Amarillo College will become a thoroughly smoke-free environment beginning Monday, Aug. 1.

The initiative, voted into policy last January by the AC Board of Regents, bans all forms of smoking on all Amarillo College property, with the lone exception of privately leased East Campus Housing.

The Board’s action was in response to a proposal initiated in 2015 by the AC Student Government Association.

Currently, use of all tobacco products and smoking devices – even those deemed smokeless and vaporless – is prohibited in all College buildings, and smoking is not permitted within 20 feet of any building entrance.

Under the new policy – beginning Monday, Aug. 1 – all six AC campuses, along with an outreach center and a technical training center, will be designated as entirely smoke-free, both indoors and out.

Ashtrays will be removed and appropriate signage installed.

The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation reported on April 4, 2016, that “there are at least 1,483 100-percent smoke-free campuses” of which 1,137 are considered 100-percent tobacco-free, while 823 prohibit the use of e-cigarettes anywhere on campus.

“The trend across the country has been to adopt policies just like ours that ban tobacco and smoking on campuses in higher education,” Steven G. Smith, AC vice president of business affairs, said.

“Our Student Government Association led the charge to add AC to the list of almost 1,500 other colleges and universities that have already made this decision. We are proud of our student government for making a commitment to the promotion of better student health.”

The new policy approved by the Board states:

Smoking of any tobacco products and the use of electronic or vapor smoking devices are prohibited on all Amarillo College property and in buildings and facilities on all campuses and locations, including parking areas, green spaces, and walkways. The use of tobacco products which are smokeless and vaporless is prohibited inside any College building. This policy does not apply to East Campus Housing. Effective August 1, 2016.

July 21, 2016