The Office of Student Affairs, in collaboration with the Gender and Development (GAD) Office of North Valley College Foundation, Inc. (NVCFI), advances the institution’s commitment to protecting and promoting the health and well-being of its academic community through the implementation of a Comprehensive Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Campus Policy. The policy establishes a health-conscious learning environment by prohibiting smoking and vaping within the school campus and extending the coverage to the surrounding area within a 100-meter radius of the institution. This comprehensive approach recognizes that exposure to tobacco smoke and vape emissions is a public health concern that requires preventive measures not only within institutional facilities but also in areas surrounding the learning environment.
Through this policy, NVCFI seeks to promote a culture of health responsibility and collective accountability among students, faculty members, non-teaching personnel, visitors, and other individuals within the designated coverage area. The collaboration between the Office of Student Affairs and the GAD Office reinforces the importance of integrating health promotion, student welfare, and inclusive campus governance into institutional policies and practices. By establishing clear restrictions on smoking and vaping, the institution strengthens its preventive approach to reducing exposure to potentially harmful emissions, encouraging healthier behavioral choices, and protecting the well-being of members of the academic community. Extending the policy to the 100-meter perimeter also reflects the institution’s recognition that a healthy educational environment requires cooperation and responsible conduct beyond the immediate boundaries of the campus.
The Comprehensive Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Campus Policy contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), particularly the promotion of preventive health measures and the reduction of health risks associated with tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. It demonstrates NVCFI’s commitment to creating a safer and healthier environment where education and institutional responsibility go hand in hand with health protection. Through the joint efforts of the Office of Student Affairs and the GAD Office, NVCFI positions health promotion as a shared institutional responsibility and reinforces the principle that access to quality education must be supported by an environment that safeguards the physical well-being of its students and stakeholders. Ultimately, the policy reflects the institution’s commitment to building a healthier, more responsible, and smoke-free and vape-free campus community.
