Combatting Tobacco Use Among Vermont College Students A project based at Education Development Center Newton, MA Project Director: Karen L. Zweig, J.D. Research Assistant: Paul Gilbert Funded by the Vermont Department of Health National Conference on Tobacco or Health, 2002

Questions to be Addressed What tobacco policies are in effect at campuses in Vermont? How consistently are policies enforced and by whom? What are the barriers to more effective tobacco prevention?

Vermont Colleges Affiliation: 6 State 15 Private 2 Religious Highest Degree Offered: 5 Associate’s / Technical 6 Baccalaureate 12 Master’s / Professional

Student Enrollment

Survey Respondents 11 Health Services 11 Student Affairs 1 Faculty 18 Full-time 5 Part-time 13 Year-round 10 Academic year Time devoted to tobacco issues: 8 None 13 Less than 25% 2 25% - 75%

Misperception: Students Who Smoke Daily

Misperception: Students Who Never Smoke

Estimation of Concern About Tobacco Issues # of responses

Percentage of Students Living in Smoke-Free Residence Halls

Sanctions for Violations of Residence Hall Smoking Restrictions None Verbal warning Written warning Education Written assignment Fines ($25 - $50) Community Service Removal from housing Probation Suspension

Extent of Enforcement of Residence Hall Smoking Restrictions Number of respondents

Health Services Are all students who visit health services asked about their use of tobacco? 10 Yes, routinely 3 Sometimes 1 No Are tobacco users counseled or referred to cessation services? 8 Yes 3 Sometimes 3 No

Existence of Written Tobacco Control Policies Prohibitions on smoking in specific outdoor areas 14 Yes 8 No 1 Not Sure Restrictions on tobacco advertising 12 Yes7 No 4 Not Sure Prohibition on sale of tobacco products 19 Yes2 No

Existence of Written Tobacco Control Policies Limits on tobacco industry sponsorship of events 6 Yes 10 No 7 Not Sure Limits on investments in the tobacco industry 3 Yes 6 No 14 Not Sure

Institutional Resources Available for Tobacco Prevention Is there funding available? 6 Yes 12 No From what sources? Annual budget State Department of Health Community coalition Student activities Student government association

Barriers Students seeing tobacco use as a personal choice Lack of interest Limited staff time Addictiveness of tobacco

Conclusions  Minimal staff available to work on the issue  Students and administrators overestimate use  Administrators are concerned but believe others, especially students, don’t share their concern  Strong movement toward smoke-free residence halls  Additional policies need to be implemented & enforced  Cessation services need to be expanded and promoted  More institutional funding is required