The Why’s and How’s of Tobacco-Free Campus Policy by Ty Patterson Director of The Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Tobacco-Free College Campus Workshop August Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront

Introduction “If every person who used tobacco legally did so with a profound respect for the impact of their use on others and the environment there would be no need for policies to regulate tobacco use. In my work with more than 100 higher education institutions, medical centers and businesses in the US and Canada the primary reason for making the entire facility tobacco- free or smoke-free has been the profound failure of existing policies to protect people and the campus environment as intended.” Ty Patterson

Learning Objectives Understand why institutions are adopting tobacco-free campus policies Know the keys to success in implementing tobacco-free campus policy Understand how to cultivate a culture of self enforcement

Why Make The College Campus Tobacco-Free? Area restrictions don’t work Exposure to SHS is unsafe Tobacco litter defaces the campus environment Access is jeopardized Prepare students for tobacco-free workplace Emphasize respect for others Eliminate tacit approval for underage to use tobacco Emphasize the importance of health and wellness Impact tobacco use of students and employees Support campus sustainability initiative

Tobacco-Free or Smoke-Free? Prevalence of smokeless tobacco Industry movement toward smokeless tobacco Desire to address all issues at one time What about e-cigarettes? Other reasons?

The Ozarks Technical Community College Story 1997-Began looking for tobacco-free institutions 1999-Board of Trustees adopted policy 2000-Began “Tobacco-free in ’03” campaign 2003-Policy implemented August Implemented penalty for non-compliance 2004-Established The Center of Excellence 2008-Celebrated 5 th Anniversary of T-F policy

Brief History of The Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Established in 2004 Consists of OTC staff and community leaders Purposes Annual Workshop On Campus Consultation Webinars ITV Presentations Professional Conferences

Keys To Making Your Campus Tobacco-Free Obtain President /Chancellor support Understand why you are adopting the policy Relate policy to institution’s mission Identify champions Establish Advisory Committee Identify timeline Teach faculty, staff, students Communicate policy Understand and respect opposition

Enforcement of Tobacco Policy “Based on my experience the most important element in successfully implementing tobacco-free policy is creating a campus culture of self-enforcement. The obvious question is how do you create such a culture? The answer is, in part, by teaching there is no option for non-compliance with duly established policy. Failure to teach this is to teach failure in the world for which we prepare our students.” Ty Patterson

Unanticipated Benefit of Tobacco-Free Campus “One of the benefits of making the campus tobacco- free is the impact on critical thinking generated by the policy. In the three years between the adoption of the policy and its implementation there was more critical thinking about it by our students and employees than any policy adoption I experienced in thirty eight years in higher education!” Ty Patterson

Resources/References The following are valued colleagues who can help with tobacco-free policy Andrew Epstein, ALA of Oregon, Kim Homer Vagadori, California Youth Action Network, Denise Ross, Stanly College, Albemarle North Carolina, Danielle Dill, University of Central Oklahoma, Laura Wolf, Des Moines Area Community College, Linda Reisser, Portland Community College, John Laws, Ivy Tech-Lafayette Indiana, Margaret Hvatum, St. Louis Community College, Mary Alice Serafini, University of Arkansas, Additional names provided upon request to Additional names available on request.

For more information about tobacco-free campus policy please contact Ty Patterson Director of The Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Missouri