1. Why are local businesses and hospitals becoming totally Tobacco-Free Campuses?

Tobacco use is the leading cause of disease and death in the United States.

We wish to create a healthier environment for everyone on our campuses.

2. What other local entities are participating in this initiative?

Metropolitan Hospital, Saint Mary's Mercy Medical Center (including Advantage Health, Clinics and Fitness Centers), and Spectrum Health (Blodgett, Butterworth and DeVos Children’s Hospital Campuses) are participating in this initiative.

3. How does this policy differ from our existing the use of tobacco policies?

Our existing policy conforms to the City of Grand Rapids Clean Indoor Act ordinance by prohibiting the use of tobacco in all buildings and within 10 feet of entrances. Effective November 20, 2008 (Great American Smoke Out Day) the new policy will prohibit the use of tobacco anywhere on GRCC campuses.

4. What does this mean to GRCC staff?

As of November 20, 2008, the use of tobacco will be prohibited anywhere on GRCC campuses.

the tobacco use cessation services or referrals will be offered to students, faculty and staff.

Students, faculty and staff will be responsible for explaining the tobacco free environment policy when they see any person use tobacco products.

5. What kind of support are we providing to those who wish to stop the use of tobacco?

We will address nicotine addiction issues by providing access to education and intervention as appropriate - for resources and information visit www.grcc.edu/beingtobaccofree

Call (616) 234-3490 or (800) 301-1733 or visit www.tobaccofreepartners.org for information on free the use of tobacco cessation classes available in our community. These classes are available at multiple locations year-round.

6. How will we educate students, staff and the public?

Between now and November 20, 2008, the Communications Department in conjunction with the Employee Wellness Team will introduce a variety of campus activities and public relations efforts to raise awareness of the new policy. The campaign will focus on GRCC’s commitment to health and wellness.

7. Can students and staff go off-campus somewhere to use tobacco?

Yes. However, many of the adjacent establishments to the GRCC tobacco free campus may also be tobacco free. As such, students and staff must honor these tobacco free establishments as well. For a list of those establishments, please contact Pat Cwayna, VP for College Relations at 616-234-3904.

8. Why don’t we continue to have designated the use of tobacco areas?

A smoke-free environment eliminates chronic exposure to second hand smoke which is known to cause significant health problems even to non-smokers. Eliminating the use of tobacco on our campuses also supports those who are trying to quit. We want to effectively eliminate the triggers that make the use of tobacco cessation difficult.

9. Isn’t the use of tobacco a personal legal right?

Recent court rulings maintain that smokers are not entitled to protection against discrimination as “addicts” or as “disabled persons.” Smokers are addicted to the nicotine, not the cigarette, which is the delivery device.

10. Where can I smoke when this goes into affect? Can I just walk over to fountain and smoke next to the library?

The City of Grand Rapids approved the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance effective October 1, 2007, which requires every employer within the City of Grand Rapids to adopt a written smoking policy that prohibits smoking in enclosed public or private work sites or public places within the City of Grand Rapids and within 10 feet of entrances, windows, ventilation systems. Additionally, many of the adjacent establishments to the GRCC tobacco free campus may also be tobacco free. For a list of those establishments, please contact Pat Cwayna, VP for College Relations at 616-234-3904. As such, students and staff must honor these establishments as well.

11. I am very pleased to see this policy finally take effect. Does this mean "No Smoking" at entrance and exit doors will be enforced? Thank you for all of your efforts.

GRCC currently prohibits smoking within college buildings and within 10 feet of doors and windows and other enclosed public structures (per City of Grand Rapids Clean Indoor Act Ordinance). The new Tobacco Free Environment will be policy effective November 20, 2008, and both the College Tobacco Free Environment Policy and the Student Code of Conduct will set additional expectations that people discontinue the use of tobacco products on any GRCC Campus (including off-site and owned and leased properties). Enforcement has three levels, level one begins with respectful and empathetic communication, level two is encouragement and support offered through smoking cessation services and when needed, level three involves sanctions consistent with how the college handles other violations under its College Policies or Student Code of Conduct.

12. The wording of this policy seems to differ from what was originally discussed prior to adoption. Is this new policy a "tobacco free" campus or a "no smoking" campus? There are other forms of tobacco that are smokeless that do not seem to be specifically addressed.

GRCC is implementing a Tobacco Free Campus effective November 20, 2008. Tobacco Free includes smoking and tobacco products.

13. The information on the site is vague regarding chewing tobacco, is this going to barred as well? Personally I find this way more disgusting than regular smoking.

Yes, chewing tobacco is prohibited campus. All tobacco products used for any purpose are prohibited on campus, including but not limited to: cigar, cigarette, and pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco (e.g., chewing tobacco).

14. I am very pleased to see this policy finally take effect. Does this mean "No Smoking" at entrance and exit doors will be enforced? Thank you for all of your efforts.

Yes. In view of the fact that each and every employee and/or student benefits from a tobacco-free college environment, the enforcement of this policy will be a responsibility of all members of the College community. Individuals, studying, working or visiting Grand Rapids Community College are expected to cooperate with the Tobacco-free policy and persons that disregard the policy will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action. Contact Human Resources, Campus Police and/or Student Affairs if you have any questions regarding this policy.

