Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College Go Tobacco-Free
Newark, Ohio (PRWEB) November 27, 2013 -- The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) announced today that their shared campus, as well as COTC’s extended campuses, is tobacco-free. The new policy bans use of all tobacco products on any part of the campuses’ properties.
“Both Dr. MacDonald and I personally believe that the move to 100% tobacco free is the right one,” said COTC President Bonnie L. Coe, Ph.D. “We are truly concerned with the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and community. We acknowledge and support the findings of the Surgeon General that tobacco use in any form, active or passive, are significant health hazards.
“We want to create an environment of positivity and encouragement, not one of shame.” said William L. MacDonald, Ph.D., executive dean of the regional campuses and dean and director of Ohio State Newark. “We want the whole campus community to work together to be tobacco-free.”
The Ohio Board of Regents passed a resolution in July 2012 recommending that all University System of Ohio schools go tobacco-free and, in September 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a national initiative to eliminate tobacco use on college campuses. The State of Ohio, Healthy Ohio Program, and the Ohio State Board of Education support tobacco free colleges and universities and are advocating for all campuses to go tobacco free.
“We want our employees to be as healthy as possible. We offer weight-loss programs, exercise activities, and programs directed at reducing stress and improving one’s life,” stated Jackie Parrill, Vice President for Institutional Planning & Human Resources Development for COTC and Director of Human Resources, Campus Relations, & Planning Support for Ohio State Newark. “We will institute tobacco cessation activities as well, in an attempt to help our students, employees and staff who would like to stop using tobacco products.”
More information about the new policy, including tobacco-cessation programs, is available on both the COTC and OSU websites: http://www.cotc.edu/faculty-and-staff/hr/Pages/tobacco-free.aspx and http://hr.osu.edu/tobaccofree/, respectively.
The mission of Central Ohio Technical College is to meet the technical education and training needs of students and employers in the area.
The Ohio State University at Newark • Be a Part of Something Great!
René N. White, Central Ohio Technical College, http://cotc.edu, +1 740-366-9368, [email protected]
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