effort by our University to emphasize the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. We are working each and every day in enhancing this initiative. The focus is on building a healthy environment and encouraging lifelong healthy lifestyles. This effort reflects the fact that our campus promotes education and educated choices with long-term implications for the success of one's life. We should also be very proud of the fact that there are now three other community colleges in our state who are following in our footsteps with similar tobacco-free initiatives.
On Thursday, Nov. 17, we marked the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, a national event to encourage and support quitting tobacco. It is a day where individuals, with the help of the community, can make a plan to quit or plan to quit on that day. Quitting - even if for one day - is an important step in realizing a healthier lifestyle and reducing one's cancer risk.
The University offers free cessation resources for faculty, staff and students who wish to quit.
In addition the "Freedom From Smoking" program has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals quit smoking. The program has a $40 value. The University is sponsoring the program so that it is free to faculty, staff and students.
There are many individuals and units that have helped us reach one year of being a tobacco-free University. I would like to thank all of these people and acknowledge the effectiveness of their programs, as well as the involvement of our entire campus community, for the continued support and actions in support of this initiative.
