STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS A TOBACCO FREE CAMPUS POLICY

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, using policies such as smoke free environments are considered high impact public health interventions. In 2006, approximately 19.2 percent of college students smoked. Although this is the lowest reported rate in nearly thirty years, the percentage is well above the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2010 goal of reaching a 12 percent adult smoking rate and the National College Health Assessment's Healthy Campus 2010 goal of reducing cigarette smoking by college students to below 10.5 percent. In August 2007, Lander University, a small undergraduate liberal arts institution, located in Greenwood, South Carolina, adopted a tobacco free campus policy. A randomized anonymous survey was developed and given to Lander students in the spring semester of 2008. The survey focused on the following: 1) student's tobacco use status; 2) student awareness of the new policy and the smoking cessation program; 3) attitude towards the policy ; 4) if the policy would deter or encourage students from attending or transferring to or from the University; and 5) if students would report violators of the policy. This paper will discuss the results of this survey and provide recommendations on how to effectively implement a tobacco free campus policy. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]