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Schools

HFCC Goes Smoke Free

The new campus rule went into effect Jan. 1.

, one 2012 resolution is already accomplished, and follows a growing trend across the nation: The Dearborn school went smoke-free Jan. 1.

The switch to non-smoking affects all three locations of HFCC, including the main campus, the Dearborn Heights campus, and the East Campus.

"HFCC joined hundreds of colleges and universities across the nation that have taken this important step," the school reported in a statement. "Providing a smoke-free campus promotes a healthy environment in which students, faculty, administrators, and staff can learn and work. A smoke-free campus also sets the example that Henry Ford Community College is committed to wellness and supports a healthy campus."

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The school joins more than 260 smoke-free colleges nationwide. Regionally, that includes the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, Michigan State University and Oakland University, as well as Washtenaw, Jackson, Monroe and Lansing Community Colleges in going smoke-free.

The , along with the Ann Arbor and Flint campuses, .

Find out what's happening in Dearbornwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“There are immediate, positive health effects when an individual quits smoking,” said Jeff Evans, UM-Dearborn’s vice chancellor of business affairs, told Patch in July. “(The policy) is really designed to be respectful, help people have an understanding and provide a set of resources to them should they wish to seek out help.”

Likewise, HFCC's program will focus on education, not strict enforcement.

According to a release sent out by the school, HFCC will "promote an awareness campaign to help students comply with the policy and to inform them about free resources to help them quit or reduce smoking."

HFCC did say, however, that they will allow smoking in personal vehicles and in "few designated locations."

Students are already reacting to the change via the school's Facebook page.

"So happy my school is smoke free," wrote Regina Garza-Rosas.

Pamela Skora disagreed.

"I am a smoker and not happy with this," she wrote. "I smoke 50 feet away from all entrances and don't throw my butts on the ground. I understand smoking is unhealthy and am trying to find different methods to quit, but in the meantime why should I be penalized?"

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