INNOVATIVE EDUCATORS WEBINAR THE PROS AND CONS OF MAKING YOUR CAMPUS TOBACCO-FREE Ty Patterson Director of The Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Missouri

1
INNOVATIVE EDUCATORS WEBINARTHE
PROS AND CONS OF MAKING YOUR CAMPUS
TOBACCO-FREETy PattersonDirector of The
Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus
PolicyOzarks Technical Community
CollegeSpringfield Missouri
2
INNOVATIVE EDUCATORS WEBINARTHE
PROS AND CONS OF MAKING YOUR CAMPUS
TOBACCO-FREETy PattersonDirector of The
Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus
PolicyOzarks Technical Community
CollegeSpringfield Missouri
3
About The Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free
Campus Policy

• Established in 2004 at Ozarks Technical
  Community College
• Funded by OTC and revenue generated by
  workshops and
• consultation services
• The Director is part time and the only
  employee
• OTC provides salary, office, computer,
  telephone and budget

4
Workshops/Consultation Services

• Center of Excellence workshops and/or
  consultation services
• have helped the following institutions
  pursue tobacco-free policy
• University of Central Oklahoma
• University of Arkansas
• Oklahoma State University
• De Anza Community College
• St. Charles Community College
• State Fair Community College
• North Arkansas Community College
• Stanly Community College
• Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette
• Des Moines Area Community College
• Lansing Community College
• Waterloo Community College
• Ashville-Buncombe Community College
• Portland Community College
• University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk
  Valley
• St. Louis Community College-Meramec

5
Why make campuses completely tobacco-free?

• 1. Promotes clean air and a healthy
  environment
• 2 . Assures access for those affected by
  exposure to SHS
• 3. Teaches respect for others
• 4. Demonstrates leadership
• 5. Prepares students for the future
• 6. Eliminates tacit approval of under age
  tobacco use

6
Promotes Clean Air Healthy Environment

• EPA classifies secondhand smoke as a Group A
  carcinogen along with chemicals such as asbestos
  and radon.
• CDC reports prevalence of smoking in the
  1824 age group is greatest (24.4).
• Most effective method to help people quit
  tobacco use is a workplace prohibition.

7
Assures Access

• Higher education institutions are committed
  to providing access for those with disabilities.
  Many disabled have conditions which are adversely
  affected by exposure to SHS. Also, the Centers
  for Disease Control estimates that approximately
  10 of the population suffers from conditions
  which are exacerbated by exposure to SHS. Making
  campuses completely tobacco-free assures access
  for anyone adversely impacted by exposure to SHS.
  
• The US Surgeon General reported in 2006
• There is no safe level of exposure to second
  hand smoke (SHS).

8
Teaches Respect For Others

• Recent tragedies on college campuses reveal
  the need to emphasize respect for others.
• Making campuses 100 tobacco-free is done
  only because tobacco users disrespect the impact
  of their use on others. Were they to respect the
  effect of tobacco use on others, there would be
  no need for such policies.
• The tobacco-free policy provides a framework
  for discussion about respecting others.
• All policies teach!

9
Demonstrates Leadership

• A 100 tobacco-free institution establishes
  itself as a leader with businesses, industries,
  health care institutions and municipal
  governments in the movement to assure clean air
  and a healthy environment for all.
• The institution will help organizations learn
  how to develop and successfully implement
  tobacco-free policy.

10
Prepares Students For The Future

• By adopting this policy the institution
  prepares its students for entry or advancement in
  workplaces that are becoming increasingly
  tobacco-free.
• Many states have passed laws requiring
  medical facilities to be completely tobacco-free.
  And, according to the US Chamber of Commerce over
  7,000 businesses are tobacco-free.
• The Cleveland Clinic (third largest medical
  organization in the world with 33,000 employees)
  became 100 tobacco-free last year and gave
  employees 3 months to quit using tobacco or lose
  their jobs.

11
Eliminates Tacit Approval Of Underage Tobacco
Use

• Institutions that allow tobacco use in
  designated areas or at specified distances from
  building entrances/exits are giving tacit
  approval for the under aged to use tobacco on
  their campuses.
• A completely tobacco-free institution does
  not face the moral problem of giving tacit
  approval for the under aged to smoke or chew
  tobacco on campus.
• Institutions with 100 tobacco-free policies
  are overwhelmingly supported by parents of minors.

