Smoke-Free Policy

1. Policy Statement

An-Najah National University is committed to maintaining a healthy, safe, and fully smoke-free environment for its entire campus community.

Smoking, vaping, and the use of all tobacco products are prohibited at all indoor and outdoor locations across every University campus and all premises owned, leased, operated, or controlled by the University. No designated smoking areas are permitted on these premises.

This prohibition applies at all times, including during teaching, research, work, residential activities, public events, conferences, sports activities, and periods outside normal operating hours.

The University shall implement this policy through clear communication, campus-wide signage, consistent enforcement, and support for individuals who wish to stop using tobacco.

2. Purpose

This policy aims to:

• Protect students, staff, and visitors from exposure to second-hand smoke and emissions from electronic smoking devices.

• Establish a consistent prohibition on smoking and tobacco use throughout all indoor and outdoor University premises.

• Promote health and well-being through tobacco prevention, awareness, and cessation support.

• Reduce environmental pollution and litter associated with tobacco products.

• Define responsibilities for implementation, compliance, monitoring, and review.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all persons on University-controlled premises, including students, academic and administrative staff, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, visitors, retail vendors, tenants, and event participants.

The prohibition covers all indoor and outdoor locations, including:

• Teaching buildings, offices, lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, workshops, and meeting rooms.

• Cafeterias, restaurants, shops, toilets, corridors, stairways, and common areas.

• Student accommodation and other University-controlled residential facilities.

• Entrances, exits, balconies, terraces, courtyards, gardens, and outdoor seating areas.

• Walkways, roads, parking areas, sports fields, recreational spaces, and other campus grounds.

• University-controlled clinical facilities and associated grounds.

• University-owned or leased vehicles, and private vehicles while situated on University-controlled premises.

• Premises occupied by contractors, vendors, or tenants within University-controlled property.

• All indoor and outdoor events held on University-controlled premises, including events organized by external parties.

No individual, department, tenant, contractor, or event organizer may establish a smoking area or authorize an exception to the campus-wide prohibition.

4. Definitions

Fully smoke-free campus: A campus where smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited at every indoor and outdoor location, with no designated smoking areas.

Smoking: Lighting, burning, carrying, or using a lit cigarette, cigar, pipe, hookah, shisha, or any other product intended to be smoked.

Vaping and electronic smoking devices: Use of electronic cigarettes, vape pens, electronic hookahs, heated tobacco devices, and similar devices that produce an inhaled aerosol or emission, whether or not they contain nicotine.

Tobacco products: All products containing tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah tobacco, heated tobacco products, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other smokeless tobacco products.

University-controlled premises: Buildings, facilities, land, accommodation, and vehicles owned, leased, operated, or otherwise controlled by the University.

Medicinal nicotine replacement products used for smoking cessation, such as patches, gum, and lozenges, are excluded from this prohibition.

5. Policy Requirements

5.1 Campus-Wide Prohibition

Smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products are prohibited throughout all University-controlled premises.

The prohibition applies equally to enclosed buildings, open spaces, outdoor grounds, and indoor and outdoor events. There are no designated smoking areas.

Compliance is a condition of access to and use of University premises.

5.2 Tobacco Sales, Advertising, and Sponsorship

The sale, distribution, advertising, and promotion of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices are prohibited on University-controlled premises.

University vendors and tenants shall not sell or distribute these products. Tobacco industry sponsorship, branded promotional materials, and tobacco-funded promotional activities are prohibited on campus and at University-organized events.

5.3 Contractors, Vendors, and External Events

Contractors, subcontractors, vendors, tenants, and external event organizers shall comply with this policy and communicate its requirements to their employees and participants.

Smoke-free requirements shall be incorporated into relevant contracts, tenancy agreements, event conditions, and contractor induction materials.

Temporary structures, construction areas, rented campus spaces, and externally organized events remain subject to the full prohibition.

5.4 Environmental Protection

Tobacco-related litter, including cigarette butts, packaging, and discarded vaping devices, shall not be deposited on University grounds.

Campus waste management and clean-up procedures shall support a clean environment. Waste collection arrangements shall not be interpreted as permission to smoke or use tobacco.

