Western’s Campuses to go Smoke Free | Environmental Health and Safety

Dear Campus Community,

In 2019, Western conducted a survey of our students and employees regarding smoking and vaping. The survey results clearly indicated that people wanted stronger restrictions on smoking and vaping on campuses. These results, paired with our commitment to promote the health and safety of our community, has led the President’s Cabinet to make Western’s campuses fully smoke and vape free by the end of the 2022-23 academic year.

This decision is consistent with many other higher education institutions moving towards smoke-free campuses. The COVID-19 pandemic also brought about additional concerns for respiratory health, increasing awareness on this topic.

The Central Health and Safety Committee (CHSC) has created the Smoke-Free Campus Task Force to address this effort. The Task Force includes students, faculty, and staff, and will recommend an implementation and communication plan. This plan will include information regarding smoking cessation resources available to students and employees. Additional information regarding the Smoke Free Campus Task Force is available on the Smoke-Free Campus page of the Environmental Health and Safety website.

Thank you,

WWU is located on the unceded ancestral territory of the Lhaq'temish, the Lummi people, and the Nuxwsá7aq,