Loyola University Chicago

Human Resources

Smoke and Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Policy Statement 
Inspired by the Jesuit commitment to Cura Personalis, Loyola University Chicago ( Loyola, University or LUC) is committed to protecting and promoting the health and safety of our Students, Faculty, Staff, and Visitors and creating a healthy and clean campus environment. Because tobacco products have well-known health risks associated with their use and secondhand exposure puts all members of the Loyola community at risk, the following University campuses will become smoke, tobacco and vape free on August 1, 2021: Lake Shore, Water Tower, Health Sciences, Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC), Cuneo Mansion & Gardens, and John Felice Rome Center. 

Use of all tobacco products and vaping (e-cigarettes) will be prohibited on all campus properties, including interior spaces on Loyola’s campuses as identified, including the outdoor property or grounds controlled and/or maintained by Loyola at those campuses, as well as all University owned or leased vehicles, and all outdoor athletic facilities, including Hoyne Field. 

Scope of Application 
All Faculty, Staff, Students, and Visitors (i.e., parents, vendors, contractors, and service providers) of the University are covered by this policy. In addition, all persons using the facilities of the University are subject to this policy. Smoking and/or use of tobacco or tobacco-related products on campus property is prohibited. This policy statement is specifically referenced in the Community Standards for students and is covered in the Faculty Handbook (Faculty Conduct) and Staff Handbook (Rules of Conduct) and is considered a violation of University policy.

Tobacco is defined to include lighted cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, hookah products, and any other smoking products, including cannabis. This also includes any smokeless, spit or spitless, dissolvable, or inhaled tobacco products, including but not limited to dip, chew, snuff, and snus in any form (orbs, sticks, pellets, etc.). A vaping product is defined as an electronic cigarette or similar device. Nicotine products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a smoking cessation product, such as e-cigarettes, are also prohibited.

Tobacco and nicotine product advertisements are prohibited in University-sponsored publications. 

General Rules
Smoking or use of tobacco or nicotine products as described above by Faculty, Staff, Students, and Visitors shall be prohibited at all times on Loyola campus properties as identified above without exception, and also includes all University vehicles.

Individuals who choose to smoke on public property near campus locations must do so in compliance with existing public ordinances. In Chicago, you must comply with the City of Chicago Ordinance No. 7-32, to maintain a distance of 15 feet from any University building opening (e.g., doors, windows, ventilation intakes, etc.). All cigarette butts shall be disposed of in designated ashtrays.

Compliance
The success of the Smoke and Tobacco-Free Policy will depend on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of smokers and nonsmokers. Faculty, Staff, Students, and Visitors (have a collective responsibility to promote the safety and health of the campus community and therefore share in the responsibility of enforcement. All members of the Loyola University Chicago community are required to comply with this policy, which shall remain in effect at all times. Members who do not comply will be addressed, reminded of the importance of compliance, and referred to the informational materials available regarding how to comply with this policy and to cessation materials. Members of the community who refuse to comply with this policy may be subject to corrective action through the applicable process.

  • Staff members in violation are subject to corrective action as administered by Human Resources.
  • Faculty members in violation are subject to corrective action as administered by the Provost’s Office.
  • In alignment with the Student Promise and the Community Standards, Students in violation are subject to a referral to the Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution.
  • Visitors, including all vendors, contractors, and any service providers, will be subject to whatever remedies are available to the University.

In accordance with the applicable law and Loyola University Chicago policy, any member of the Loyola community can voice objections to smoking violations by students, faculty, or staff by reporting such conduct to smokefree@luc.edu without fear of retaliation. 

Resources

Faculty and Staff
Loyola’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Perspectives, Ltd., is available at no cost to Faculty and Staff and is designed to provide support for a balanced lifestyle. Perspectives can facilitate private smoking cessation counseling sessions. Please contact Perspectives to schedule an appointment. More resources on smoking cessation can be found here

Students
Students who need resources for smoking cessation can contact the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center’s Health Promotion Team offers one-on-one meetings to help students set goals and make a plan to cut down or stop their smoking, as well as alcohol use and other addictive behaviors. Please visit LUC Safety Net for more information.

Amendments or Termination of this Policy
Loyola University Chicago reserves the right to modify, amend, or terminate this policy at any time.

Revised: 4/08, 3/17, 7/14/21, 2/23/24