Wayne State University has announced that its main campus and extension centers will be smoke- and tobacco-free, effective Aug. 19, 2015. The new policy will apply to all employees, students, contractors and visitors.

The university joins hundreds of institutions across the country that have adopted smoke- and tobacco-free policies for indoor and outdoor spaces.

The current policy -- which will be amended -- permits tobacco use on campus but restricts it within 25 feet of any building. 

"Wayne State is committed to the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors. Going smoke- and tobacco-free is a logical step toward ensuring a healthy, clean and welcoming campus," said WSU President M. Roy Wilson. "As the campus prepares for this transition, we will provide numerous cessation resources for those who want help quitting."

At the encouragement of the Student Senate, a presidential task force was established in 2014 to examine whether to implement a smoke-free campus policy. Campus survey results indicated that the majority of all groups felt WSU would be more appealing if it were to go smoke-free.

According to the new policy, smoking (including e-cigarettes) and the use of all tobacco products is prohibited within and outside of all buildings or structures owned, leased, rented or operated by WSU. While the university does not provide designated smoking areas, smoking and tobacco use is permitted in privately owned vehicles. 

The WSU School of Medicine has been completely smoke-free since July 2008. 

The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation reported that as of Jan. 1, 2015, there were more than 1,500 smoke-free campuses nationwide, of which 1,014 -- around two-thirds -- were fully tobacco-free.

For more information on WSU's policy and cessation resources, visit wayne.edu/smoke-free. 

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 380 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students.