Smoke/Wellness Task Force
Summary of Events
February ’07 – Meeting with Andrew Epstein, of the American Lung Association of Oregon, regarding tobacco-free community colleges and bringing that concept to Lane. ** There are no tobacco-free colleges in Oregon at this time.
March ’07 – Complaints regarding secondhand smoke around campus – Health and Safety concern – begin to be addressed at Safety Committee Meeting
May ’07 – Task Force recreated to look at concerns and secondhand smoke issues
Summer ’07 Task Force Recommendations are approved by Safety Committee and VP Greg Morgan
- To assess all designated smoking areas, update Student Conduct Code, Educate regarding smoking cessation programs, enforce the smoking policy, check out LCC vehicle policy, provide staff training via managers
October ’07 – Report of why LCC should pursue at Tobacco-free environment and the ties to LCC’s Mission, Core values and Strategic Directions. ** There are 39 colleges in the country that are tobacco-free.
November ’07 – Presentation to ASLCC regarding purpose and direction of task force
November ’07 – 1st Campus walkabout – notes many designated areas in violation and policy violations:
- Cement urns in areas not designated smoking areas
- Ashtrays/urns within 10 feet of windows and doors
- Students smoking as they are walking
- Ashtrays/urns near air intakes
- Old “temporary designated smoking area” signs need removal
November 28, ’07 – Meeting with Sonya Christian and Laura Hammond from Lane County Public Health
- Grassroots effort recommended: presentation to Executive team, councils…
- Employee survey
November 28, ’07 - Meeting with Kate Barry and Laura Hammond
- ASLCC is key
- Survey recommended
- Consider the effect on all campuses
- Facilities and Public Safety involvement
January 22, ’08 - Presentation to Facilities Council:
- Our Goal: to provide a healthy, safe, clean and accessible environment for all students and employees
- Suggestions: move smoking areas to the perimeter, become tobacco-free in 2009 with the ground breaking of the new Health and Wellness Building
- Discussion of a phase-in process
January 28, ’08 - Presentation to LCC Executive Team
- Recommends presenting to College Council and going through Governance System
February 8, ’08 - Presentation to Faculty Council
February 14, ’08 - Presentation to College Council
- Recommends a more diverse task force committee
- Recommends a survey
February ’08 – Progress Update for ASLCC
Spring Break ’08:
- Designated smoking area, west side of Center Bldg, near entrance to cafeteria is removed
- Designated smoking area on northwest corner of Building 3 is removed (smoke previously entering air intake)
Spring ’08 Survey:
- March 7 – April 6 Secondhand Smoke Survey goes on line: 5219 responses (4412 students, 807 employees)
- Results are favorable in moving towards a smoke-free campus
Summer ’08:
- Designated areas removed: Bldg 4, Bldg 1, Bldg 18, temporary areas
- Designated areas relocated: Bldg 3, Bldg 19, 2nd Floor Center, Bldg 12, Bldg 7, Bldg 8
Fall ’08:
- Evaluate new locations of designated areas
- Evaluate effectiveness of policy
- Post new signage and maps
- Handout “This is a non-smoking area…”: cards
- Recommend removal of Bldg 9 area is it encroaches upon outdoor classroom
- ** There are 4 tobacco-free colleges in Oregon and 90 in the country.
Oct. 6, ’08 – Progress Update for ASLCC – 3 Minute Gallery Report
Oct. 9, ’08 – Progress Update for College Council
Oct. 27, ’08 - Progress Update for ASLCC – agenda report:
- Our goals: cleaner air/campus, healthier environment and accessibility
- Nation-wide and Oregon trend of college campuses becoming Tobacco-free
- The lack of means to communicate the policy and changes made
- Signs/maps are currently being updated
- Questions regarding the removal of certain areas/if there are enough areas
- Appreciation expressed for these efforts
Note: The Smoke Task Force has met regularly throughout this process. The team expanded the group membership after meeting with College Council in Feb. of ’08.
Nov. ’08 – 2nd floor Center problem area: students not staying in designated area, large #’s
- bus stop continues to be major problem with students smoking there
- Great American Smokeout success, over 30 students/employees participate with limited advertisement
Feb. 6, ’09 – Presentation and Discussion with Tobacco-Free Policy Expert – Ty Patterson
- Open meeting of students and employees, approx. 35 people attended
Winter ’09 – More attempts to inform smokers of policy:
- 4,000 bookstore bags stuffed with policy information
- Verbal attempts to increase awareness
- Signs posted throughout campus “The policy is…to maintain the privilege we need all to comply, please dispose cigarette butts in the proper receptacle.”
Numerous Torch articles:
4-10-08 “Smoking Areas Demolished”: consolidation/removal of some smoking areas and/or unofficial areas
5-10-08 “Where there’s smoke: Is a smoke-free campus a favorable choice to students, staff? Survey finds students receptive to a smoke-free college”
2-12-09 “A tobacco-free campus remains an option: Discussions bring speakers from tobacco-free institution, American Lung Association”
4-16-09 “Tobacco on campus: an issue up in the air”
11-12-09 “Breaking the Habit: Wellness Center and American Lung Association advocate smoke-free campus”
Spring ’09 – Faculty Council takes policy proposal to College Council
