San Antonio College will begin the first phase of a new Smoking Policy this fall, which limits smoking to specified areas beginning with the Fall 2004 Semester and then eliminates all smoking on campus by the Fall 2005 Semester.

"We believe this is an important step to take to promote the health of our students, faculty and staff," said President Robert E. Zeigler. After a year of open forums, surveys, and discussions among college groups, the College Academic Council unanimously passed the Smoking Policy last spring.

In addition to limiting smoking to certain locations this academic year, the college will offer a series of free Smoking Cessation Classes for the Fall and Spring semesters to help smokers break the habit.

The Fall Semester one-hour classes will be held by a registered nurse on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. on October 26, November 2, 9, and 16 in the Candler Physical Education Center, Room 126. Any San Antonio College students, faculty or staff should register no later than October 19 by calling 733-2761, according to Dawn Brooks, Kinesiology Instructor and Chairperson of the San Antonio College Wellness Committee. Spring Semester classes will be available January 18, 25, February 1 and 8.

Dr. Zeigler noted that smoking restrictions would eliminate second-hand smoke hazards for people with serious allergies, improve campus cleanliness, and save valuable staff time (groundskeepers spend 60 hours a week just cleaning up cigarette butts). He said the effort also would align the college with the City of San Antonio's similar efforts and with national studies that clearly show how dangerous smoking is to our health and environment.

According to the College Tobacco Prevention Resource, "Tobacco use rose steadily on US campuses through the 1990s. At current rates, an estimated 1 out of 9 of today's college students will die of tobacco-related illness." Their website at http://www.ttac.org/college/facts/negative-effects.html identifies the negative impact on health and environment, including academic and mental performance.

For more information about the Smoking Cessation Classes, call Dawn Brooks at 733-2761 or check the SAC website at http://www.accd.edu/sac/sacmain/html/smoking.htm.