Mt. SAC Goes Smoke, Tobacco, and Vape Free

August 22, 2023 - 04:31 PM

Mt. San Antonio College will join 64 other community colleges across the state in becoming a “Fresh Air Campus” when the Fall semester starts next week.

Effective now, the use of any form of tobacco, including vaping and electronic smoking devices, is prohibited on all college properties, grounds, and buildings, including parking lots. 

According to the 2023 California College and University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card, 66 percent, or 76 out of 116 California Community College campuses, are 100 percent smoke or tobacco-free. Of these, 65 campuses are 100 percent smoke and tobacco-free, including e-cigarettes.

“Mt. SAC is pleased to join those campuses in becoming completely smoke, tobacco, and vape free,” said Koji Uesugi, dean of Student Services. “We have gone from a D-plus grade to an A-plus with this change. We are proud to be making this commitment to the health and safety of our community and environment.”

According to the California Youth Advocacy Network, cigarette smoking increased among college students from 4.1% in 2020 to 5.9% in 2021, and young adult students continue to vape at higher rates than using other combustible tobacco products.

Enforcement of the college’s new rules will be educational and supportive, with the college providing resources to help people stop smoking, Uesugi said. Having this policy in place will also decrease tobacco litter on campus, he added.

In 2018 the Board of Governors for the California Community College system adopted a resolution urging all California Community Colleges to adopt and implement 100% smoke- and tobacco-free policies, just as all California State University and University of California campuses have already done.

For more information Mt. SAC’s smoking policy, visit www.mtsac.edu/smokefree.