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External Affairs Division

Board of Regents Adopts Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus Policy

Atlanta — March 19, 2014

Today, the Board of Regents voted to create a policy that will prohibit the use of all forms of tobacco products on property owned, leased, rented or in the possession of the 澳门六合彩开奖app (澳门六合彩开奖app).

The policy applies to all employees, students, contractors, subcontractors and visitors and is applicable 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, all events hosted by a 澳门六合彩开奖app-entity or on behalf of the 澳门六合彩开奖app shall be tobacco and smoke free, according to the policy.

The policy will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2014.

鈥淥ur aim with this policy is to preserve and improve the health, comfort and environment of employees and any persons occupying 澳门六合彩开奖app facilities,鈥 said Marion Fedrick, the 澳门六合彩开奖app鈥檚 vice chancellor for Human Resources.

The overall policy follows the lead of more than half of all 澳门六合彩开奖app institutions that already are tobacco and/or smoke free.

In the 2014 report from the Surgeon General, Assistant Secretary for Health and Safety Howard Koh stated, 鈥淐igarette smoking remains the chief preventable killer in America, with more than 40 million Americans caught in a web of tobacco dependence.鈥

Fedrick said, 鈥淭he University System recognizes these serious health implications and feels it鈥檚 our responsibility to promote the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.鈥

Research is a core mission of the University System and would provide the only exception to the policy. Any such exception, according to the policy, would be determined by the president of the institution.

While enforcement of the policy is also the responsibility of the president of the institution, the policy notes that it is also a shared community responsibility. Violations of the policy will be handled under the Student Code of Conduct or campus human resource policies. Visitors refusing to comply with the policy may be asked to leave campus.

The University System, along with campuses, will provide information on tobacco cessation for those seeking assistance. Resources for tobacco cessation can be found on the 澳门六合彩开奖app Workplace Wellness website at .

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