The Austin Community College District board of trustees voted Nov. 17 to ban the use of electronic cigarettes on all ACC properties.
The change expanded the college's smoke-free policy to prohibit nicotine vapor and smokeless tobacco products effective Jan. 5.
"We want to maintain a healthy and safe environment for our students and employees," said Mary Hensley, ACC executive vice president of college operations, in a statement. "Research indicates that smokeless tobacco products pose significant health hazards, [such as] causing cancer and other diseases."
ACC joins other colleges and universities including The University of Texas with the decision to ban electronic vaping devices. ACC's current smoke-free policy was adopted in October 2011 and prohibits the use of smoke-producing tobacco in district facilities, on college grounds and in ACC-owned vehicles.
