Smoking areas move to lots
Alexa Hemken
Issue date: 12/14/09 Section: News
A new smoking policy will restrict smoking to parking lots only starting Fall 2010.
The Smoking Task Force, chaired by Jennifer Hughes, vice president of student services, submitted the task force's recommendation at an Oct. 21 College Council meeting, said Hughes.
During the Spring 2009 semester, the Task Force worked with John Sewart, dean of articulation and research, to administer a staff and student survey, said Hughes.
Committee representatives were to obtain feedback from constituents for a future College Council meeting, she said.
The feedback was shared at the Dec. 2 Council Meeting.
The recommendation cited three reasons for the new policy. One, the task force believed that enforcement with smoking was a problem and that "there is not sufficient Security staff to monitor all areas of the campus."
Secondly, construction limited the number of smoking areas from eight to four.
The recommendation noted that "with the additional site work that will take place on campus in the near future, the remaining smoking areas will be affected and could, therefore, simply be phased out, as smoking is moved to parking lots." Changing the smoking areas on the main campus as a result of construction could confuse students and frustrate them, said the report.
Thirdly, "the site work design for the campus does not currently include plans for designated smoking areas," read the report, and "maintaining smoking areas may not be in keeping with the overall site work design and vision for the campus."
The recommendation also included a dissenting opinion, stating that, "making a change would only add to the concerns that students have about their classes and completing their academic programs, and the concerns of the faculty about potential cuts to their classes and programs."
The recommendation pointed out that "the survey results did not indicate that there was an overwhelming request by students or faculty/staff to make changes in the existing policy," and that no changes should be made for at least four years, when the budget situation "may be improved."
After discussion at the Dec. 2 meeting, College Council accepted the recommendation of the Smoking Task Force, said Hughes.
At the meeting, Fauzi Hamadeh, accounting technician for student activities and member of the task force, said the task force needed to work out logistical and safety issues.
During the spring, 2010 semester, the Task Force will develop a plan for communicating information about the new policy to students, faculty and staff, said Hughes. The College website, catalog and schedule information, will be updated to reflect the new policy, she said and signs will be developed.
The Smoking Task Force, chaired by Jennifer Hughes, vice president of student services, submitted the task force's recommendation at an Oct. 21 College Council meeting, said Hughes.
During the Spring 2009 semester, the Task Force worked with John Sewart, dean of articulation and research, to administer a staff and student survey, said Hughes.
Committee representatives were to obtain feedback from constituents for a future College Council meeting, she said.
The feedback was shared at the Dec. 2 Council Meeting.
The recommendation cited three reasons for the new policy. One, the task force believed that enforcement with smoking was a problem and that "there is not sufficient Security staff to monitor all areas of the campus."
Secondly, construction limited the number of smoking areas from eight to four.
The recommendation noted that "with the additional site work that will take place on campus in the near future, the remaining smoking areas will be affected and could, therefore, simply be phased out, as smoking is moved to parking lots." Changing the smoking areas on the main campus as a result of construction could confuse students and frustrate them, said the report.
Thirdly, "the site work design for the campus does not currently include plans for designated smoking areas," read the report, and "maintaining smoking areas may not be in keeping with the overall site work design and vision for the campus."
The recommendation also included a dissenting opinion, stating that, "making a change would only add to the concerns that students have about their classes and completing their academic programs, and the concerns of the faculty about potential cuts to their classes and programs."
The recommendation pointed out that "the survey results did not indicate that there was an overwhelming request by students or faculty/staff to make changes in the existing policy," and that no changes should be made for at least four years, when the budget situation "may be improved."
After discussion at the Dec. 2 meeting, College Council accepted the recommendation of the Smoking Task Force, said Hughes.
At the meeting, Fauzi Hamadeh, accounting technician for student activities and member of the task force, said the task force needed to work out logistical and safety issues.
During the spring, 2010 semester, the Task Force will develop a plan for communicating information about the new policy to students, faculty and staff, said Hughes. The College website, catalog and schedule information, will be updated to reflect the new policy, she said and signs will be developed.
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