Campus Smoking Policy: How A Small, Rural State College In CA Developed A Campus Smoking Policy

Chico, CA – California State University, Chico Population – 67,509 54% of population is Number of students - 15,734 Age: Undergraduate Average 22 Service Counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yuba

Problem: California State University, Chico (CSUC) had no coherent policy to prohibit smoking from and around entries and windows of campus buildings or walkways. Without a coherent, comprehensive policy, non-smokers have no means of protection from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Objective: Policy development: By June 2002, CSUC will develop and adopt a policy prohibiting smoking within 20 feet or more of campus buildings. Enforcement and implementation: By June 2004, California State University, Chico (CSUC) will implement and enforce a policy to prohibit smoking within 25 feet of buildings on campus.

Historical Timeline: Fall 1999 – Students research existing smoking policies or other outdoor smoking policies Research feasibility of implementing a new smoking policy Develop a survey tool to assess campus support for the policy Spring 2000, surveys were conducted to assess student, faculty, and staff support of various levels of outdoor smoking policies Using the results, a draft policy was created Fall 2000, Students presented policy to the Faculty and Staff Academic Senate

Timeline Con’t: Fall 2000, policy sent to Academic Senate subcommittee for inspection and recommendations Spring 2001, policy rewritten and sent again to Academic Senate May 3, 2001, policy passed the Academic Senate and sent to president for signature But it wasn’t that easy…

The Big Snafu: Summer 2001, president advised by CSUC attorneys not to sign the policy, as it was unclear whether or not passing such a policy was in disagreement with state law Huhh??

Lemons to Lemonade: Policy remained unsigned by the president during the academic year There was a glimmer of hope: each campus could pass a policy stronger than the current 5 ft. if the CSU Board of Trustees provided permission to do so.

Well, what happened? September 2002, the CSU Board of Trustees passed a resolution delegating power to each CSU president to set campus outdoor smoking policies On September 30, 2002, Chico State’s president signed the outdoor smoking policy banning smoking within 25 feet of all doorways, windows, breezeways, and awnings

Campus Education: ½ page ads each week in the campus newspaper Letters and communication with the faculty union and staff union Informational s to students, faculty and staff via campus system Post flyers on campus bulletin boards Editorials and letters to the editor in campus and local newspapers

Conclusion & Recommendations: The staff union might be your biggest opponent (well, besides the lawyers) – work with them early in the process and keep them involved Work with students and keep them involved Work with a faculty member (someone nearing the tenure review process), ideally one who serves on the Academic Senate