MEMORANDUM

TO: Dr. Michael Taylor, President

FROM: Jane Doe Jane Doe

DATE: April 19, 2005

SUBJECT: Proposal for Implementing a Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy at Stanly Community College

I am submitting for your review my proposal to implement a campus-wide, no smoking policy atStanly Community College. Advantages that this new policy will have on employees and students are explained in this document. This proposal is in response to an assignment for my English class, but the topic I initiated on my own. I feel very strongly about this issue and believe that it will over-all be a great change for us.

Thank you for reviewing the data and suggestions that I have provided. I look forward to your response. If you decide to accept the proposal and send it to the Board of Directors to approve, this fall would be a great time to implement the new changes.

PROPOSAL FOR A CAMPUS-WIDE, NO SMOKING POLICYAT STANLY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Prepared forDr. Michael Taylor, PresidentStanly Community College

Prepared byJane Doe, Student

April 19, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................iv

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1

Problem........................................................................................................................................1

Solution........................................................................................................................................1

Objectives....................................................................................................................................1

Background..................................................................................................................................1

Data Sources................................................................................................................................4

Scope and Limitations.................................................................................................................4

DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................5

Methods.......................................................................................................................................5

Scheduling...................................................................................................................................6

Materials and Equipment.............................................................................................................7

Cost..............................................................................................................................................9

CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9

WORKS CITED............................................................................................................................10

APPENDIX A. Employee Responses from Poll...........................................................................11

APPENDIX B. Student Responses from Poll...............................................................................12

APPENDIX C. Smoking Policies of N. C. Community Colleges................................................13

List of Illustrations

Figure 1: Student Response to Poll: Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy......................................1

Figure 2: Employee Response to Poll: Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy..................................2

Figure 3: Smoking Policies at North Carolina Community Colleges..............................................4

Figure 4: N.C. GEN. STAT. §§ 115C-407 (2003)............................................................................5

Figure 5: N.C. GEN. STAT. § 95-28.2 (1991).................................................................................5

Figure 6: Timeline of Items to Accomplish.....................................................................................6

Figure 7: Crutchfield Map of New Signs........................................................................................7

Figure 8: Albemarle Map of New Signs..........................................................................................8

Figure 9: Costs for Materials...........................................................................................................9

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Evidence from our healthcare costs, the increasing number of deaths each year caused by smoking and second-hand smoke, and information gathered from several great resources prove that Stanly Community College can benefit from having a campus-wide, no smoking policy.

Students and employees agree that there is a problem on the campus with smoking and the health risks involved. I am proposing that a change be implemented regarding a campus-wide, no smoking policy instead of having only designated areas. The cost will be less and the policy will be easier to maintain if there is simply no smoking allowed anywhere on campus. This will not only benefit the health of students and employees, but will also be less for maintenance to clean up. Also, this will make the campus even more attractive to the community. Eventually, the cost of our medical insurance should decrease since more people will quit smoking and that will have an effect on their health as well as the ones around them.

Many public school systems in North Carolina have already adapted this policy. If the employees of the school systems can adjust, I believe our students and employees can also. The American College Health Association recommends that all colleges and universities adapt a tobacco-free environment.

To implement the new policy, approval is needed from you, our President, and the Board of Directors. We need to inform the currently enrolled students, current employees, and prepare material to inform the new students for fall semester.

The policy changes should cost around $246.75 plus any tax or fees. Compared to themoney that this policy will save Stanly Community College and it’s employees and students, I

believe the cost is very minimal.INTRODUCTION

Problem

The increasing risks of smoking and second-hand smoke are a serious concern for the students and employees of Stanly Community College. As a member of the community, we havea responsibility to provide a clean and healthy environment for the visitors, students, and employees who come to the campus. Many times, walking into a building cannot be accomplished without breathing the smoke coming from someone standing right outside the entrance. Due to a tight budget, costs must be minimal. However, it is evident from my researchthat Stanly Community College does not have a healthy environment for the students, employees, or visitors.

Solution

Problems with smoking on the Stanly Community College campus can be addressed by following the recommendation of the American College Health Association. The health of our students, employees, and visitors can be greatly improved if we implement a campus-wide, no smoking policy and enforce it.

Objectives

The purpose of this proposal is to assist in providing a clean and healthy environment for the students, employees and visitors while on the campus of Stanly Community College.

