ACTC Will Go Tobacco Free August 1

Committed to fostering wellness and a safe environment, Ashland Community and Technical college will officially became a tobacco-free campus on August 1, 2011

The idea of a tobacco free campus was first proposed by the Student Government Association in 2009 and was discussed by student, faculty and staff groups during the past year. The College Council, representing all groups at the college, voted in May? to adopt the policy.

The tobacco free, smoke free policy bans the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff, on any campus property, inside and outside.

When announcing the initiative, Dr. Gregory D Adkins, ACTC President and CEO, said: I believe this policy will promote the health and well being of our entire campus community. The idea of a tobacco-free campus has been thoroughly debated by all groups who will be impacted by the policy, and we have reached a consensus that we believe will have a positive effect on all who use our campuses.

The tobacco free, smoke free policy bans the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff, on any campus property, including cars in college parking lots. However, the ban on tobacco in cars will be enforced gently during the first year, giving tobacco users time to adjust to the new regulation.

ACTC has added a Tobacco-Free Campus page to its Web site, with additional information about the policy, including resources for those wishing to stop using tobacco. The policy is in its initial phase of implementation and will be refined, along with this site, throughout the coming year.

Implementation will include new No Tobacco signage at the campuses at College Drive, Roberts Drive and Technology Drive, and paper and email notices to employees and students. Business sized cards outlining the new policy and the information website will be handed out to students and visitors at the beginning of each semester.

According to the American Lung Association, 246 colleges and universities in the nation are completely tobacco free. More than 200 other higher education institutions are smoke free, and many more are considering limitation on campus tobacco use.