Campus adjusts smoking policy to comply, accommodate

September 26, 2007

Miami Hamilton has adjusted its campus smoking policy to ensure compliance with Ohio’s new state law which prohibits indoor smoking in public places and places of employment.

A task force was convened to determine how to accommodate members of our campus community who smoke and, at the same time, comply with the new state law which also requires smokers to stay at least 25 feet away from public buildings … the whole building, not just the entrance.

The task force recommended creating six smoking zones on campus for the 2007-08 academic year only. Miami University will become fully smoke-free beginning in Fall 2008, including the main campus in Oxford and the regional campuses in Hamilton, Middletown and Luxembourg.

The six smoking zones at Miami Hamilton are easily identifiable and marked by the placement of cigarette urns with signs attached to them. Smoking is permitted within 10 feet of the urns.

Maps showing the locations of the smoking zones are available in information racks and on poster boards across campus. The smoking zones are located north of Mosler Hall, east of Phelps Hall, west of Schwarm Commons, north of the Wilks Conference Center, north of the Gymnasium and southwest of University Hall.

The Office of the Campus Dean is asking smokers at Miami Hamilton to please abide by the law.

“The State of Ohio expects us to enforce the policy, and the Ohio Department of Health has indicated it may conduct random checks to make sure college campuses are compliant,” said Chris Connell, Miami Hamilton’s Senior Director of Administration.

“Individual violators are subject to a $100 fine imposed by the State of Ohio, and the campus itself is subject to fines up to $2,500 for non-compliance,” Connell explained.

Education campaigns are forthcoming to prepare the Miami Hamilton community for the anticipated full smoking ban next year, including graduated sanctions imposed by the University on first offenders and those who repeatedly violate the new state law.

Responsibility for enforcement falls primarily to Campus Security, although administrators are expected to intervene or contact Campus Security when a violation is observed.