Ellington

SCOOBA, Miss. (AP) — East Mississippi Community College is joining several other college campuses that have implemented a tobacco-free policy.

EMCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner said Thursday the new policy affecting all of its campuses will go into effect Jan. 1.

Huebner, in a news release, says the policy is part of a larger health and wellness initiative to be implemented through a partnership with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.

Of the 15 community and junior colleges in Mississippi, EMCC was among a few without a tobacco-free policy in place. While the policy will be implemented at all campuses, many of the new health and wellness initiatives will be limited to the Scooba campus for now.

Huebner said the initiatives align with the college's mission to improve lives.