Communication, Education, Cessation
Putting the health, safety and comfort of our community first.
UNH is committed to supporting its campus communities in Durham, Manchester, Concord and around the state in becoming tobacco, smoke and nicotine-free. Our policy aims to create a community culture where well-being is a priority, and where a healthy lifestyle without tobacco, smoke and nicotine is the norm.
While tobacco, smoke and nicotine products are prohibited in UNH facilities and on its grounds, the focus of our policy is to promote voluntary compliance, support and resources that encourage a healthy community and sustainable environment. The updated policy was developed by a UNH-wide coalition in 2021 and went into effect on January 1, 2022. Moving forward, a TSN-Free Implementation Task Force will work to strengthen understanding of the policy and provide resources to the community.
UNH joins nearly 2,500 U.S. campuses that have adopted a 100% smoke-free policy. This policy applies to everyone on UNH properties: students, faculty, staff, visitors, contractors and vendors.
Resources & Support
Policies
Read the policy
Education and Support
UNH Health & Wellness resources
Employees, visit the EAP site or check with your insurance provider (myCigna for covered UNH employees)
for cessation tips and resources.
Campus Maps
To view campus boundary maps, navigate to the campus map website and view the maps
via the links at the bottom of the page.
Please note that this is a living document, and that FAQs will be evolving based on the TSN Free Policy Implementation Committee’s agreed upon phase in process.
Introduction
To protect the health, safety and comfort of university students, faculty and other academic appointees, staff, and visitors, and to protect the environment in which we live, work and play, the University of New Hampshire has adopted a policy that prohibits the use of Tobacco, Smoke, and Nicotine (TSN) products. As a premier land-grant research institution, this policy aligns with our dedication to sustainability and preservation of the natural world. This policy is also consistent with New Hampshire state law (RSA 155:64-77).
Use of TSN products are prohibited in facilities and on grounds owned, occupied, or leased by UNH. This policy applies to UNH Durham, UNH Manchester and UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law.
As part of a campus-wide well-being initiative, UNH is committed to promoting education that addresses the health impacts of TSN use and TSN exposure, as well as education on the health benefits of quitting use. Furthermore, UNH is committed to offering support, cessation programs and resources as the policy is phased in and beyond.
Review the UNH TSN-Free policy
When does the policy become effective?
The policy will be effective January 2022 with a phased implementation approach beginning with non-punitive communications regarding the policy, health and policy education, and messaging on resources and services for cessation. A TSN Free Policy Implementation Committee was established Fall 2021 and tasked with planning and executing the phase in process.
Where is the policy in effect?
This policy prohibits use of all TSN products, including electronic cigarette and electronic aerosol delivery devices, everywhere within the boundaries of UNH properties, both indoors and outdoors, as well as in any vehicle within the boundaries of all three UNH campuses and facility properties.
Why is UNH going Tobacco, Smoke and Nicotine (TSN) free?
UNH is dedicated to sustainability and building a culture of well-being. A TSN free policy aligns with these values and is key to protecting the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of our community and our visitors.
Who is covered under this policy?
Anyone located within the boundaries of UNH properties is expected to comply with this policy. This includes students, faculty, staff, visitors, contractors, and vendors.
What Tobacco, Smoke and Nicotine (TSN) products are covered under this policy?
Any product made or derived from tobacco, or any product that contains nicotine, that is intended for human consumption. This includes, but is not limited to: cigarettes, cigarillos, hookah-smoked products, bidis, kreteks, electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic aerosol delivery systems, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew, snus, herbal cigarettes, clove cigarettes and nicotine-free electronic cigarettes.
Can I use Tobacco, Smoke and Nicotine (TSN) products in my personal vehicle on campus?
No. Parking lots and garages owned, operated, and leased by UNH are covered under this policy. TSN use is prohibited in any vehicle located on, or driven through, university property.
What was the process through which this policy was adopted?
