Florida International University
IN-3: Innovation 3

Breathe Easy Smoke Free Campus

The Healthy Campus Task Force is a group of students, faculty and staff from various FIU departments working to make FIU a healthier place. The task force is chaired by an Assistant Dean in the College of Medicine and former FIU First Lady. The first thing that they tackled was working toward FIU becoming a smoke and tobacco-free university. After researching and reviewing other universities who have done the same, creating a plan, and presenting to the administration, the FIU Board of Trustees approved the regulation that made FIU smoke and tobacco-free in January 2011.

Smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited on all university-owned properties, including Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Biscayne Bay Campus, Engineering Campus, recreational facilities, residential facilities, and parking lots and garages. Tobacco use in vehicles that are on FIU-owned properties is also prohibited.

Police service technicians or police officers who observe individuals smoking or using tobacco-related products on any FIU campus issues a Notice of Violation to those individuals. The entire process is as follows:
Step 1: First-time offenders will receive a warning. The Notice of Violation will provide individuals with information on resources available to help manage tobacco use and/or quit if so desired.
Step 2: Individuals violating the regulation a second time will be required to attend two smoking/tobacco management/dependence consultations with University Health Services. These classes are intended to help individuals manage their tobacco use. Individuals can sign up for these classes with University Health Services by calling their offices at Modesto A. Maidique Campus at 305-348-2401, Ext. 5, or the Biscayne Bay Campus at 305-919-5620, Ext. 4. Individuals must register for these classes within 14 days of receiving the Notice of Violation and complete all classes within 45 calendar days of the notice. Failure to comply will result in the second violation automatically becoming a third violation.
Step 3: For the third violation, employees will be referred to the appropriate area to begin the progressive disciplinary process and students will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution for appropriate discipline.

University Health services provides classes and assistance on smoking cessation. In addition to the assistance provided by University Health Services that can be found here, wellness assistants and peer educators will be going out in the community with a continued focus on educating students and employees on the hazards of smoking and inform users of the numerous available resources that can help them manage or quit tobacco use.