Tobacco-free Campus

Hudson Valley Community College is poised to be a tobacco-free campus at the start of the Fall 2013 semester. Proposed changes to the college’s rules on tobacco use would further promote a healthy and safe environment for all, as well as align the college with Tobacco-Free SUNY. Pending state legislative approval, Tobacco-Free SUNY will take effect Jan. 1, 2014. Many SUNY campuses already are tobacco-free, as are most colleges and universities in the Capital Region.

Currently in a “draft” stage, a tobacco-free policy for Hudson Valley would reinforce a major institutional priority: the health and well-being of all members of the college community. A tobacco-free committee appointed by Dr. Alex Popovics, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Development has addressed the college’s Board of Trustees and also is informing various groups on campus (e.g. Academic Senate, Student Senate and bargaining unit leaders) of the proposed changes. Committee members also are working with the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition and reviewing tobacco-free policies from other colleges.

Under current New York State law, smoking is banned on all SUNY campuses in indoor areas and in vehicles owned or leased by SUNY institutions.

In anticipation of Tobacco-Free SUNY taking effect in 2014, the committee’s goal is to present Hudson Valley Community College’s tobacco-free policy to the Board of Trustees for approval this semester.

For more information, please contact Claudine Potvin-Giordano, clinical coordinator in College Health Services (c.potvin-giordano@hvcc.edu).

Tobacco-free Initiative Committee
Claudine Potvin-Giordano, Chair
Fred Aliberti
Ann Carrozza
Louis Coplin
Deborah Gardner
Marina Gore
Patricia Hyland
Suzanne Kalkbrenner
Dennis Kennedy
Eileen Maloney
Sandra McCarthy
Maxine Ortiz
Valerie Paull
Kristan Pelletier
Alex Popovics
Elizabeth Riccio
Deborah Richey
Karen Seward
Kelly Sweener
Melissa Thomas
Gail Van Wie
Laurie Vivekanand
Brian Vlieg
Zachary Yannone