Two local universities go smoke-free

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) - Visitors, students and employees at Huston-Tillotson University can say goodbye to inhaling clouds of smoke while walking across their East Austin campus.

On Tuesday, Houston-Tillotson not only became the first college in Central Texas to go smoke-free, but also the first historically black college and university in the state to completely clear the air.

Wednesday, Texas State University's president announced they will become the largest smoke-free campus starting Aug. 1 on both the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses. It is a move the university has been considering for the last two years.

In a written statement e-mailed to all Texas State students, faculty and staff, Texas State President Denise Trauth said, “Our decision to become a tobacco-free university is based on the scientific evidence regarding the harmful effects and health risks of tobacco.”

A survey conducted in 2010 indicated 67-percent of students and 75-percent of faculty and staff supported the idea of making Texas State a smoke-free environment.

The National College Health Assessment , which tracks college health changes and trends, surveyed Texas State students in the spring of 2010.

• 11 percent were regular smokers
• 15 percent were occasional smokers
• 55 percent have never smoked

Texas State is offering help to those who want to kick the habit through telephone hotlines, online programs and local discounted programs throug the Texas State Student Health Center.

Texas State became smoke-free inside all university buildings and vehicles in 2000, and several outside smoke-free zones were established in 2005. The Round Rock campus opened in 2005 as a smoke-free campus, and the university is now extending that policy to the San Marcos campus.

According to Texas State, several junior colleges have completely banned smoking. The following state schools are smoke-free:

• Huston-Tillotson University (effective April 2011)
• Midwestern State University (effective January 2010)
• University of Texas at Brownsville (effective September 2010)
• University of Texas at Arlington (effective August 2011)

The University of Texas at Austin currently bans smoking in buildings, and at football and baseball games. There are designated smoking areas around campus.

Smoking is not allowed inside any Austin Community College facilities, including corridors and restrooms, or within 15 feet of the entrances. All campuses have identified designated smoking areas.