BATESVILLE - Smoking and use of other tobacco products will be prohibited on the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville campus starting Aug. 1, 2010.
The Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009 was passed during the last legislative session and requires all college and university campuses in Arkansas to be smoke free by Aug. 1, 2010. UACCB's administration had already taken steps to move to a smoke free campus during the last two years and felt that in support of a safe and healthy learning and working environment, it was the appropriate time to move to a tobacco free campus.
Campus policy states, "UACCB acknowledges and supports the findings of the surgeon general that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard. UACCB further recognizes that environmental tobacco smoke has been classified as a Class-A carcinogen."
The tobacco free status applies to all college grounds, UACCB-owned or leased properties and campus-owned, leased or rented vehicles. This includes but is not limited to all college sidewalks, parking lots, landscaped areas and recreational areas; at lectures, conferences, meetings and social and cultural events held on school property or school grounds.
Smoking materials must be extinguished and disposed of prior to entering UACCB or exiting a private vehicle. Improper disposal includes but is not limited to spitting smokeless tobacco product; littering (i.e., discarded cigarette butts, throwing cigarette butts out of windows); and anything that may create a fire hazard.
Tobacco is defined to include any lighted or unlighted cigarette (clove, bidis, kreteks), e-cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, hookah products; and any other smoking product; as well as any smokeless, spit or spitless, dissolvable or inhaled tobacco products, including but not limited to dip, chew, snuff or snus, in any form (orbs, sticks, strips, pellet, etc.).
The campus also prohibits the following actions on all college property and at all college-sponsored events, regardless of the vendor or venue: the sale of tobacco products or tobacco-related merchandise (including items that display tobacco company logos); the free distribution or sampling of tobacco products and associated products; and all tobacco promotion, advertising, marketing and distribution.
Other Arkansas colleges that moved to tobacco free status prior to Aug. 1, 2010 are the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, National Park Community College, North Arkansas College and Southern Arkansas University Tech. In conjunction with the North Central Area Health Education Center, UACCB has been offered tobacco cessation programs for students, faculty and staff for the last three semesters. Additional classes will be scheduled this fall.
