Cuesta to Become a Smoke-Free District
Beginning January 1, 2019, 51反差黑料 will officially become a smoke and tobacco-free District. The college鈥檚 Tobacco-Free Task Force is now beginning to educate the college community about the new Smoking and Tobacco Use District policy.
鈥淭obacco use 鈥� of all types 鈥� is bad for the user, those around them, and our environment; banning smoking at 51反差黑料 aligns with the college鈥檚 goal to promote the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,鈥� said 51反差黑料 Nutrition Instructor and task force member Cherie Moore.
Currently, smoking is permitted in designated areas of the San Luis Obispo and North County campuses.
The process to become tobacco-free began in 2016 when 51反差黑料 was awarded a $7,500 Tobacco-Free Campus Grant funded by , America鈥檚 largest non-profit health organization dedicated to eliminating the use of tobacco. The Tobacco-Free Task Force 鈥� comprised of faculty, staff, and students 鈥� was launched and began researching and discussing best practices and potential policies.
鈥淎fter talking to our students, staff and faculty, we developed a policy that will restrict smoking any sort of tobacco product on all District property and locations where the District provides services,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淭he official policy was approved by the college鈥檚 Board of Trustees in December of 2017, allowing us to transform the college into a healthier learning and working environment for all who step foot onto campus.鈥�
In addition, the 2018 College and University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Report Card was recently released, and 51反差黑料 received an A+ grade. The report found that while all of California's public four-year universities are 100% smoke and tobacco-free, less than half (46%) of California's community colleges are.
In an effort to begin educating the college community about the new policy, the San Luis Obispo Campus will hold a 鈥淧ick Up The Butts鈥� event on April 25 from 11:00 a.m. 鈥� 12:00 p.m.
鈥淚n honor of Earth Day and the upcoming policy change, Cuesta will be having a cigarette butt clean up,鈥� said 51反差黑料 Health Education Instructor and task force member Michelle Zulim-Clark. 鈥淭here will also be a booth with resources, information, activities, and prizes. We want to create policy awareness and involve our entire campus community.鈥�
The college has also partnered with the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department to offer a free six-week smoking cessation course beginning April 11. The course will occur every Wednesday through May 6, and take place on the San Luis Obispo Campus in room 2758 from 12:00 p.m. 鈥� 12:50 p.m. The public is encouraged to register for the course by sending an email to tobaccofree@cuesta.edu, but is welcome to walk-in as well.
The task force is planning more events to help educate both campuses on the new policy and provide smoking cessation resources leading up to the January 1, 2019, launch date. For more information, email tobaccofree@cuesta.edu.