6. Responsibilities

6.1 President’s Assistant for Logistics and Infrastructure Affairs

• Oversee implementation across all campuses and University-controlled premises.

• Coordinate policy updates and implementation procedures.

• Ensure that responsible units have clearly assigned duties.

• Review compliance findings and direct corrective action.

6.2 Director of Campus Services

• Maintain visible smoke-free signage at campus entrances, building entrances, outdoor common areas, parking areas, and other appropriate locations.

• Ensure that signage communicates the prohibition on both indoor and outdoor smoking and the absence of designated smoking areas.

• Coordinate implementation in accommodation, leased spaces, and areas occupied by vendors or contractors.

• Refer violations to the appropriate University authority.

6.3 Security Officers

• Monitor compliance throughout all indoor and outdoor University-controlled premises.

• Inform individuals of the policy and request that prohibited activity stop immediately.

• Record and refer repeated violations or refusals to comply through established procedures.

• Where authorized under University procedures, require visitors who refuse to comply to leave the premises.

6.4 Deans, Heads of Departments, and Managers

• Inform staff, students, and visitors of the policy.

• Ensure compliance within their areas of responsibility.

• Incorporate the policy into relevant orientations, activities, and event arrangements.

• Refer violations through the appropriate institutional procedures.

6.5 University Health Services

• Provide information on smoking cessation and available support.

• Offer confidential advice or referral to appropriate cessation services.

• Support tobacco prevention and health awareness activities.

6.6 Contract Managers and Event Organizers

• Communicate smoke-free requirements before work or events begin.

• Include relevant requirements in agreements and induction materials.

• Address non-compliance by contractors, vendors, tenants, and event participants.

6.7 All Campus Users

• Comply with the prohibition at every indoor and outdoor University location.

• Respect smoke-free signage and instructions from authorized personnel.

• Report violations to Campus Services, campus security, or the relevant responsible unit.

• Treat others respectfully when requesting compliance.

7. Communication and Awareness

The University shall communicate this policy through:

• Its public policy webpage.

• Student and staff orientation materials.

• Campus entrance and outdoor signage.

• Contractor, vendor, and tenant induction materials.

• Event information and conditions of venue use.

• Health awareness campaigns and relevant University communication channels.

Communications shall clearly state:

“All University campuses are smoke-free. Smoking, vaping, and tobacco use are prohibited in all indoor and outdoor areas. No designated smoking areas are provided.”

8. Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance is a shared responsibility supported by authorized University personnel.

An individual observed violating the policy shall be informed of the prohibition and requested to stop immediately. Repeated violations or refusal to comply shall be documented and referred to the relevant authority.

Disciplinary or contractual action shall follow applicable University regulations and approved procedures. Responses shall be proportionate, consistently applied, and subject to appropriate procedural safeguards.

• Students: Violations shall be addressed through student disciplinary procedures.

• Employees: Violations shall be addressed through staff disciplinary procedures.

• Contractors, vendors, and tenants: Violations shall be addressed through relevant contractual or tenancy provisions.

• Visitors and event participants: Individuals who refuse to comply may be required to leave University premises under authorized procedures.

Individuals may report concerns without confronting the person involved. Reports shall be handled respectfully and with appropriate confidentiality.

9. Smoking Cessation Support

The University shall support individuals who wish to stop smoking or using tobacco through information, confidential advice, and access or referral to appropriate cessation resources.

Support may include counseling, educational materials, support groups, and guidance on accessing cessation services.

Participation in cessation support does not exempt an individual from complying with the campus-wide prohibition.

10. Monitoring and Review

The President’s Assistant for Logistics and Infrastructure Affairs, in coordination with Campus Services, security, health services, and relevant academic and administrative units, shall oversee monitoring and review.

Monitoring shall include:

• Checks of signage and communication coverage.

• Review of reported violations and corrective actions.

• Compliance checks covering indoor and outdoor locations.

• Confirmation that no designated smoking areas have been established.

• Review of relevant contractor, vendor, tenancy, and event requirements.

• Consideration of feedback and cessation support needs.

Implementation findings shall be reviewed at least annually. Formal policy reviews shall be documented, and the public webpage shall display the latest verified review date.

Original Effective Date: 12 October 2016
Last Documented Review Date: 24 June 2025