CSM Goes Smoke-Free Jan. 1
All three campuses of the College of Southern Maryland are going smoke-free starting Jan. 1, 2017.
The college has decided to join the growing number of institutions choosing to be smoke-free, and all of the college locations and property will be included. CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried recommended the new policy, and it was approved by the CSM Board of Trustees in July.
“We all know that change is not always easy, but this CSM policy change reinforces our commitment to preserving and improving the health and comfort of our students, faculty, staff, and guests,” Dr. Gottfried said.
All members of the CSM community are subject to the policy, including all staff, volunteers, visitors, students, contractors, and anyone who enters the properties. Events hosted by the college and outside groups on campuses will also be smoke-free. All tobacco products are covered by the policy, including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, electronic smoking devices, and any unregulated nicotine product.
The policy will be applied 24 hours a day and includes all indoor and outdoor facilities, parking lots, and vehicles traveling on a campus.
“The commitment to a tobacco-free campus is a responsibility we all share together, whether you’re a tobacco user or not. For those of you who are tobacco users, CSM is committed to providing you the appropriate resources,” Dr. Gottfried said.
Smoking cessation resources and counseling will be available on all campuses. Information on available resources will be shared in the coming months on CSM’s website. The classes also will be available through each county health department and are free to the public. Typically classes begin in January, run for eight weeks, and meet for an hour once a week.
“CSM is here to support those who decide it’s a good time to take steps to quit,” said Judi Ferrara, the college’s director of Adult and Community Education.
CSM will place quit kits around all three campuses for those who are already in the process of quitting. In addition, several other resources are available such as the Maryland Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW and online.
To help with the transition, all ash urns will be removed from the college’s gazebos and will be replaced with signs to indicate that CSM is a smoke-, tobacco-, and vape-free campus.
For more about the College of Southern Maryland, visit their Leader member page.
