Campus Community,
Recently our College adopted a new Smoking and Tobacco
Use Policy (CPTC Policies and Procedures Ch. 3, Section 26: Smoking and Tobacco
Use). This policy establishes the College as a restricted-smoking campus. This
means that smoking or the use of any tobacco products is permitted only in
designated smoking shelter locations.
While this policy has been distributed there have been
a number of questions that have come up since its adoption. I wanted to send
along some notes to ensure that the right information is
available.
First, a map detailing the locations of the ten
Lakewood Campus shelters is now posted on our College website
at: http://www.cptc.edu/index.php/info_resources/campus_locations/.
These locations were selected in order to comply with State and local laws,
provide an appropriate number of shelters for the campus community, place the
shelters in locations that do not require non-smokers to walk near or around
them, and to attempt to find a location that provides access to smokers of
buildings located near each other. While there was not a perfect answer in some
situations, we have made the best possible decision for the placement of each
shelter keeping in mind the many factors I've mentioned. A
student and staff committee and the College Cabinet discussed these
locations at length and made the decision that their current placement is in the
best interest of the many competing
factors.
According to the policy, failure to use a smoking
shelter when required to do so is a violation and is subject to employee or
student discipline. I recognize that some time will need to be spent adjusting
to the new requirements. In addition, we are working to add signage to the
campus with instructions on the restrictions.
Finally, Associated Student
Government, Cabinet, and the
Policies and Procedures Committee have worked hard for
years on this policy to provide choices to our many campus stakeholders while
still ensuring we provide a safe, healthy environment for all of our
students and staff. I believe that this
policy is a great step toward that goal and hope that we can all work together
to make CPTC a healthier
place.
Amy Goings, MPA
Vice President for Operations/College Relations
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