University students may see changes in the strategies used to enforce the smoke-free policy on campus. On Aug. 18, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation to ban smoking on all state-supported university and college campuses. The law will take effect on July 1, 2015.

Kathy Drea, vice president of advocacy at the American Lung Association, said that she worked on the bill and lobbied for it for three years. The college age group, 18-24, has the highest smoking rate of any age group and according to Drea, smoke-free policies are one of the main ways to help people quit or reduce smoking.

According to the American Lung Association, there are approximately 433 colleges and universities nationwide that are 100 percent tobacco-free. Though Drea is not expecting 100 percent compliance when the legislation goes into effect, she said there are universities that have already expressed interest in becoming involved.

“It’s all about social change,” she said.

Renee Romano, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said that she believes not much will change in the way that the University implements the smoking ban policy.

“We’re ahead of the game,” she said. “I think we’re fully inclined and people have to change.” 

However, since the smoking ban will become a statewide law, Romano said the educational approach could be modified to include disciplinary consequences.

“I’m not saying that we would move to fines, but it being a state law does allow us to implement some of those harsher consequences if we chose to,” Romano said.

Romano expressed that other state colleges and universities may ask the University of Illinois for guidance; however, these universities will have an advantage since the ban will soon be considered a law. 

Michele Guerra, director of the UI Wellness Center, said there has been visible progress since the smoking ban was established. With the start of the school year, new students and visitors have been informed of the campus’ smoke-free policy. The Wellness Center plans to display signs around campus and have smoke-free student ambassadors in place to remind new students to follow the policy. 

“It’s been integrated in all the admissions material, all the housing material, they’ve gotten that word before they’ve arrived,” Guerra said. “For instance, we had information out at registration this summer, so all the students that came through, all the parents that came through — they were able to get information on it.”

Guerra added that resident advisors, Campus Recreation, Private Certified Housing and Human Resources staff are among those that have received training to enforce the policy. The Wellness Center will also soon provide an interactive map of the smoke-free campus online in order to increase awareness and help with compliance.

Jessica can be reached at [email protected].