Gainesville State College takes bold step in encouraging a healthier campus! Gainesville, GA., -- Effective May 7, 2003, Gainesville State College became a tobacco-free campus. “This was not a quick or easy decision,” says Gainesville State College President Martha T. Nesbitt. “In fact, the College’s Executive Council and I deliberated the issue for more than a year. Ultimately it came down to the health concerns for the students, faculty and staff as well as the aesthetics of the campus.” For more than four years, the College operated under a policy which allowed tobacco use in the three designated smoking areas on campus. While these facilities were used by some, others chose to ignore the policy and smoke in doorways and while walking across campus. This in turn has created a litter problem on the campus.

The Gainesville State College Administration has always encouraged healthy living and offers ample opportunities for students, faculty and staff to take advantage of fitness and wellness activities. In that same vein, the College sponsored “stop smoking” workshops for any interested students, faculty and staff. It remains the hope of the Gainesville State College administration that the tobacco users on campus will take advantage of this change in policy and use this as a catalyst for change.