Smoke Free Rationale

Broome Community College will be going smoke-free on January 17, 2012.

Rationale

Broome Community College understands that good health is essential to a successful education and therefore we are dedicated to providing a healthy, as well as safe and comfortable living and learning environment for our campus community.

While we sympathize with smokers, we also recognize the overwhelming scientific evidence assembled by the US Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control, EPA, and World Health Organization, which demonstrates that tobacco is a profound agent of deadly diseases, responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year both to tobacco smokers and non-smokers alike.

A primary strategic direction for BCC is to “Enhance the Student Experience To Allow Each to Reach His or Her Full Potential” (BCC Strategic Directions 2010-2015). In addition, the SUNY Strategic Plan for 2010 and Beyond, The Power of SUNY, has set forth a major initiative based on promoting “A Healthier New York.” Broome Community College is dedicated to these strategies and to working together with healthcare leadership across the community by setting forth a powerful example that the College cares about the health and well-being of its students, employees and visitors.

Nearly half of all community colleges across the United States have become smoke-free environments. By becoming smoke-free in January, 2012, Broome Community College will be following recommendations by both the BCC College Council and the BCC Student Assembly that the College and its facilities be designated Smoke-Free. Some points set forth by the BCC College Council are as follows:

The primary goal of the Resolution to become a smoke-free campus is to encourage the College to consider an enforceable way to reduce involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke.
The secondary goal of the Resolution is to encourage the College to provide an environment that would not encourage the use of cigarettes by encouraging healthy behaviors.
Third, a smoke-free campus assists in advancing BCC’s goals to address its facilities and campus cleanliness, particularly student and campus cleanliness, and student and campus personnel satisfaction by enhancing the working and learning environment.
Lastly, a change in BCC’s institutional policy will help students prepare for future employment in work environments that are becoming progressively smoke-free.

The Policy

Broome Community College shall be designated as a smoke free facility and no person shall carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other form of smoking object or device including electronic cigarettes in any indoor or outdoor area of the College, including all off-campus facilities. (Policy 1.30 Adopted by Broome Community College Board of Trustees, October 27, 2011)

Definitions

For the purpose of this document, the following definitions apply:

“Smoke-free” means that no person shall carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other form of smoking object or device including electronic cigarettes is prohibited.
“College” is defined as Broome Community College
“College Property” is defined as any property, owned, leased or operated by Broome Community College.

Key Policy Components

Smoke Free Grounds – Smoking is prohibited on all campus owned/leased property, both indoors and outdoors, including campus-owned vehicles. Individuals are permitted to smoke in their own vehicles in parking lot areas only.

Smoking is prohibited at all institution-sponsored off campus events.

Understanding the addictive nature of tobacco and that breaking that addiction is extremely difficult for many people, the College will make every reasonable effort to assist those students and employees who wish to stop smoking. The College will promote and provide evidence-based cessation resources. Students can access tobacco cessation support services at the BCC Student Health Services Office. Employees can access support through the Employee Assistance Program. The New York State Smokers’ Quitline is also an excellent resource in this area and can be accessed online thorough nysmokefree.com. Team Act also provides counseling services. BCC Counseling Services will offer smoking cessation counseling/programming, strategies and educational outreach efforts to students.

Enforcement

Enforcement of this policy will depend on the cooperation of all members of the campus community, both to comply and to encourage others to do so.

The College Office of Public Affairs will inform members of the campus community about the smoke-free policy by widely distributing the policy on an annual basis.

The policy will be clearly posted in employee handbooks, on the campus website, on campus digital signage, in a mobile application, and in other relevant publications.

The policy will be shared with parents, alumni, and visitors, with key components posted on signage around campus (i.e. This is a Smoke-free campus. Smoking prohibited on campus grounds).

Policy violations will be initially responded to with education. Repeated violations will be referred to the appropriate campus judicial or supervisory system.

Community Relations

Broome Community College encourages and partners with surrounding neighbors, merchants, municipalities, healthcare agencies, tobacco control advocacy groups, and other local stakeholders to enact the community smoke-free policies that will enhance the College’s commitment to a smoke-free campus. A component of this commitment will be attention to a good neighbor policy. To demonstrate respect for the surrounding area, members of the College community will be asked to refrain from smoking in neighborhoods surrounding the campus, unless smoking is expressly allowed on that property.

Policy Review

Broome Community College will convene a broad-based Smoke-Free Task Force to identify and address needs and concerns related to this policy, compliance, enforcement, and cessation.

The Smoke-Free Task Force will review this policy on an annual basis to ensure that it is sustained, effective, and up to date.

Timeline

Broome Community College is designated “Smoke-Free” with policy in place – January 17, 2012.

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