You may have seen the signs around campus: “GPC is Tobacco Free.”

Now Georgia Perimeter College’s tobacco-free policy is taking shape. The policy, which bans all forms of tobacco products, becomes active Oct. 1.

The college executive team moved to align their Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus policy with the University System of Georgia’s policy, which bans all forms of tobacco products on campus property.

GPC’s policy now states: “The use of all forms of tobacco products on property owned, leased, rented, in the possession of, or in any way used by Georgia Perimeter College is expressly prohibited. ‘Tobacco Products’ is defined as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes and any other smoking devices that use tobacco, such as hookahs, or simulate the use of tobacco such as electronic cigarettes.”

There will be a six-month grace period during which Public Safety officials will issue warnings to repeat offenders. After April 1, 2015, individuals not abiding by the policy will receive a warning for their first offense, a $10 fine for their second offense, a $20 fine for their third offense, and a fine plus disciplinary action from their campus student dean or department supervisor after the fourth offense.

An integral component of implementing the tobacco-free policy is the inclusion of tobacco cessation programs, says Julius Whitaker, who is overseeing the project at GPC.

Georgia Perimeter is offering a variety of tobacco cessation programs free of charge to students and employees through the GPC Student Health Clinics. They include low-cost and free nicotine patch, gum and lozenge replacement products. Prescription medications, including Bupropion SR generic (Zyban) and Varenicline (Chantix), are available through the Student Health Center for students with an appointment.   

Visit the Student Health Center site for a full list of tobacco-cessation programs and services. Additional information on smoking cessation can be found on the Tobacco Free GPC website.