Influence, Guide, Network for Intercollegiate Tobacco Education: IGNITE!

Background: The IGNITE Program helps college students practice advocacy and integrate tobacco education messages into their activities. Supported by the Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program, IGNITE encourages peer and cross-age advocacy that focuses on promoting tobacco free norms and education about the effects of tobacco use.

Methods: Colleges participating in the IGNITE Program form a Student Promotions Team comprised of students and a faculty advisor. In return for completing the program requirements participants receive a stipend and funding to purchase materials. The requirements include high school classroom presentations, campus awareness events, tobacco taskforce meetings, and completion of reports and evaluative surveys. IGNITE members receive valuable training on event planning and reporting; health effects of tobacco use, peer, and cross-age education; and how to conduct brief tobacco interventions. To support the delivery of educational messages, campuses are provided with visual aids, and other resources.

Results: The IGNITE Program is currently being implemented at 9 colleges and is developing partnerships with numerous other universities. Overall, feedback from members was positive, through the campus survey, it was determined that 58% of students responding feel that it is very important (34%) or somewhat important (24%) for their campus to adopt a tobacco-free policy.

Conclusion: Thanks to the education and advocacy efforts of the IGNITE students, the Maricopa Community College District is currently working on a Tobacco Free Campus Policy that when adopted will create 100% smoke free campuses on all of the District's 10 colleges.