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September 2007
Dear Students,
As Vice President for Student Services,
President Sweeny has asked me to communicate
the College’s revised smoking policy
to you, which is effective immediately
with the beginning of the new academic
year.
The College of New Rochelle, as an institution
with a strong commitment to healthcare
education and wellness, has a responsibility
not only to promote the prevention of illness
but to set a positive example and demonstrate
healthy lifestyles for the community it
serves. Tobacco use is widely recognized
as a major preventable cause of many diseases
in smokers and non-smokers alike. To provide
a safe, healthy, comfortable and productive
environment for all who visit, study, or
work in and around our facilities, the
College has been designated as a largely
tobacco-free institution, with smoking
restricted to designated areas. This policy
was recommended to the President by the
College Senate, who worked with all of
the constituencies of the institution to
develop a thoughtful multi-layered process
to incorporate feedback and suggestions,
and their recommendations likewise are
consistent with applicable New York City
and Westchester County law. The success
of this policy will depend upon the thoughtfulness,
consideration and cooperation of all tobacco-users
and non-users alike.
All faculty/staff, students, visitors,
vendors, contract workers, volunteers,
tenants and any person coming on to the
grounds and/or entering the buildings are
required to comply with this policy. The
Director of General Services has been designated
as the Compliance Officer, and any problems
and complaints that cannot be resolved
locally should be directed to him. Although
the College’s Safety/Security staff
have primary responsibility to enforce
the policy, its success will require that
all students/employees share in the responsibility
to enforce the policy, as described below:
Policy
- Smoking or otherwise using tobacco
products (including cigarettes, cigars,
etc.) is restricted to designated outdoor
areas on the New Rochelle campus.
- Prohibition includes grounds (except
where specifically designated), parking
lots, ramps, sidewalks or plazas, or
in vehicles owned or leased by the College.
- Tobacco use in any vehicle when on
College property is prohibited.
- At the New York City branch campuses,
designated smoking areas will comply
with all applicable local laws and regulations,
including the NYC Smoke-Free Air Act.
Designated Areas
Two outdoor areas have been designated
for tobacco use and are easily identifiable
as such by benches and smoking receptacles.
- Maura Lawn by the driveway on Liberty
Avenue and diagonally across from Angela
Hall.
- At the rear of 33 Leland and adjacent
to the air-conditioning unit beside Gill
Library.
Process of Implementation
The policy will be communicated to the
public through the College website, handbooks,
catalogs, brochures, signage, and other
means as appropriate. Maps indicating
the designated smoking areas will be included.
All persons are asked to extinguish and/or
cease from using all tobacco products (except
in the designated areas) before coming
onto College property. Visitors and
other non-employees will be politely informed
of any policy violation and provided with
information explaining the policy and designated
tobacco areas in a supportive and educational
manner. Continued non-compliance may result
in Safety/Security staff escorting the
individual from the premises. Employees
who violate the policy will be subject
to disciplinary action. Students who violate
the policy will be reported to the Vice
President for Student Services and the
Dean of their respective school for disciplinary
action. All students/employees are authorized
and encouraged to communicate and reinforce
this policy with courtesy and diplomacy
to any person whom they see violating the
policy.
The College will make available educational
programs and opportunities for those smokers
who wish to give up smoking.
We expect that our energies during the
Fall semester will be devoted to educating
the Community about the new policy. While
it is recognized that creating and maintaining
a virtually smoke-free environment on the
campuses takes some adjustment and compromise,
the College is confident that any problems
can be resolved through communication and
good will. We appreciate your support
of this effort and your commitment to health
and wellness for our Community.
Joan Bristol
Vice President for Student Services
Smoking
Cessation Websites/Resources
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