The Boulder County Campus of Front Range Community College received a Healthy Community Award from Boulder County Public Health for embodying the spirit of public service through reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.
The Boulder County Campus implemented a tobacco-free policy that protects the health of more than 3,000 students, staff, and visitors.
In 2014, a task force convened to begin exploring a policy change.
“The task force was broadly and thoughtfully representative of the campus,” said Linda Curran, campus vice president. “Their efforts in outreach and communication undoubtedly contributed to a smooth transition to a smoke-free environment.”
The task force collaborated with the Boulder County Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (TEPP) to engage stakeholders and provide tobacco cessation resources and other technical assistance to help pass the policy in 2016.
“The tobacco task force was inclusive in their policy consideration process and went above and beyond to make sure this directive was the right decision for their community,” said TEPP Program Specialist Vanessa St. Clair. “Task force members spent a lot of time working through appropriate solutions for their campus, listening to those who might be impacted by the policy, and compiling their findings so that the campus leadership team could make a fully informed decision. The campus has set an example for community colleges across the state and the nation.”
Task force members included Jennifer Headrick, Ian Feinhandler, Catherine Moore, Ryley Allen, Laura DuClos, Brian Embree, and student Jeff Brewer, who has since graduated.
Boulder County Human Resources and the Lafayette Youth Advisory Committee also received Healthy Community awards.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, and Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving more than 144,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. CCCS students save time and money with affordable tuition and fees, concurrent enrollment, and guaranteed transfer to any public university in Colorado. Online courses are available via Colorado Community Colleges Online. CCCS also oversees career and technical programs in our 13 colleges, more than 160 school districts, and six other post-secondary institutions. By partnering with business and industry, CCCS helps employers meet workforce needs and prepares students for direct entry to their chosen career pathway. The vast majority of our students are Colorado residents and, after graduation, 97 percent of our students stay in state, becoming the workforce that powers the Colorado economy and the heart of our neighborhoods, businesses, and communities.
About the Boulder County Healthy Community Awards
Since 2006, Boulder County Public Health has recognized more than 30 individuals, groups, agencies, and organizations that have worked to address public health needs and issues in Boulder County. Recipients of the Healthy Community Award demonstrate strategies that improve the health and well-being of the people and environment, and up to three awards are given annually. A Boulder County Public Health employee must nominate community members or organizations for the award, and a review committee of public health leaders selects award recipients.
