The University of New Mexico is stomping out cigarettes – at least for the most part.
The state’s largest university is branding itself “tobacco-free” starting this fall, prohibiting smoking and other tobacco use – including electronic cigarettes and chewing tobacco – on its Albuquerque campus and at its branches.
But there are exceptions.
The school will keep two smoking areas for residents of campus dormitories and another two near UNM Hospital.
According to UNM’s tobacco policy – updated in May 2016 with an eye toward near-complete tobacco elimination by this fall – students, faculty and staff violating this policy “are subject to disciplinary action.”
It does not outline penalties.
The policy officially takes effect Tuesday, according to the UNM Newsroom website.
“The University began this initiative several years ago, but lacked the necessary marketing and enforcement resources to make it stick,” according to the website. “This time, with assistance from a New Mexico Department of Health grant, an awareness campaign, signage and plans for enforcement are already in place.”