Background

A survey conducted to a random sample of Stanly Community College students showed that approximately 62% of the 24 respondents are concerned and would like to see a no smoking policy obtained. Refer to Figure 1 for an overall picture and Appendix A for the breakdown of the responses.

Figure 1: Student Response to Poll: Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy

Student Response to poll:Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy

Yes62%

Not Sure13%

No25%

YesNoNot Sure

A survey was also conducted to a random sample of Stanly Community College employees finding the same overall results. Out of 38 respondents, approximately 63% indicatedthat they, too, would like to see a no smoking policy obtained. Refer to Figure 2 for an overall picture and Appendix B for the breakdown of the responses.

Figure 2: Employee Response to Poll: Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy

Employee Response to poll:Campus-Wide, No Smoking Policy

No21%

Not Sure16%

Yes63% Yes

NoNot Sure

Stanly County Public Schools have already enforced a county wide, tobacco-free policy. This includes all school-related events during the school day and after school hours. In February2005, 44.35% of the North Carolina School Districts have adopted a 100% Tobacco-Free Policy (NC Dept. of Health and Human Services). This percentage continues to rise each year.

Each Community College has it’s own tobacco policy. The majority of them have designated smoking areas. Refer to Figure 3 for an overall picture and Appendix C for a breakdown of each one. There is no requirement preventing a total tobacco-free policy for the campus.

According to the Surgeon General, it only takes 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled to reach the brain (CDC-Fact Sheet). Smoking causes many diseases, not just cancer, but it is the most preventative health risk that there is. The United States spent around $12 billion on treatingsmoking related diseases in 2001 (Carmona). The list of diseases caused by smoking continues to grow; therefore, the report of the Surgeon General concludes that smoking hurts almost every organ in the body (Carmona). Since the Surgeon General’s report in 1964, statistics have shown that 12 million Americans have died from smoking and 25 million Americans who are alive today will more than likely die of a smoking-related illness (CDC-Press Release)

Second-hand smoke is widely considered a public health hazard even though the percentage of exposure has declined a lot over the last 10 years (Carmona). It has been determined that second-hand smoke causes cancer in humans (NCI). There have been at least 60substances that cause cancer identified in second-hand smoke (NCI). Because of this, around 3,000 people die each year with lung cancer, not counting other cancers or diseases caused by smoke (NCI). This is a scary thought for me, as a student and employee, breathing smoke most times entering a building, especially the Snyder and Whitley Technology Buildings.

This policy will benefit the smokers on campus as well as the non-smokers. An enforced campus-wide, no smoking policy will not only make a positive impact on the health of the ones on campus, but will also make the campus a better and more attractive site for the community. Over the last few years, the premium for medical insurance has increased dramatically. I believe that since more schools and workplaces are adopting policies such as this, it will eventually makea difference in the costs of medical insurance.

Another advantage to this policy is that smokers will take fewer breaks than before. This time can be spent accomplishing something to get the job done. On a full day, a person is supposed to receive two; ten-minute breaks in addition to lunch. An employee who stops six times throughout the day to smoke will obviously go over their allotted 20 minutes per day for a break. It is possible that 45 employees of the college take smoke breaks each day. If each person takes six, seven-minute breaks to smoke, it may cost Stanly Community College over $23,000 a year. I have noticed some employees who take many more breaks each day to go smoke. I don’t take extra breaks since I don’t smoke, so I don’t feel like because someone chooses to smoke, they should be entitled so many breaks.

The American College Health Association has come forth with a position statement regarding tobacco. They agree with the Surgeon General and have adopted a “NO TOBACCO USE policy” while encouraging other colleges and universities to do the same (ACHA). According to the ACHA, the promotion of tobacco-free environments have had a great impact onthe number of people who smoke, the amount of tobacco products consumed, and the people exposed to secondhand smoke (ACHA). They suggested several things to include and implement with the new policy, all but one I have previously mentioned. Prevention and education initiatives that actively support non-use and recognizes the risks should be offered to the students and employees on the campus (ACHA). I believe the Student Government Association could take care of bringing a speaker in occasionally to help the people on campus. They are always looking for ways to help and involve students on campus. Also, there are counselors available in the Patterson Building that could talk with students and employees and give recommendations of some options. The ACHA acknowledged that strong leadership and support from everyone would be needed for the transition to go as smoothly as possible (ACHA). I also looked at how a policy with designated smoking areas away from entrances to buildings would affect our campus. It would help some with the second-hand smoke, but it wouldn’t do anything for the ones that do smoke. The health of employees and students wouldn’t be affected very much at all. This policy would cost more to implement because of creating separate areas away from buildings. Employees who take breaks now to smoke would just be taking longer ones if they had to go away from entrances to a designated place. There would also be more clean up to be done for maintenance since many students wouldn’t adhere to the policy and would discard cigarette buts on their way to class. I just couldn’t find as many advantages to a policy having designated smoking areas.

