Aim: The aim of this study was evaluated the status of active and passive smoking, the level of dependence and the stage of change that they were in at a public university. Method: The universe of this descriptive study was being composed of academic, administrative and other employees working in a university in the east of Turkey in the academic year of 2015-2016. All of the universe was included in the sample and 230 (% 57.5 of the universe) data obtained from the employees were evaluated. The data of the study were collected using the "Cigarette Dependency Questionnaire in University Personnel", "Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test" and " The Stages of Change Test" adapted for smoking. The data were analyzed by using chi-square as the number, percentages and significance test entered into the computer-aided SPSS 18.0 program. Results: 16.5% of the employees participating in the study stated that they occasionally smoke 30.4% of their smoking regularly, 10.4% stated that they were exposed to passive smoking at work and 23.9% at the workplace. While smoking rates were higher in women and academics, workers were more exposed to passive smoking (p <.05). It was determined that 37.6% of participants had nicotine addiction at moderate level, 16.8% had advanced nicotine addiction and 42.4% were in the pre-intention stage of smoking cessation and 32.7% were in the intention stage of change. Conclusion: According to the findings obtained in this study, nearly half of the university employees were active smokers, one of every five employees was exposed to passive smoking and smoking habits were more frequent among women and academics.