In compliance with the Illinois Smoke-Free Campus Act, Northern Illinois University will become smoke-free Wednesday, July 1, joining more than 700 colleges and universities nationwide with smoke- and/or tobacco-free policies.
With the enactment of the new law, smoking will be prohibited on all campus property, defined as property that is owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by NIU, both indoors and outdoors and in university-owned vehicles. In accordance with the law, smoking will be allowed in privately owned vehicles when traveling through campus. Smoking will be allowed in privately owned vehicles parked in unenclosed lots on campus.
Faculty, staff and students have been very involved in planning for the July 1 implementation of the Smoke-Free Campus Act, said Derryl Block, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences and chair of the NIU Smoke-Free Task Force.
During every step of the university’s policy development process, NIU engaged students, faculty and staff to seek input through a series of community conversations and via questions and comments submitted via the Smoke-Free NIU website. The university has communicated with the campus community throughout the process and is ramping up communications regarding the new policy in advance of the July 1 implementation.
Additional information on NIU’s smoke-free policy, as well as cessation resources and frequently asked questions, are available on niu.edu/smokefree.