Tobacco Free Campus

Western Piedmont Community College implemented a tobacco free policy on August 1, 2009.

The policy, approved by the school's Board of Trustees, prohibits all forms of tobacco use on college property.

The policy applies to everyone on campus including administrators, students, faculty, staff, visitors, vendors, and contractors. The college provides cessation resources to help the campus community adapt to the new policy.

“Western Piedmont Community College has a responsibility to its students and employees to provide a safe and healthy environment,” according to Dr. Jim Burnett, president of the college. Research findings confirmed by the U.S. Surgeon General show that tobacco use in general, including smoking, breathing second-hand smoke, and smokeless tobacco constitutes a significant health hazard.
 
There are currently thirty-one colleges and universities in North Carolina with comprehensive tobacco use policies. North Carolina now leads the nation in the number of tobacco-free higher education institutions.

Since 2008, Western Piedmont has been one of fourteen campuses funded by the NC Health & Wellness Trust Fund Commission as part of their 100% Tobacco Free College Initiative. This project provides grants to selected NC campuses to help adopt and implement comprehensive, campus-wide tobacco use policies.

For more information about campus tobacco use prevention efforts throughout the state, go to www.tobaccofreecollegesnc.org.