St. Olaf College is committed to providing a healthy and safe campus environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Substantial research demonstrates the damaging effects of tobacco on users and persons who experience second-hand smoke as a result of that use. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Almost no one starts smoking after age 25. Nearly 9 out of 10 smokers started smoking by age 18, and 99% started by age 26. Progression from occasional to daily smoking almost always occurs by age 26.” Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing an estimated 443,000 annually (Health and Human Services, 2014). Exposure to second-hand smoke causes more than 50,000 deaths annually (Health and Human Services, 2014).

No. In fact, St. Olaf College is behind many of its peers both locally and across the nation. The American College Health Association recommends that all colleges and universities adopt a tobacco-free policy. According to the American Cancer Society, all U.S. colleges and universities prohibit smoking in campus buildings, and as of January 2, 2020, there are 2,062 campuses that have gone tobacco-free. Four states (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and Louisiana) have enacted laws that require smoke-free policies prohibiting smoking in all indoor and outdoor areas of public college campuses. Iowa extends the law to include private institutions. Some of our peer institutions that are smoke and/or tobacco-free include Augustana University, Colorado College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Knox College, Lake Forest College, and Macalester College. 

We are proud to add St. Olaf College to the long list of other colleges and universities that have made the same commitment to the health and safety of our campus communities.

St. Olaf had put together a working group in 2018 to begin the process of reviewing the existing smoking policy on campus and provide recommendations on a path forward for reducing/eliminating smoking on campus. The working group was spearheaded by our Environmental Health and Safety Office with members from across campus, including students, Facilities, Athletics, Residence Life, Wellness Center, Admissions, Nursing, Human Resources, Dean of Students, Chemistry, Student Activities, and representatives from Rice County. The culmination of this work was submitted in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing. Now that we have successfully concluded the fall semester, it is time to pick up this important work and move this wellness initiative forward for the greater good of the community.

Over the years there have been various complaints ranging from people smoking too close to doorways forcing other employees to walk through smoke, smoking receptacles being moved closer to entrances, cigarette butts littering the campus, etc. The Environmental Health and Safety group was asked to put a team together to look into our current smoking policy and recommend a new policy if necessary.

No. The working group recommended a new smoking policy that was more specific and included designated smoking areas outside most campus buildings as well as no vaping in any college building. The President’s Leadership Team, in the midst of working to keep our community safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, also decided to implement a tobacco-free policy that furthers the health and safety of all students, employees, vendors, and visitors.