Newswise — In a move towards improving the health of its community, University of the Sciences announced it is officially a smoke and tobacco-free campus as of Thursday, May 1, 2014.

“As an institution devoted to healthcare and science, USciences is committed to providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment,” said University president Dr. Helen F. Giles-Gee. “This is an exciting and milestone announcement for USciences. Having a smoke and tobacco-free campus is best for the health, wellness, and environmental sustainability of USciences and its community.”

The USciences campus-wide, smoke and tobacco-free policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products on all campus property, in owned or leased and operated buildings, recreation areas, and outdoors. It extends to all faculty members, staff, students, visitors, contractors, and other persons on campus, regardless of the purpose of their visit.

With this new policy in place, the University joins a growing list of other colleges and universities who have made a commitment to banning smoke and/or tobacco products on campus. The policy—which is in support of Philadelphia law 050063-A and comes on the heels of the City’s announcement on April 29, 2014, to ban smoking in public parks—is currently posted at usciences.edu/tobacco-free.

The smoke and tobacco-free campus policy is a result of USciences’ healthy campus initiative, a committee formed in 2011 to focus on giving employees and students the opportunity to make healthier choices and lower employee healthcare costs.

At University of the Sciences, students embark on a challenging learning experience in a proving ground for successful professionals in the science and healthcare-related fields. A private institution dedicated to education, research, and service, and distinguished as the nation’s first college of pharmacy, the University has produced leaders in the science and healthcare marketplaces since its founding in 1821. Students in USciences’ colleges learn to excel in scientific analysis and to apply their skills to improving healthcare in the lives of people worldwide through such disciplines as pharmacy, biology, chemistry, psychology, physics, physical therapy, healthcare business, and health policy. For more information, visit usciences.edu.

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