Southwest Mississippi Community College is going tobacco-free starting next summer.
The board of trustees unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night to adopt a tobacco-free policy effective July 1, 2014.
The policy is tied into a $199,989 health and wellness grant the college received from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to remodel a portion of the Physical Education building.
“We have a smoke-free policy on campus where smoking is prohibited inside buildings and at least 25 feet from buildings,” SMCC president Dr. Steve Bishop said.
“I know a lot of other colleges and universities have gone tobacco-free. In order for us to receive this grant, we have to be a tobacco-free campus. We thought this would be a good thing,” Bishop said.
Bishop said the policy will affect an on-campus change in habit for the better for some.
“We do know we have some students and faculty who use tobacco,” he said.
Bishop said Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives have been in contact with school officials and insurance officials agreed to provide promotional material concerning the new policy.
Under the tobacco-free policy, the use of tobacco and smoking products is prohibited on any SMCC-owned property, including buildings, dorm, grounds, parking lots, sidewalks, recreational/sporting facilities and in college-owned vehicles. The policy applies to college employees, students, contractors, vendors and visitors.
Trustee Dr. Henry Lewis asked if the policy should be extended to include firearms on campus.
After some discussion concerning firearms, the board took no action.
“We’re going to leave (firearms) alone right now,” board president Reggie Jones said.
