VGCC Board Votes to Create Tobacco-Free Learning and Work Environment at College’s Four Campuses

The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees held its bimonthly meeting on Monday, March 16 at the college’s Henderson campus. During that meeting, the Board voted to approve a measure which would make all four VGCC campuses tobacco-free, effective August 18. The Board also voted to adopt the 2009-2010 County Current and Capital Outlay Budgets.

Upon recommendation by the Executive Committee, chaired by Donald Seifert, the Board approved Monday night a new tobacco policy which would make all campus properties completely tobacco-free, effective August 18, 2009. The move comes after a year of student, faculty and staff surveys and focus groups, all of which showed support for the change.

The new policy states that VGCC is committed to providing its students and employees a safe and healthy campus environment. The policy also states that the college recognizes the use of tobacco products can be detrimental to the health of students, employees, and visitors, and recognizes that it has an obligation to promote a healthy learning and work environment free from unwanted smoke and byproducts of tobacco use.

The NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund has been promoting the 100 percent Tobacco-Free Initiative since the year 2000. To date, 22 colleges and universities in North Carolina have implemented a tobacco-free policy. Many others are discussing the concept.

In other business, the Board voted to adopt the 2009-2010 County Current and Capital Outlay Budgets as presented, contingent upon approval by appropriate county commissioners in the four-county area. The total requested amounts for each campus are: Main Campus , $1,706,767; South Campus , $216,259; Warren Campus , $174,112; and Franklin Campus , $318,887.

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. in the board room on Main Campus.