Beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year, all campus buildings at Catawba College will be tobacco-free, instead of just smoke-free. After substantial discussion and reflection on feedback from students, faculty and staff, college trustees approved this change to the college policy at their February meeting.

The new college policy, written in conjunction with N.C. Tobacco Free Colleges Association, is effective August 1, 2013. The delay in implementation will give college officials time to get the word out about smoking and tobacco cessation programs that are available to members of the college community.

According to President Brien Lewis, trustees seem "very open to continued dialogue on the topic of tobacco use on campus and possible additional steps in the future."

The new tobacco-free policy prohibits the use of any form of tobacco product, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco and smokeless cigarettes in campus buildings. These products may still be used in the designated tobacco-use areas on campus.

To gauge sentiment regarding tobacco use, all members of the campus community had an opportunity in January to both complete an online survey and participate in one of two forums on the issues. The results of the survey and feedback gathered in the forums and via e-mail were compiled and shared with trustees at their February meeting.

Catawba had made a move to smoke-free buildings and a smoke-free environment in all common areas of campus in 2010. With that move, college officials tried to limit the difficulties associated with second-hand smoke by establishing and clearly indicating on campus only a handful of outdoor smoking areas.