Figure 3: Smoking Policies at North Carolina Community Colleges

Smoking Policies atNorth Carolina Community Colleges

Designated Areas48%

Designated Outside Areas

10%

Outside Only42%

Outside Only

Designated Areas

Designated Outside Areas

Data Sources

The data used to create this proposal came from Internet sources, surveys completed by students and employees, information provided by other community colleges’ websites, and my first-hand knowledge.

Scope and Limitations

In seeking this solution, we want to improve the environment of the campus without incurring a great cost. The advantages to the policy should by far be more than the disadvantages, and I believe that they are. Also, we don’t want to be portrayed by smokers as insensitive, so the wording of the policy should be written carefully. Students, employees and the community should see this as a positive change.

DISCUSSION

Methods

In reviewing the legislated actions in North Carolina, I have determined that a school campus can enact any type of tobacco policy that they wish. There are no restrictions that are required to be included in the policy (AMA). Refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 for the exact NC General Statute.

Figure 4: N.C. GEN. STAT. §§ 115C-407 (2003)

Figure 5: N.C. GEN. STAT. § 95-28.2 (1991)

Local boards of education shall adopt and enforce a written policy prohibiting the use of all tobacco products in enclosed school buildings during regular school hours. The policy may permit tobacco products to be included in instructional or research activities in public school buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product. Nothing in this section or any other section prohibits a local board of education from adopting and enforcing a more restrictive policy on the use of tobacco in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, or at school-related or school-sponsored events, and in or on other school property.

It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to fail or refuse to hire a prospective employee, or discharge or otherwise discriminate against any employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the prospective employee or the employee engages in or has engaged in the lawful use of lawful products if the activity occurs off the premises of the employer during non-working hours and does not adversely affect the employee’s job performance or the person’s ability to properly fulfill the responsibilities of the position in question or the safety of the other employees. The employeeagainst whom the violation occurs may bring a civil action within one year from the date of the alleged violation against the employer to obtain lost wages or benefits, an order of reinstatement without loss or position, seniority, or benefits or an order directing the employerto offer employment to the prospective employee.

N.C. GEN. STAT. § 95-28.2 (1991).

Since this can be a sensitive subject for some, I believe the approach to the new policy needs to be worded carefully and conveyed to all. The purpose of the policy is not to cause conflict, but to improve the health of citizens on the campus and make it a better and more beautiful place for the community to visit. Even though it will be an adjustment for smokers, other workplaces have done it, and I believe this campus can too.

Fall registration is not far away and would be a great time to implement the new campus-wide tobacco policy. The current students would need to be notified when they pre-register in July. New students will be registering in August and can be notified at that time. Each student normally receives some type of information when they go through the registration process. The new policy can be easily added to another piece of information or in addition to what is already being distributed. Also, with Campus Cruiser available, each student and employee can be notified. Signs will need to be posted around the campus to inform visitors and members of the community of the new policy.

We have campus security available both day and night, so it shouldn’t be difficult to enforce a policy. Please use your discretion as to any type of penalty. I do believe that since our campus security can write tickets for illegal parking, it would not be difficult to include smoking.Having a person around campus helping to enforce the policy will help a great deal. Communication will be imperative during this transition period.

Scheduling

I am recommending that the steps to implementing the policy begin as soon as possible. If you agree with the proposal, it would need to be brought before the Board of Directors to approve the changes before they can become effective. After approval from the Board of Directors, the process should be a very short one. Please refer to Figure 6 for an illustrated form of the steps that could be taken.

