Smoke-free
Outdoor Air Policies at
In
September 2002, CSU campuses were given the authority by the CSU Board of
Trustees (BOT) to adopt an outdoor smoke-free policy for their local campus. The CSU BOT passed the Title V Amendment
giving CSU Presidents the authority to pass smoke-free and/or tobacco-free
policies on their campuses. Additionally, the CSU BOT, the governing body
for the 23 campus system, encouraged the presidents to adopt a minimum 20-ft. perimeter
policy.
The
initial intended outcome of the campaign was to get the CSU BOT to delegate
smoke-free policy making authority to the local campuses, thus allowing the
improved policies to go into effect and making way for all CSU campuses to
implement strong smoke-free policies.
Within
one year of the BOT decision, 21 of the 23 campuses adopted a new policy. At present time, all 23 campuses have an
increased smoking policy that ranges from no smoking within 20-ft. of buildings
up to no smoking on campus with the exception of designated smoking areas.
Policy Initiation
On
June 13, 2001, the CSU General Counsel sent a memorandum to the 23 CSU campus presidents
alerting them that they had no authority to adopt smoke-free policies on their campuses
that exceeded California State Law (at that time state law was no smoking
within 5-ft. of buildings). At this
time, the CSU BOT had the sole authority to change local campus smoking
policies. At the time the memo was sent
to the campuses, local student and health advocates working on smoke-free
campus policy initiatives were unaware of the CSU Education Code that delegated
policy-making authority to the BOT.
Thus, with the release of the memo, all local efforts were stopped and
broad smoking policies were nullified.
Shortly
after the memo was distributed, the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) organized
a steering committee of local CSU students, faculty, staff, tobacco policy experts,
and members from local tobacco prevention groups to address the legal
issue. After several months of
strategizing, the committee focused its efforts on the student movement. In April 2002, a group of students from 7 CSU
campuses met to create an action plan for the statewide movement, later identified
as the COUGH (Campuses Organized and United for Good Health) Campaign.
Public Health Agency Roles
Local
county and campus-based health departments supported the policy change through
on-campus support. The success of the
campaign came from the collaborative efforts of students, faculty, staff and
community based health advocates. The
Health Departments on the CSU campuses provided support through the recruitment
of student advocates who led the campaign.
Off campus, the Health Departments were able to provide information about
local policies as well as contacts for possible partners or campaign
targets. The CA Department of Health
Services provided support through funding and policy/legislative knowledge. Similar to County and Student Health
Departments, the CA Department of Health Services was able to provide the
campaign with influential campaign contacts.
Major Partners
In
addition to the partners mentioned above, local advocates from college campuses
(students, faculty and staff), Community Based Organizations funded through
Proposition 99, and the California Department of Health Services - Tobacco
Control Section were partners involved in this effort.
Official Support
The
members of the CSU BOT were supportive of the policies. All Trustees are appointed by the Government.
Results from the Policy
Outcomes
are continually tracked as the campaign continues to work with CSU campuses on
extending smoke-free policies, enforcing current policies, and providing
cessation services. Additionally, COUGH
is working with the BOT to adopt a system-wide policy prohibiting tobacco
sponsorship of all 23 campuses. As a
result of the initial campaign in 2002, COUGH has a good relationship with the
Board and is able to encourage positive tobacco-free changes. At the initiation of the campaign, the focus at
the CSU system was on smoke-free policy language. Presently, the campaign continues but focuses
on overall tobacco use and presence of tobacco companies on campus. Now that tobacco is considered an important
issue at CSU campuses, local campaigns have successfully influenced the
adoption of policies which prohibit the sale of tobacco on campus, prohibit
tobacco industry sponsorship, and prohibit smoking in most areas on campus.
Lessons Learned
Without
collaboration, efforts are stalled and difficult to do. When everyone working
within a system or working on the same issue can come together under one
campaign and work collaboratively, the movement runs much more smoothly. The
targets of the campaign saw COUGH as a unified powerhouse that was able to
create a system-wide change. With a
positive reputation, COUGH has been successful in creating further change at the
system as well as partnering with student coalitions to advance local tobacco
prevention efforts.
Submitted By
Kimberlee Homer
College Project Coordinator
(916) 339-3424 x22
(916) 339-3425 FAX