As published in the Courier-Tribune January 26, 2012
By Hugh Martin
TROY – The campus of Montgomery Community College will be 100 percent tobacco-free, beginning Aug. 1.
The policy was adopted at a recent college trustees meeting.
The issue of a tobacco-free campus came up because high school students will be on campus regularly next year to take college-level courses. All facilities of the Montgomery County Schools system are 100 percent tobacco-free.
Tobacco is already restricted in buildings, with designated areas available for tobacco use. The policy will prohibit smoking and use of other tobacco products by students, staff, faculty, or visitors in all campus buildings, facilities or property owned, leased or operated by MCC, including outside areas, on campus grounds, facilities or vehicles that are the property of the college. The policy would also be in force at lectures, conferences, meetings, and social or cultural events held on college property or campus grounds.
Student organizations are prohibited from accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies. Events sponsored by tobacco companies or allowing tobacco companies to distribute free, reduced-price, or fully-priced tobacco products (T-shirts, hats, etc.) on campus and all tobacco advertising, such as billboards and signs owned and used by Montgomery Community College will not be allowed.
The Mid-Atlantic Woodsmen’s Meet and the Stihl Timbersports Competition, which will be broadcast nationwide on ESPNU and the Outdoor Channel, will take place at the college in April. If adopted, the event would not be affected.
Reaction to the proposed policy has been mixed. An online survey administered by the college was completed by administrators, faculty, staff and students.
In the survey, 64.3 percent of respondents said that they were not bothered by secondhand smoke on the college campus while 33.1 percent indicated that they were. The remaining respondents said that they didn’t know.
Asked if they would support the tobacco-free policy, 49.7 percent said yes, 40.1 percent said no and 10.2 percent said that they didn’t know.
65.2 percent said that they would like to see a program to help people quit tobacco use on campus. The policy calls for MCC to consult with appropriate health organizations to provide students and employees with information and access to such a program.
According to the policy, consequences for students engaging in the prohibited behavior will be subject to the disciplinary actions described in the Student Code of Conduct. Employees using tobacco products on campus will be subject to the disciplinary actions described in the MCC Board Policy.
A letter of support for the new policy from the Montgomery County Health Department was shared with board members prior to the vote.
In other business:
• Lori McAlister, head of the Dental Assisting curriculum, gave an update on that program.
• Kavin Sydalack was introduced to the board as the new Information Systems Administrator.
• Out-of-state travel was approved for MCC President Dr. Mary Kirk to attend the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Orientation Session in Atlanta beginning Jan. 30.
• A report from the N.C. Community College system congratulated MCC for no exceptions found during a recent audit of Institution Class Reports.
No comments:
Post a Comment