It’s Official – Valencia is Smoke Free
ShareA message from Dr. Sandy Shugart, Valencia College President
Dear Colleagues,
Yesterday, the college officially implemented our smoke-free campus policy. With the beginning of fall classes, this is an ideal time for us to start anew.
Our journey to become a smoke-free campus began over two years ago with our Board of Trustees and student leaders who expressed interest in adopting a policy to make Valencia a healthier place to learn and work. The core of their interest was protecting both staff and students from the effects of second-hand smoke, and a sense of wanting to model good health in our policies.
As you may be aware, a college-wide taskforce, led by Bill Mullowney, vice president of policy and general counsel, was convened in November 2010 to explore the feasibility of adopting this policy. The input and feedback from our students, faculty and staff led to the recommendation to go smoke free, and on July 19, 2011, our District Board of Trustees approved our Smoke-Free Campus Policy.
In taking the step to go smoke free, Valencia joins the University of Central Florida, University of Florida, Florida International University and many other colleges and universities in the state and around the country in providing healthier academic environments.
I would like to encourage you, as members of the Valencia community, to collectively share the responsibility to communicate, support and contribute to the smoke-free environment. As you walk through the halls, please remember to observe our smoke-free policy and help remind our students, visitors, and your fellow colleagues as we work together toward a healthier Valencia.
Jamy Chulak said:
This is a wonderful policy and excellent trend across the country, which has already shown an improvement in public health and safety. I don't say this just as a respiratory therapist but as a sufferer of those who smoke in the outdoor breezeway on campus, which has resulted in hours of wheezing for me. I thank the college for stepping up. I hope we all may understand the real implications of policies like this toward an improvement in public health. My students in respiratory care certainly understand and each year have voluntarily signed a smoke-free pledge as an example for caregivers and the patients we serve. The 1986 Surgeon General's Report on The Health Consequences of Involuntary Smoking along with The Toxicology of Second Hand Smoke have provided a pathway for improved health for those not afflicted with this horrible addiction. COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis and highly prevalent among smokers is the only chronic disease still is rising resulting in death (rising to the 3rd leading cause of death). This preventable outcome claims innocent victims who do not smoke.
PMTue, 28 Aug 2012 21:00:01 +0000Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:00:01 +0000pm12,9:00 pm
Student said:
Hasn’t stopped smokers on the East Campus.
PMWed, 29 Aug 2012 12:28:50 +0000Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:28:50 +0000pm12,12:28 pm