ABOUT SUNY BROOME’S SMOKE-FREE INITIATIVE
SUNY Broome Community College went smoke-free on January, 17 2012.
At the time, the College Smoke-Free Campus Policy did not permit any smoking whatsoever on campus. Since the College is in very close proximity to the adjacent residential community of Chenango Shores in the Town of Dickinson, smokers immediately migrated to the closest point between campus and the neighborhood as an area where they could officially be considered off-campus but were also just inches away from the perimeter of the campus.
Within weeks of establishing the policy, there were numberous concerns voices by residents and Town of Dickinson leaders. Eight students, including two student senators took it upon themselves to clean up cigarette litter in an ongoing attempt to make the neighborhood area more presentable.
In Fall, 2013, members of Student Assembly approached the College and asked that a designated areas be identified on campus.
At the same time, SUNY Broome was in the process of building a residence hall. Due to concerns by the Town that this would also impact excessive student and smoker migration into adjacent neighborhoods, it was decided that two gazebos would be placed, in strategic locations, where the campus community would not be impacted by smoke but where respect for the neighbors could be maintained.
In September of 2014 the SUNY Broome Board of Trustees amended the Smoke-Free campus policy to include creating two designated smoking areas, each in close proximity to identified problem areas.
Key Policy Components
Smoke Free Grounds – Smoking and e-cigarettes (to include vaping devices of any kind) are prohibited on all campus-owned/leased property, both indoors and outdoors, including the residence halls and in campus-owned or leased vehicles. Individuals are permitted to smoke in their own vehicles in parking lot areas and in under the two covered gazebos identified for that purpose. When smoking in one’s car, the person smoking must be located in the car. When smoking in the Gazebo, smokers must be within the Gazebo area and not of the grounds adjacent to the Gazebo.
Smoking is prohibited at all institution-sponsored off campus events.
Understanding the addictive nature of tobacco and that breaking that addiction is extremely difficult for many people, the College will make every reasonable effort to assist those students and employees who wish to stop smoking. The College will promote and provide evidence-based cessation resources. Students can access tobacco cessation support services at the BCC Student Health Services Office. Employees can access support through the Employee Assistance Program. The New York State Smokers’ Quitline is also an excellent resource in this area and can be accessed online thorough nysmokefree.com. Team Act also provides counseling services. BCC Counseling Services will offer smoking cessation counseling/programming, strategies and educational outreach efforts to students.
