The University of Rochester is banning smoking on all its campuses and in all its buildings starting in July of 2017.
University President Joel Seligman made that announcement in a post on the university website today. It covers vaping as well as traditional tobacco products and it applies to the River Campus, the Eastman School of Music and all other University properties.
The Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital have been smoke free indoors and out for ten years. Smoking inside campus buildings has been banned since 1993.
Seligman says a working group concluded the move is best for an institution that promotes health and wellness.
The University will install a “small number” of outdoor smoking shelters on the River Campus for those having trouble in kicking the habit. It will also promote its smoking cessation programs.
There are already nearly 1,500 smoke-free campuses in the United States.