Walailak University’s Smoke-free Policy and Smoke-free Campus
Walailak University implements a smoke-free policy to create a safe and health-supportive environment for students, staff, and campus users. The policy covers the protection of non-smokers, the designation of smoke-free areas, the prohibition of smoking and vaping, as well as awareness-raising campaigns and disciplinary measures for violations.
Smoke-free Policy and Protection of Non-smokers
Walailak University established the Policy on Non-Smoker Protection, Designated Smoking Areas, and Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes, B.E. 2567 (2024), which was announced on 4 October 2024 and came into effect on the following day. The policy was developed to update the university’s existing approach in response to the changing health and social context and to support health and well-being across the University community.
The Policy on Non-Smoker Protection and Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes
The policy establishes measures to create a smoke-free environment across areas and buildings under the university’s responsibility, including academic buildings, Walailak University Hospital, sports and health facilities, and student shuttle buses. At the same time, electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and related devices are strictly prohibited throughout the university, both indoors and outdoors. These measures demonstrate that the university’s smoke-free policy is not limited to specific buildings or selected areas. Instead, it establishes a university-wide approach to protect students, staff, and service users from exposure to tobacco smoke and vaping.
Communication and Creating a Smoke-free Environment
To support the implementation of the policy, the university has installed no-smoking signs and visual communication materials in buildings and various areas across the campus. These signs inform campus users of the smoking restrictions and raise awareness of the university’s smoke-free policy.
In addition, the university continuously conducts health-promotion and smoking- and vaping-prevention activities. These activities connect smoking prevention with health promotion, physical exercise, and drug-prevention efforts, reinforcing the development of a smoking-free campus.
Awareness-Raising Activities
8th WU Happy Fun Run
On 25 January 2025, the University organized the 8th WU HAPPY FUN RUN, under the theme “Health-conscious University: Smoke-free, Vape-free and Drug-free”, to promote physical health and psychological well-being while raising awareness of the avoidance of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and drugs. Approximately 1,500 people participated in the activity, with 92% reporting the highest level of satisfaction, rated as very good.
Awareness-raising Activity for World No Tobacco Day 2025
Meanwhile, the Social Medicine Department of Walailak University Hospital organized an awareness-raising activity for World No Tobacco Day 2025 on 31 May 2025. The activity provided information on the health risks associated with smoking and electronic cigarettes and included slogan and logo competitions to develop communication materials supporting smoking reduction and cessation.
Top Three Winner of Slogan and Logo Competition
Vaping Prevention and Network Engagement
The university also contributes to vaping prevention at the network level. As the coordinating university of the Upper Southern Higher Education Network, Walailak University has participated in training and seminars on drug prevention and mitigation in higher education institutions, including workshops of working groups supporting smoke-free and vape-free higher education institutions.
In addition, the School of Public Health at Walailak University organized a knowledge-sharing forum on monitoring outcomes and transferring innovations for vaping prevention in educational institutions in the Upper Southern region. The forum brought together 27 network schools from seven provinces: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Ranong, Krabi, Phang Nga, and Phuket, together with 15 public health agencies and academic partners.
Monitoring, Enforcement and Disciplinary Measure
The university’s smoke-free policy is supported by disciplinary measures. Under the Walailak University Announcement on Disciplinary Measures and Recording of Student Conduct Scores, B.E. 2553 (2010), students found smoking in prohibited areas receive a deduction of 1–10 conduct points from a total of 100 points.
If a student’s conduct score is reduced by 70 points or more, the University will not issue a certificate of conduct. If the student reaches a total deduction of 100 points, the student is not eligible to graduate. The monitoring process begins when an alleged violation is reported. University staff or dormitory advisors record the incident and submit information on the student involved to the unit responsible for student discipline for recording and further action.
These measures demonstrate that the smoke-free policy is supported by policy provision, communication, implementation, monitoring, and enforcement, rather than being limited to a policy statement alone.
Outcomes of the Smoke-free Policy
Walailak University’s tobacco-control and vaping-prevention efforts have also been recognized through the “Outstanding University for Tobacco Control” award. As the coordinating university for the Upper Southern region, Walailak University has continuously promoted measures to prevent and address vaping, raised awareness of the health risks of electronic cigarettes, and supported the development of smoke-free higher education institutions.
These efforts demonstrate the continued implementation of the university’s smoke-free policy through policy development, campus-level implementation, awareness-raising activities, disciplinary measures, and network engagement. Overall, Walailak University has established and implemented a smoke-free policy supported by university-wide measures, public communication, awareness-raising activities, monitoring, and disciplinary enforcement.