Figure 6: Timeline of Items to Accomplish

August 17-18, 2005Give information to new students at registration

August 15-16, 2005Give information to new students at orientation

July 25-27, 2005Give information to pre-registering students.

July 1, 2005Order metal, permanent signs to post on campus

May 5, 2005Post signs around campus (paper)

April 20, 2005Approval from the President of the College

May 3, 2005Seek approval from the Board of Directors

May 4, 2005Send email to employees & current students.Print information to post on campus.

Materials and EquipmentWe will need printed copies of information to hand out to students and post around the

campus. The materials and equipment needed for this will not need to be purchased from an outside source since we have a duplicating area.

Signs will need to be posted for students, employees and visitors to the campus to see from the entry point of West Main Street, parking lots and around the buildings. Paper copies can be used until the permanent signs are received.

Figure 7: Crutchfield Map of New Signs

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

Figure 8: Albemarle Map of New Signs

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

No

Smoking Sign

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

No Smoking

Sign

Cost

We can print information in-house to be handed out for around $ .03 per copy and we willneed approximately 600 copies, for a total of $18. That cost is for a whole sheet of paper. It is possible that we can fit the information on a half-sheet of paper and reduce the cost to $9. There will be no cost for email because it is already operational.

If the new policy is implemented, metal signs to post around the campus can be ordered. I recommend that we purchase eleven from Safety Sign. Refer to Figure 7 and 8 for specific locations.

Figure 9: Costs for Materials

Hand-out information for Fall 2005 $18.00

Hand-out information for Spring 2006 $18.00

Hand-out information for Summer 2006 $18.00

Sign for College Drive (1 @ $25.25) $25.25

Signs to post at building entrances $167.50

Total $246.75

There should be no recurring costs except for printing handouts for the next few semesters. After summer semester 2006, we should not need to print more handouts. The information should be printed in the Student Handbook and the General Catalog. It will take the community a while to adjust to the new change; therefore, one year should be enough time for distributing handouts during registration periods.

CONCLUSION

Stanly Community College should change the smoking policy so that students and employees can benefit. Many workplaces are changing their policies to a complete no smoking one. The majority of employees and students would prefer a campus-wide, no smoking policy. Even the American College Health Associate recommends colleges and universities take this step. There can only be advantages for us in the future by making this change.

I am recommending that a campus-wide, no smoking policy be implemented for Stanly Community College and be effective August 1, 2005. This is after the last day of classes for summer semester and before classes starting for fall semester. These changes will provide an opportunity for students and employees to greatly improve their health. Not only will the smokers have a chance to quit, but also the non-smokers won’t have to walk through unwanted second-hand smoke. The new policy will be a great advantage to Stanly Community College.

This paper was turned in before changes were made to the new MLA handbook. Please see a current MLA handbook for correct citation information.

WORKS CITED

American College Health Association (ACHA), Position Statement on Tobacco on College and

University Campuses. Feb. 2005

<http://www.acha.org/info_resources/tobacco_statement.pdf>.

American Lung Association (AMA), State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues. 17 Feb. 2005

<http://slati.lungusa.org/state-teml.asp?id=33>.

Carmona, Richard H., Surgeon General, United States Department of Health & Human Services,

The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. 27 May 2004

< http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2004/pdf/executivesummary.pdf >.

Costello, Brian D., Safety Sign, No Smoking Signs. 19 Apr. 2005

<http://www.safetysign.com/safetyframe1.php?1801&No%20Smoking

%20Signs&3&/HTML/Safetysigns/Industrial_1800.php&1800_Industrial>.

National Cancer Institute, Cancer Facts. 22 Feb. 2005 <http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/10_18.htm>.

National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC-Fact Sheets), The

Health Consequences of Smoking, A Report of the Surgeon General. 26 Jan. 2005

<http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2004/Factsheets/7.htm>.

National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC-Press Release).

The Health Consequences of Smoking, A Report of the Surgeon General, New Surgeon

General’s Report Expands List of Diseases Caused by Smoking. 26 Jan. 2005

<http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2004/pressrelease.htm>.

National Institutes of Health, NHLBI Study Shows Smoking Cessation Programs Improve

Survival. 14 Feb. 2005 < http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2005/nhlbi-14.htm>.

