Institutional Commitment to a Smoke-Free Campus
Sakarya University is committed to promoting a healthy, safe and smoke-free campus environment for students, academic and administrative staff, visitors and the wider university community. Through its institutional tobacco-control policy, the University aims to prevent exposure to second-hand smoke, encourage healthy lifestyles, reduce tobacco-related environmental pollution and strengthen awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use.
The University's commitment is formally established through the Sakarya University Smoke-Free Airspace Directive, approved by the University Senate on 4 October 2024 (Decision No. 692/12). The Directive provides an institutional framework for regulating tobacco consumption across university premises, defining smoke-free areas, establishing implementation responsibilities and ensuring compliance through monitoring and administrative procedures.
The policy supports the University's wider commitment to public health, environmental responsibility and sustainable campus management. Its objectives, including protecting non-smokers from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke and preventing pollution caused by tobacco waste, are publicly communicated through the University's Smoke-Free Campus initiative.
Implementation of the Smoke-Free Campus Policy
Sakarya University implements its smoke-free policy across educational, administrative, research, healthcare, cultural, recreational and other university facilities. In accordance with the Smoke-Free Airspace Directive, tobacco consumption is prohibited in university buildings and designated smoke-free outdoor spaces, while outdoor smoking is restricted to specifically identified areas.
The Directive establishes clear requirements for the location and management of designated tobacco-use areas. These areas must not exceed 30% of the total outdoor area and must be located at least 10 metres from building entrances and exits. Restrictions also apply to designated recreational spaces, walking routes, playgrounds and outdoor exercise areas.
To support transparent implementation, the University has published an official Smoke-Free Campus Map identifying the designated tobacco-use areas within Esentepe Campus. By clearly defining these locations, the University seeks to minimise involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke, protect shared outdoor environments and encourage compliance among campus users.
Figure. Designated Smoking Areas at Sakarya University Esentepe Campus
The policy also addresses electronic cigarettes and other tobacco or nicotine-containing products within the scope established by the Directive, supporting a consistent institutional approach to tobacco control.
Institutional Governance, Monitoring and Compliance
The Smoke-Free Airspace Directive establishes an administrative framework for implementing and monitoring tobacco-control measures across the University.
Under the Directive, the University's General Secretariat is responsible for coordinating designated inspection teams, while authorised personnel undertake monitoring activities to assess compliance with tobacco-use restrictions. These procedures include inspections of restricted areas, verification of warning and information signs, documentation of violations and implementation of applicable administrative measures.
The monitoring framework also addresses the environmental consequences of tobacco consumption, particularly cigarette butts, discarded packaging and other tobacco-related waste. Through these measures, the University integrates public-health protection, environmental cleanliness and institutional accountability into its campus management practices.
The responsibilities, monitoring procedures and administrative provisions governing the policy are detailed in the publicly accessible Smoke-Free Airspace Directive.
Awareness-Raising and Community Engagement
Sakarya University reinforces its smoke-free policy through educational activities, institutional communication and cooperation with organisations working in tobacco prevention and addiction awareness.
On 31 May 2024, World No Tobacco Day, the University organised an awareness event to introduce the expansion of its Smoke-Free Campus initiative at Esentepe Campus. The programme was organised with contributions from the University's addiction prevention and sustainability units and the participation of the Turkish Green Crescent Society (Yeşilay).
The event focused on raising awareness of tobacco-related health risks, protecting the right to breathe smoke-free air, preventing environmental pollution caused by cigarette waste and communicating the newly designated tobacco-use areas. The initiative also supported the University's objective of expanding smoke-free campus practices across its premises.
The University's World No Tobacco Day Smoke-Free Campus event demonstrates the practical integration of institutional policy, community participation and public-health communication.
Cooperation with Yeşilay has also been strengthened through institutional dialogue. During the Smoke-Free Campus cooperation meeting with the Turkish Green Crescent Society, University representatives and Yeşilay officials discussed the development of smoke-free campus practices and opportunities for joint initiatives.
These activities demonstrate the University's commitment to extending tobacco-prevention awareness beyond regulatory compliance through stakeholder engagement and collaborative health-promotion initiatives.
Smoking Cessation Awareness and Health Promotion
In addition to regulating tobacco consumption on campus, Sakarya University encourages smoking cessation and promotes access to reliable information on tobacco dependence, addiction prevention and healthier living.
Through its dedicated Smoke-Free Campus website, the University provides publicly accessible information on the institutional policy, designated tobacco-use areas, awareness activities and relevant health-promotion resources.
The initiative also directs students, staff and visitors to the Turkish Ministry of Health's Protect Your Air (Havanı Koru) programme and the Bırakabilirsin smoking-cessation awareness platform.
At the institutional level, the Sakarya University Addiction Prevention Application and Research Centre (BAMER) contributes to addiction prevention, education and public awareness. In June 2026, BAMER further reinforced the University's commitment to tobacco prevention by promoting the Smoke-Free Campus Implementation Guide, developed through cooperation between the Turkish Ministry of Health, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Turkish Green Crescent Society (Yeşilay). The guide emphasises reducing tobacco consumption, expanding smoke-free environments, preventing second-hand smoke exposure and strengthening smoking-cessation support.
By combining tobacco-use restrictions with awareness-raising, accessible information and cooperation with specialised institutions, Sakarya University promotes a preventive and community-oriented approach to health and well-being.
Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
Sakarya University's Smoke-Free Campus Policy directly supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, particularly Target 3.a, which calls for strengthening the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Through its Senate-approved institutional policy, designated smoke-free areas, monitoring procedures, public-health awareness activities and cooperation with relevant stakeholders, the University contributes to reducing exposure to tobacco smoke and promoting healthier campus environments.
The initiative also complements SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by improving the quality of shared campus environments, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by addressing tobacco-related waste and environmental pollution, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through cooperation with public-health organisations and civil society.
Sakarya University continues to strengthen its institutional approach to tobacco control by integrating health protection, prevention, awareness, environmental responsibility and stakeholder collaboration into its sustainable campus practices.