12
Why do people oppose tobacco-free campus
policy?

• 1. Tramples on tobacco
  users rights
• 2. Would be unenforceable
• 3. Everyone would have to
  approve
• 4. Enrollment would decline
• 5. Would push tobacco users
  off campus
• 6. Would be costly

13
Tobacco Users Have Rights

• This is the only argument challenging
  whether the policy is right. It bears more
  scrutiny than practicality arguments.
• The use of tobacco is not a right. The
  institution has the authority to restrict or
  prohibit tobacco use as it most often does
  alcohol use. Most institutions restrict smoking
  to areas outside buildings with the possible
  exception of on campus living areas.
• 100 tobacco-free policy often requires
  re-thinking ones position in light of evidence
  of the deleterious effects of SHS.

14
Policy Is Unenforceable

• Usually presented because enforcement of
  designated smoking areas or building perimeter
  restrictions has not worked in the past.
• This argument assumes (or supports the
  notion that) non compliance with a policy is an
  option. In fact, there is no option for an
  employee or student to be non compliant with an
  institutional policy! Expectations must be
  managed.
• The best approach is to focus on educating
  about the policy and seeking compliance.
  Essentially, a 100 tobacco-free policy will
  ultimately be self enforced. In time the culture
  will embrace and revere the policy as church
  members do their tobacco policy.

15
Everyone Needs To Approve The Policy

• A bottom up approach to tobacco-free policy
  may not be necessary but is sometimes used when
  the leader perceives a lack of board support or
  there is a desire to delay the process.
• In recent cases at Pennsylvania State
  University and University of Arkansas,
  Fayetteville the Chancellors succeeded in
  getting their Boards to approve the policy
  without approval by employees or students.
• In community colleges it is not as common
  for policies to be established from the bottom up
  but student and employee support is often
  solicited.

16
Enrollment Would Decline

• There is often fear of undesirable
  consequences when a controversial policy is
  proposed. This argument is based on the notion
  that individuals who oppose the policy will
  decide not to attend in greater number than those
  who decide to attend because of the policy.
• There is no way to prove who decides to not
  express interest in a college because of a
  policy. Those who express an interest and do not
  convert can be surveyed regarding their
  decision. Likewise those who choose an
  institution can be surveyed regarding why they
  decided to attend.
• Of the100 higher education institutions
  thought to be completely tobacco-free none have
  reported a decline when compared with projected
  enrollment. In many enrollments have exceeded
  projections.
• This list is available at
  www.otc.edu/about/tobaccofree.php.

17
Would Push Tobacco-Users On Neighbors

• This argument is dependent on the proximity
  of commercial and residential areas to the
  campus. When there are neighbors who might be
  affected it is important to discuss the policy
  with them.
• A number of institutions have found support
  for tobacco-free campus policy among potential
  residential and or commercial property owners.
  Understanding the impact on neighbors is
  important in developing a successful plan.
• This has caused some institutions to choose
  to not enforce the tobacco-free policy in
  vehicles parked on campus.

18
Would Be Costly

• The cost of messaging/signage and other
  expenses of making your campus tobacco-free are
  minimal. Based on feedback from tobacco-free
  institutions the cost of implementing and
  maintaining the policy is less than the cost of
  removing tobacco litter from the campus before
  the policy went into effect.
• It is recommended any revenue from
  citations for violation of the policy be applied
  to the tobacco-free education and maintenance
  account.

19
Keys to Success

• Treat others with respect
• Do not demonize tobacco users
• Have clear rationale for the policy
• Educate and seek compliance
• Be slow to penalize
• Establish reasonable expectations
• Time is your ally

20
Featuring presentations by Mary Alice Serafini
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville Mary Lou
SchweiserOnondaga County Syracuse New York
For more information go to www.otc.edu/about/t
obaccofree.php.

• The Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus
  Policy Announces The 6th Annual Tobacco-Free
  Workshop June 19, 2009 Springfield Missouri