15. Although I applaud your new "Tobacco-Free Policy", unfortunately I don't see it being very successful. As a student of GRCC for the last 3 years, I still see students smoking closer than 10 feet from buildings. If you say something to them, they have nasty comments in return. I hope this works, but where will all of the hospital patients smoke if not on the corner of Crescent and Ransom by GRCC's Science Building? Not to mention the parking ramp employees who smoke outside of the booths and what about students smoking in their cars?

GRCC's tobacco-free zone includes all facilities, parking ramps, and on campus or off-campus properties, owned or leased by GRCC. The tobacco free program has the full support of representatives from Spectrum Health. These Smokers will need to smoke outside of the tobacco free zones established by GRCC, Spectrum Health or any other tobacco free establishments adjacent to these campuses. For a list of those tobacco free or smoke free establishments adjacent to GRCC, please contact Pat Cwayna, VP for College Relations at 616-234-3904.

16. Does this mean that when i am coming out of the parking garage I wont be bombarded with people smoking in the parking ramps?

Yes, Students, staff and community are prohibited from using tobacco & smoking products in GRCC parking ramps.

17. For the students who do smoke, why not set designated areas? It gives other students who do not smoke the choice to not be around the smoke. Students such as myself that have a short break in between classes, trying to find a place off campus that is not smoke-free, we would have to walk or drive quite a ways off campus. I don't disagree with a smoke free environment, but to ban totally. Some student's I have talked to that do not smoke, agree that having designated areas would be a good idea.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that tobacco use, which includes secondhand smoke, is the leading cause of death and disease in the United States. The only effective way to eliminate the health dangers posed by exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is to prohibit smoking. Eliminating the use of tobacco on our campuses supports those who are trying to quit. We want to effectively eliminate the triggers that make the use of tobacco cessation difficult.

GRCC’s educational mission is to provide life-long learning opportunities and a tobacco free campus would be key to our mission to educate our employees, our students and our greater communities about the benefits of living healthy lifestyles.

18. Will this policy have some sort of fines or tickets as a punishment for not abiding to the policy? Or is it simply "put out your cigarette please?"

Smokers will not receive fines nor tickets. The policy will enforce violations consistently with how the college currently administers correction action for violations of other college policies and/or the student code of conduct policy.

The policy does NOT require smokers to quit smoking, it does require that smokers not smoke on the GRCC campus(es) and we fully expect that we will need to remind smokers of the new policy. In that regard, our policy also encourages employees, students and visitors to be supportive and respectful as colleagues who smoke make the transition to the new policy. Smoking is a powerful addiction, and people who smoke may choose NOT to quit smoking or perhaps if an individual desires to quit smoking, they will be trying different strategies to see how to best comply with the new policy. GRCC will make available a variety of quit-smoking resources and support to smokers either through the Learning Academy or referrals in the community.

19. So does that mean chewing tobacco is prohibited? Even though it hurts nobody but the person doing it.

There will always be faculty, staff, students and community members that desire to quit smoking and exposing them to smokers or tobacco users makes quitting harder. Establishing a tobacco free environment is an important step to providing everyone with a safe and healthy environment. Other important factors why our tobacco free environment is important are 1) that GRCC believes a tobacco free environment will demonstrates our commitment to improving health care costs in our community and 2) promoting a healthy tobacco free workplace and learning environment combined with other health focused wellness initiatives have been proven to increase overall personal and professional productivity. Smoke-free environments are ever increasing; applicants for jobs will undoubtedly encounter more smoke-free environments as they seek career and job opportunities with employers, like GRCC, that are smoke-free. Remember, the College is not requesting that smokers quit smoking nor cease the use of tobacco products; persons who choose to continue will be asked to do so outside of the campus boundaries. The college will do its part to provide the necessary resources and quit-smoking support available to all who desire to quit smoking and to quit the use of tobacco products alike.

20. If this new policy is broken, how will it be enforced? Will there be any punishments or fines?

Smokers will not receive fines nor tickets. Enforcement has three levels, level one begins with respectful and empathetic communication, level two is encouragement and support offered through smoking cessation services and when needed, level three involves sanctions consistent with violations of other College Policies or the Student Code of Conduct policy. See Tobacco Free Environment and Student Code of Conduct policy website links for a complete description of enforcement parameters.

21. I love the concept, but how are you actually going to enforce it? With guards near the doors, what?

Enforcement has three levels, level one begins with respectful and empathetic communication, level two is encouragement and support offered through smoking cessation services and when needed, level three involves sanctions consistent with violations of other College Policies or the Student Code of Conduct policy. See Tobacco Free Environment and Student Code of Conduct policy website links (on the left of the tobacco free website) for a complete description of enforcement parameters.

22. How will the new tobacco free policy make GRCC a safer learning environment?

GRCC's tobacco-free environment creates a safe environment for everyone by promoting a healthier environment. By not exposing smokers and non-smokers to other smokers or tobacco users makes quitting easier and reduces their exposure to potentially adverse health effects. According to the American Lung Association, "Secondhand smoke, also know as environmental tobacco smoke, involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers, lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished and can cause or exacerbate a wide range of adverse health effects" For information about other health risk factors for smokers and non-smokers, visit the GRCC Wellness website at www.grcc.edu/beingtobaccofree .

Have questions or concerns about GRCC's Tobacco-Free policy? Submit them using the form below:

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