A Restrictive University Tobacco Policy: Support of Faculty, Staff and Students

Approximately 28% of Kentucky residents smoke tobacco as compared to the national average of 21%. Twenty-two percent of students and employees at Eastern Kentucky University reported that they smoke. The intent of the research conducted by the EKU Smoke-Free Zone Task Force was to examine the level of support towards implementation of a policy to control the use of tobacco on campus, develop a Smoke-free zone policy that worked in conjunction with the transition to non-smoking residence halls, and develop recommendations for designated smoke permitted locations. The Task Force surveyed all current students and employees regarding level of support for a smoke-free policy on campus. The ten item survey was sent via electronic mail and paper surveys to all students, faculty and staff. Question items focused on the six unique attributes of the new, more restrictive smoking policy. Females, faculty and nonsmokers were significantly more supportive on each policy attribute. A total of 1377 surveys were returned. Sixty-nine percent of respondents reported that overall they supported the proposed tobacco use policy on campus. 71.9% of females supported the tobacco use policy as compared to 60.1% of males. 88.1% of faculty recognized that tobacco products outside of a building should minimize an accumulation of smoke and waste as compared to 67% of students. An overwhelming 76.3% of non-smokers supported the sanctions set forth by the policy as compared to 15.8% of smokers. From the data collected the task force has developed a policy to replace the existing smoking policy on campus.