A Policy Update Task Force was charged by the Provost to develop an updated Tobacco, Smoke and Nicotine policy during Spring 2021. This was accomplished through a collaborative process involving a variety of campus stakeholders including administrative personnel, staff, faculty, and students. The task force shared a draft of the policy with their key constituents and respective departments who provided input for the final recommend policy update.
Are other colleges and universities Tobacco, Smoke and Nicotine (TSN) Free?
Yes! Prior to this update our 2004 policy was no longer consistent with best public health practice. Nearly 2,500 campuses in the US that have adopted 100% smoke-free policies that prohibit use across their campuses. The list of smoke-free schools (PDF) continues to grow each year.
How will the policy be communicated to visitors and community members?
Information about the policy will be delivered at new employee and new student orientations. In addition to UNH official communications, UNH website content and UNH social media, signs will be posted throughout university grounds informing and reminding individuals that UNH is a Tobacco, Smoke, and Nicotine Free campus. Word of mouth, the absence of waste containers, social and behavioral norms also play a role in individuals becoming aware of the policy.
How will the policy be implemented?
A TSN Free Policy Implementation Committee was established Fall 2021 and tasked with planning and executing the phase in process.
The policy implementation will operate through health education, communication regarding the policy, and by cultivating public health norms within a community-inclusive framework. Oversight is the shared responsibility of all UNH community members who are expected to execute that responsibility in good faith.
How will this policy impact national and international student enrollment? Will this make hiring more difficult?
Research studies show that college students who use TSN products began doing so AFTER coming to college. Colleges and universities that have become TSN free report no impact of these policies on their ability to recruit students or employees, particularly when the emphasis is on health and wellness, and resources are available to support cessation.
What are the advantages of a Tobacco, Smoke, and Nicotine (TSN) Free policy?
- Protects the rights of all to breathe fresh air without exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke and aerosol (a product of vaping exhalation).
- Provides a supportive environment, including cessation resources, for consumers who desire to quit.
- Sustains the natural environment by eliminating pollutants from our air, water, earth, grounds and buildings.
- Delays student initiation of using TSN products during college
- Builds health promoting behavior norms
What if I don’t want to quit using Tobacco, Smoke, and Nicotine (TSN) products?
Use of TSN products is a personal choice. A TSN Free Policy does not take away an individual’s right to use; it limits the locations where an individual can consume the product. A TSN Free policy respects an individual’s right to choose to use TSN products off campus.
Why don’t we offer smoking huts or designated areas for those who choose to smoke?
Offering designated use areas does not support the University of New Hampshire’s goal of creating a healthy, clean, and safe environment that is inclusive and equitable for the entire campus. A 100% TSN Free policy will also reduce clean-up costs. Other universities have found smoking zones to be ineffective and campuses that are fully TSN free report fewer problems with compliance than campuses that include designated smoking areas.
Is the University requiring that people quit Tobacco, Smoke, and Nicotine (TSN) products?
No. The university is saying that TSN use is prohibited on University grounds. For students who choose to quit, the University will support them through education and cessation programs offered through UNH Health & Wellness. For employees who choose to quit, the University will support them through the UNH EAP, and Cigna’s "Quit Smoking" resources and challenges page.
Are cannabis products and devices prohibited under this policy?
Yes. Smoke-free means that inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated product intended for inhalation, including cannabis be it recreational, medicinal, natural, or synthetic, in any manner or form, is prohibited. Prior to this TSN policy update, cannabis possession, use in any form, and paraphernalia were already prohibited at UNH under federal law. Federal regulations classify cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug and therefore illegal.
How about if I am using a tobacco substitute to help me quit – can I still use that?
Products that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or other medical purposes shall not be considered tobacco substitutes as defined by this policy and therefore are not prohibited.
What should I do if I see someone violating the policy?
Members of the campus community who see individuals using TSN products on University of New Hampshire grounds are asked to inform these individuals that UNH is a tobacco, smoke, and nicotine free campus as of January 1, 2022. Communication should be brief, educational, and kind.
