Randolph Community College Goes Tobacco Free July 1

Randolph Community College will implement its Tobacco Free Policy on July 1, joining approximately 35 other colleges and universities in North Carolina who have committed to tobacco-free campuses to provide a healthy and safe environment for their students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The policy was approved by RCC's Board of Trustees on Nov. 19, 2009, with a July 1, 2010, effective date.

The new policy states that "Use of tobacco is prohibited by students, staff, faculty, or visitors in all campus buildings, facilities or property owned or used by RCC, including outside areas. Tobacco use shall be permitted in personal vehicles as long as no tobacco litter is left on campus. For the purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined as any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, hookahs, smokeless or spit tobacco, or snuff."

The College has spent the last six months publicizing the policy internally through banners, e-mails, the College Web site, and the student portal Campus Cruiser, according to Kevin Walker, co-chair of the College's Health/Wellness Committee. The College offered Smoking Cessation classes in April, although no one signed up at that time, said Walker. More classes will be offered in August. These classes are provided through Randolph Hospital.

Signage and other materials were provided through the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund, and RCC has joined the Tobacco-Free Colleges Initiative. More information about the grant funding and the Tobacco-Free Colleges Initiative, including a list of those colleges, can be found at www.healthwellnc.com or www.tobaccofreecollegesnc.com.

In preparation for the July 1 implementation, the College staff is removing ashtrays and installing new signage throughout the Asheboro Campus, Archdale Center, the Emergency Services Training Center, the Cosmetology Center in Hillside Shopping Center, and the RCC Learning Center in the Chevy Centre on South Fayetteville Street. The smoking pavilions on the Asheboro Campus will become tobacco-free sitting areas.

Violators of the policy shall be issued a verbal warning. For those who repeatedly violate the policy, further action will be taken. The full policy is available on the College's Web site at
www.randolph.edu/studentlife/tobacco_free.php.