WELDON — Halifax Community College (HCC) board of trustees are looking at the possibliltiy of implementing a 100 percent tobacco-free campus policy.

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Trustees received a draft of the policy Tuesday at their monthly meeting.

In the proposed policy, tobacco is defined as any type of tobacco product including but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, bidis, hookahs, smokeless or spit tobacco or snuff.

HCC President Ervin V. Griffin Sr. said the college has been discussing the issue for about two years.

If approved, the policy would prohibit the use of tobacco by students, staff, faculty and visitors in all campus buildings, facilities or property owned or leased by HCC. This includes outside areas of the campus where non-smokers cannot avoid exposure to smoke such as campus grounds, facilities or vehicles that are the property of the campus. Lectures, conferences, meetings and social and cultural events held on school property or school grounds also would apply to the policy.

“I also surveyed our faculty and staff concerning the policy and got a great response,” he said.

The survey had 127 participants with 68.5 percent voting in the affirmative and 31.5 percent in the negative.

In the proposed policy, the sale or free distribution of tobacco products including merchandise on campus or at school events would be probihited.

Student organizations would be prohibited from accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies.

Tobacco advertisements are prohibited in college-run publications and on grounds or facilities including athletic facilities, owned or operated by HCC.

The college also plans to provide free, accessible tobacco treatment on campus.

Griffin said proposed policy will be voted on at the trustees’ June 29 meeting, so it could be implemented at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester.