The National Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative: Leading by Example

Audience: Local and state tobacco control policy advocates, including participants from academic institutions.

Key Points: As part of the Tobacco Control Strategic Action Plan released by Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted its own tobacco-free campus policy in 2011. Through its Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS then enlisted key leaders from universities, colleges, and the public health community to engage in a public/private partnership to promote the adoption of tobacco-free policies at institutions of higher learning. This session will identify this initiative’s goals, activities, and resources, and share success stories in the areas of tobacco-free campus policy advocacy, implementation, enforcement, and promotion of cessation. It will address the role of institutions of higher education in influencing the nation’s health. It will discuss the need to expand adoption of tobacco-free university policies and the value of collaborative efforts at the local, state, and national levels. It will address the importance of integrating the promotion of tobacco-free college campuses into comprehensive tobacco control and prevention efforts, the unique importance of college populations, and the opportunities presented by this national tobacco-free campus initiative.

Educational Experience: The audience will learn the key points through rich participatory discussion led by key participants in the initiative from HHS, academia, the American College Health Association, and the advocacy community.

Benefits: The session will identify networking opportunities and resources to assist tobacco control advocates and those in academic settings in pursuing implementation of these policies.