HCC Campuses To Be Tobacco-Free With Start of New Year

With the new year all Hillsborough Community College campuses will be tobacco-free, which means if you want to light up a smoke, you'll have to do it outside campus boundaries.

Before the change, the rule now stands that people on campus are prohibited from smoking in "any enclosed indoor area" but are permitted to smoke in areas that are not enclosed.

That changes with the "Breathe-Free, HCC" initiative, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2013

Under the new rule, "there are no designated smoking areas on college property" anywhere, enclosed or open. That includes all property and facilities "owned or leased by Hillsborough Community College, including all vehicles."

Banned is the use of "all types of tobacco and tobacco-like products," inlcuding smoke-less tobacoo and electonroic cigarettes.

College officials first enacted a smoking policy in 1992, which was later amended in 2002 and 2006. The latest amendment was adopted this year.

Signs alerting students and employees to the upcoming change have been posted throughout the six campuses of Hillsborough Community College, including the Brandon campus and its Regent satellite at 6437 Watson Road, in the southwest corner of the Greater Brandon/Riverview community of Winthrop.

The sign reads:

For the health of the HCC community and beyond, the college will prohibit the use of tobacco products of any kind by everyone, everywhere, on any of our campuses.

For information, policies and resources, visit hccfl.edu/tobaccofree.

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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HCC'S TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS RULING
Taken from the college's Web site posting. For more, visit Frequently Asked Questions.

When does the Tobacco Free HCC policy go into effect?

• January 1, 2013

Why is Hillsborough Community College going tobacco-free?

• By endorsing this tobacco-free policy, HCC joins more than 700 colleges and universities around the country to demonstrate its commitment to eliminating environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, promoting healthy practices and choices for individuals, and establishing a collegiate culture of wellness. 

To whom does the tobacco-free policy apply?

• The tobacco-free policy applies to anyone who is on property and in facilities owned, leased or operated by Hillsborough Community College, including all employees, students, visitors, contractors, vendors.

What is prohibited under the tobacco-free policy? 

• Use of all forms of tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco products are prohibited. Smokeless tobacco includes, but is not limited to, the use of snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless pouches, or other forms of loose leaf tobacco. Electronic cigarettes are also prohibited.

What are the borders of the tobacco-free environment?

• Tobacco use is prohibited on all Hillsborough Community College premises within the boundaries from public sidewalks or property lines on the edge of each of the College’s campuses, properties, and leased spaces. This includes all buildings, walkways, sidewalks, parking lots and garages, on-campus roads and driveways, grounds, on-campus bus stops and shelters, exterior open spaces, sports venues, and personal and college vehicles in these areas. There will no longer be designated smoking areas.

Can I smoke or use tobacco in my vehicle while on campus?

• No. The policy prohibits tobacco use in personal vehicles while on any of Hillsborough Community College’s property.

How will the tobacco-free policy be enforced?

• Students and employees who violate this policy may be subject to college disciplinary action. Visitors who violate this policy, including contractors, vendors and those acting on their behalf, may be denied access to college property.

Have other colleges and universities gone smoke-free?

• Yes, according to the American Non-Smokers Rights Foundation, there are at least 704 colleges and universities that have gone 100% smoke-free, as of April 1, 2012.