Colleges For Change Mobilizing the College Community to Take Action Against Big Tobacco Presented by the Coordinators of Colleges for Change October 22, 2010 Agenda Introductions New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program Overview Colleges for Change (C4C) Program Overview Program Initiatives Why Consider a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy? Why Focus On Colleges? How Is the Tobacco Industry Influencing College Students? What Can YOU Do? What We Are Doing Getting Started Questions Introductions Introductions Name College/University/Institution Title Why are you interested in this presentation? Current tobacco policy at your respective college/university/institution NY State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program An Overview NYS Tobacco Control Program Vision: Tobacco free New York Mission: Reduce mortality & morbidity due to tobacco use NYS Tobacco Control Program Local Programs Community Partners Cessation Centers Youth Action (Reality Check) Comprehensive School Policy Colleges for Change NYS Smoker’s Quitline 1-866-NY-QUITS Colleges for Change (C4C) An Overview C4C: An Overview Funded by New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program Administered by local community agencies 3 year program 7 partners across the state Working with 25 colleges/universities C4C: Goals To strengthen tobacco-related policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use To limit opportunities for exposure to secondhand smoke These efforts are directed toward the college campuses and the surrounding communities C4C: College/University Partners Wagner College of Staten Island SUNY Plattsburgh Clinton Community College Syracuse University SUNY Cortland SUNY Stony Brook St. Josephs Briarcliff Hamilton College Colgate University Cazenovia College Mohawk Valley Community College Dowling SUNY Fredonia Jamestown Community College St. Bonaventure Alfred University SUNY Alfred Pace University (Pleasantville Campus) Manhattanville College SUNY IT Utica College SUNY Morrisville Herkimer County Community College Colleges for Change (C4C) Program Initiatives C4C Initiatives “No Thanks Big Tobacco” Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Dwellings Tobacco-Free/Smoke-Free Outdoors Point of Sale “No Thanks Big Tobacco” C4C works to end tobacco company sponsorship both on and around college campuses by encouraging groups and organizations to adopt written policies banning tobacco sponsorship and promotion. Targets: College campus and events Community organizations and events Community bars and nightclubs College fraternities and sororities College clubs, cultural groups, sports teams Smoke-Free Off-Campus Housing C4C works to encourage off-campus apartment complexes and other multi-unit housing properties where students reside to adopt written non-smoking policies. Targets: Landlords and tenants of off-campus student housing Point of Sale C4C will encourage the college campus to adopt a written policy banning the sale of tobacco products on campus. Targets: College campus Tobacco-Free/Smoke-Free Outdoors C4C focuses on changing policies or passing ordinances related to the use of tobacco products on the college campus and outdoor areas in the surrounding community. Targets: College campuses Outdoor areas in surrounding college community, including beaches, parks, playgrounds, outdoor areas of business Cigarette butts are circled in blue. Photo was taken at SUNY Cortland in Spring 2010. Why Consider a TobaccoFree Campus Policy? Why Adopt a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy? Secondhand Smoke Environmental Impact of Tobacco Litter Tobacco Industry Targeting YOUR Students Tobacco Use Regulations Decrease Rates of Tobacco Use The Trend is Toward Tobacco-Free Why Focus on Colleges? Tobacco and College Students The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), prohibits tobacco companies from targeting youth under 18, this has caused them to shift their marketing expenditures dramatically to focus on young people between the ages of 18 and 25 A 2008 National Cancer Institute report concludes that tobacco industry advertising and promotion is causally linked to increased use and youth smoking initiation Tobacco and College Students In 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 27.9% of 18-25 year olds in the United States smoke, compared with 23.5% of all adults In a 2001 survey, 30% of college students reported being current tobacco users Almost 40% of college students either began smoking (11.0%) or became regular smokers (28.0%) after starting college Tobacco and College Students Of the over 70.0% of college students who have ever tried smoking, nearly half continue on to become regular smokers 10% of current college students will die of tobacco-related illnesses How Is the Tobacco Industry Influencing College Students? Tobacco Industry Advertising Internet Advertising Ads targeting Young Adults Magazines Stores Targeted Mailings What are the 3 most heavily marketed brands of tobacco? Marlboro Camel Newport Tobacco Industry Sponsorship Music Events Campus Events Sponsoring Greek events Athletics Arts on and off campus Sampling/Bar Promotions Tobacco company bar and nightclub promotions target young adults Tobacco companies entice bar owners with financial incentives and bar paraphernalia They also recruit new smokers with cigarettesponsored sweepstakes, contests and even hire people to mingle with the crowd to promote their brands and products What Can YOU Do? Discussion Discussion What is happening on your campus concerning tobacco? What do you think some practical next steps for your campus would be? Consider Smokefree Policies (or lack of them) Tobacco Industry Sponsorship & Promotions Tobacco Sales on and around campus Smokefree Housing Other tobacco related issues What We Are Doing Program Activities C4C Activities Evaluate your campus community (Environmental scans, administrator interviews, and/or campus-wide surveys) Form a new student club Work with existing clubs (Colleges Against Cancer, NYPIRG, Student Government) Class project partnerships Work with campus peer educators C4C Activities Establish or partner with existing health or tobacco advisory committees Take on a college student intern Work with on campus media Partner with local tobacco programs and supportive organizations (American Cancer Society) Evaluate Campus Community: Environmental Scans Form a New Student Club Work with Existing Clubs Class Project Partnerships http://www.tobaccofree.ufl.edu/ University of Florida Work with Campus Peer Educators Establish or Partner with Advisory Committees Work with Student Interns Work with Campus Media Partner with Local Tobacco Programs Getting Started Colleges for Change Toolkit c4ctobaccofree.com Toolkit Contents C4C Coordinator Contacts Example Policies “Why Colleges/Universities Are Adopting Tobacco-Free Campus Policies” Evaluation Tools C4C Comprehensive College Policy Smokefree Off-Campus Housing Policy Student Organization “No Thanks Big Tobacco” Policy Environmental Scan Tool Administrator Interview Tool Survey Tool Key Resources American College Health Association Position Statement Americans for Nonsmoker’s Rights List of Smokefree Colleges “There is No Constitutional Right To Smoke” Questions For more information, please visit c4ctobaccofree.com