A college on the Western Slope is joining the growing number of higher education institutions that ban tobacco products.
The Delta-Montrose Technical College will be a tobacco-free school.
"All forms of tobacco products including smoking and smokeless tobacco or chew and e-cigarettes are banned," John Jones, the college's director, said.
He said it was a two-year process to get the policy in place.
"Through surveys of our students and staff we found that they were interested in [having] a smoke-free environment," said Jones.
Karen O’Brien, with the Delta County Health Department, worked with the school on its tobacco-free initiative.
She said the health department is offering support to students and staff who want to kick their nicotine habits.
"There are quit kits that are little packets that are around the bookstore and also at the main lobby and nursing station," said O'Brien.
The ban goes into effect June 1 ahead of the fall semester.
More than 1,000 colleges and universities across the U.S. are tobacco-free, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.