NC Department of Health and Human Services, Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch. Why

Tobacco-Free Schools? 29 Mar. 2005 <http://www.nctobaccofreeschools.com/>.

APPENDIX A. Employee Responses from Poll

Yes No Not Sure No Response

Employee 1 Yes

Employee 2 Not SureEmployee 3 YesEmployee 4 No ResponseEmployee 5 NoEmployee 6 NoEmployee 7 No ResponseEmployee 8 YesEmployee 9 YesEmployee 10 No ResponseEmployee 11 No ResponseEmployee 12 YesEmployee 13 No ResponseEmployee 14 YesEmployee 15 YesEmployee 16 NoEmployee 17 YesEmployee 18 YesEmployee 19 Not SureEmployee 20 No ResponseEmployee 21 No ResponseEmployee 22 NoEmployee 23 YesEmployee 24 No ResponseEmployee 25 NoEmployee 26 Not SureEmployee 27 YesEmployee 28 YesEmployee 29 YesEmployee 30 YesEmployee 31 YesEmployee 32 YesEmployee 33 YesEmployee 34 NoEmployee 35 YesEmployee 36 No ResponseEmployee 37 YesEmployee 38 YesEmployee 39 Not SureEmployee 40 YesEmployee 41 Not SureEmployee 42 Not SureEmployee 43 NoEmployee 44 NoEmployee 45 YesEmployee 46 YesEmployee 47 YesEmployee 48 Not SureEmployee 49 Yes

Employee 50 Yes

Employee 51 NoEmployee 52 YesEmployee 53 YesEmployee 54 No ResponseEmployee 55 No Response

APPENDIX B. Student Responses from Poll

Yes No Not Sure No ResponseStudent 1 NoStudent 2 NoStudent 3 Not SureStudent 4 YesStudent 5 YesStudent 6 NoStudent 7 YesStudent 8 Not SureStudent 9 YesStudent 10 YesStudent 11 YesStudent 12 YesStudent 13 YesStudent 14 YesStudent 15 YesStudent 16 NoStudent 17 YesStudent 18 YesStudent 19 Not SureStudent 20 NoStudent 21 YesStudent 22 YesStudent 23 NoStudent 24 YesStudent 25 No ResponseStudent 26 No ResponseStudent 27 No ResponseStudent 28 No ResponseStudent 29 No ResponseStudent 30 No ResponseStudent 31 No ResponseStudent 32 No ResponseStudent 33 No ResponseStudent 34 No ResponseStudent 35 No ResponseStudent 36 No ResponseStudent 37 No ResponseStudent 38 No ResponseStudent 39 No ResponseStudent 40 No ResponseStudent 41 No ResponseStudent 42 No ResponseStudent 43 No ResponseStudent 44 No ResponseStudent 45 No ResponseStudent 46 No Response

APPENDIX C. Smoking Policies of N. C. Community Colleges

College Outside Only Designated Areas Designated Outside Areas No Information AvailableAlamance Community College XAsheville-Buncombe Tech Comm. College XBeaufort County Community College XBladen Community College XBlue Ridge Community College XBrunswick Community College XCaldwell Comm. Coll. & Tech. Institute X

Cape Fear Community College X

Carteret Community College XCatawba Valley Community College XCentral Carolina Community College XCentral Piedmont Community College XCleveland Community College XCoastal Carolina Community College XCollege of The Albemarle XCraven Community College XDavidson County Community College XDurham Technical Community College XEdgecombe Community College XFayetteville Technical Community College XForsyth Technical Community College XGaston College XGuilford Technical Community College XHalifax Community College XHaywood Community College XIsothermal Community College XJames Sprunt Community College XJohnston Community College XLenoir Community College XMartin Community College XMayland Community College XMcDowell Technical Community College XMitchell Community College XMontgomery Community College XNash Community College XPamlico Community College XPiedmont Community College XPitt Community College XRandolph Community College X

Richmond Community College X

Roanoke-Chowan Community College XRobeson Community College XRockingham Community College XRowan-Cabarrus Community College XSampson Community College XSandhills Community College XSouth Piedmont Community College XSoutheastern Community College XSouthwestern Community College XStanly Community College XSurry Community College XTri-County Community College XVance-Granville Community College XWake Technical Community College XWayne Community College XWestern Piedmont Community College XWilkes Community College XWilson Technical Community College X