Voting results for student, faculty and staff support of a tobacco-free campus environment at a large university in the Midwest

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess student, faculty and staff support for a tobacco-free campus environment. In 2009, the American College Health Association (ACHA) adopted a formal recommendation encouraging colleges and universities to achieve campus-wide tobacco-free environment. With this impetus, a large school in the Midwest conducted a vote on whether the campus should maintain its current policy, only allow tobacco use in a limited number of designated areas, or completely ban tobacco use on campus. Methods: An electronic portal was developed allowing all students, faculty, and staff to vote for one of three options. A pre-notification e-mail and three reminder emails were sent encouraging them to vote within a 30 day time period. Results: Approximately a quarter of those eligible voted (24%, n=6,199). Over two-fifths (42.2%) voted to maintain the current university policy, 41.2% voted to ban tobacco use, and 16.6% voted to permit tobacco use in designated areas. Overall, 57.8% of voters indicated they were in favor of a more restrictive tobacco policy than the statuesque. Females were much more likely to vote in favor of banning tobacco use on campus with 47.3% indicating their support, compared to only 34.8% of males. Conclusions: Results demonstrate the majority of individuals support implementing a more restrictive tobacco policy on campus. Tobacco education targeting males appears warranted, given their likelihood to be less supportive of tobacco regulation. Focus groups may provide insight concerning gender discrepancies related to support for tobacco policy.