Task force research, process began in 2012
Emily Tuschhoff
Helen Brown
Trish Hartzell
Tobacco Task Force
In the fall of 2012, a group of four Movement Science (MVSC) students taking courses (MVSC 429 and 486) to assess, plan, market, implement and evaluate healthy active lifestyles responded to the challenge of working toward a tobacco-free University of Idaho.
The students were directed by MVSC faculty member, assistant clinical professor, Helen Brown and former Vandal Health Education Coordinator, Shannon Haselhuhn. Public Health – Idaho North Central District supported students with information and educational resources. In accordance with the course’s learning objectives, the students conducted a preliminary assessment of the issues involved with a tobacco-free campus and investigated the best practices of tobacco-free campuses nationwide.
To engage the UI community in the assessment process, the students held events to raise awareness, presented tobacco-free campus information on the speech wall and created a tobacco-free campus Facebook page. The students interviewed campus leaders about the viability of a tobacco-free campus and learned that a statistically valid survey was needed to gauge student attitudes.
The students developed a simple four-question survey to gauge student support for a tobacco-free campus. The students sought assistance from the Department of Statistics to ensure an adequate random sample size was obtained (n=2,000).
Unlike many universities, this survey was conducted prior to large-scale information sharing about the benefits of a tobacco-free campus. Results showed majority support for a tobacco-free campus (51 percent) and higher support for a smoke-free campus (62 percent), consistent with other U.S. campuses.
The MVSC students continued to increase awareness and presented information to ASUI, Staff Affairs and the Safety and Loss Committee. They submitted articles to The Argonaut, held tabling events and continued to reach students through Facebook. ASUI did not vote in favor of adopting the tobacco-free policy, but did vote to further consider the issue and passed a resolution to support a change to the existing tobacco policy in both the spring and fall of 2013.
In spring 2013, former UI President M. Duane Nellis asked Faculty Senate leadership to explore the future of tobacco use on UI premises. This decision came after Nellis met with the MVSC students who were concerned about faculty, staff and student health.
Gail Eckwright (Faculty Secretary) and Patricia Hartzell (Chair of Faculty Senate) did the follow-up work and met seven times with ASUI leadership, staff representatives, Vandal Health Ed Coordinator (Daniel Trautvetter beginning spring 2014) and UI students to discuss the state of the administrative procedures manual (APM) 35.28 (smoking), which addresses indoor and outdoor smoking.
Initially, some members of this grass roots committee, named the Tobacco Task Force, thought designated smoking areas might be a solution, but after months of research and discussion, the task force decided a tobacco-free campus best served the health needs and business and financial concerns of the university. The task force recommended the president modify APM 35.28 to state the intention to become tobacco-free, effective Aug. 24, 2015, allowing time to plan for this campus-wide change. Faculty Senate, university faculty and staff affairs each voted to approve the tobacco-free intention. The tobacco-free campus initiative was discussed on several occasions with President Chuck Staben and his cabinet members.
Vandal Health Education activities to raise awareness of the proposed tobacco-free campus policy included Argonaut articles, Facebook updates, development of tobacco-free policy webpages, hosting tobacco awareness tabling events and litter clean-up projects. Moreover, to increase awareness, representatives from Fresh Air Challenge visited campus on Mar. 25, 2014 to talk with the campus community about tobacco and smoke-free initiatives. This forum, held in Renfrew Hall, was publicized via posters, display screen ads and email notices to faculty, staff and students.
By fall 2014, Staben voiced his support for the tobacco-free initiative and members of the original task force invited additional stakeholders to the table to explore implementation. The expanded group included stakeholders vital to the planning and eventual implementation of the tobacco-free campus. Conversations about facilities logistics, cessation resources and communication efforts began.
The decision to go tobacco-free is ultimately Staben’s decision. The task force identified four possible futures for tobacco on campus: tobacco-free, smoke-free, designated areas or no change.
Members of the Tobacco Task Force concluded that a tobacco-free campus provides the greatest benefit to our campus community. It protects the UI community from the dangers of second hand smoke and tobacco litter. It promotes cessation and protects new students from the hazards of tobacco addiction. It also best prepares students for future employment, as worksites increasingly restrict all forms of tobacco and penalize tobacco users in some cases. A tobacco-free campus is one that acknowledges the negative health impacts of all tobacco products.
The Tobacco Task Force regularly hears feedback that a tobacco-free campus is important and beneficial. Students have stated the policy would provide the impetus they need to help them quit and they are grateful for the support the task force provided for help with quitting tobacco. Other students, staff and faculty are looking forward to a future when they no longer have to plan alternate routes on campus to avoid cigarette smoke that exacerbates their severe asthma or causes their migraines. Some first-year students who arrive at UI after spending 12 years in tobacco-free learning environments say they are shocked tobacco is even allowed on campus and are appalled UI is exposing them to second hand smoke.
The task force is always open to feedback, questions, comments and concerns and has set up informational webpages and a comment window at uidaho.edu/tobaccofree.