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Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) is North Carolina’s largest Community College, serving nearly 70,000 students across six campuses. At the beginning of the Spring 2009 semester, health advocates at CPCC started a task force to discuss the possibility of changing the campus’ tobacco policy. On September 2, 2009, after months of research and discussion, the CPCC Board of Trustees voted to adopt a tobacco-free campus policy. The new policy began on January 2, 2010, along with the state’s smoke-free restaurant and bars law.
Mark Helms, Dean of Student Life and Service-Learning, invited faculty and staff from the six CPCC campuses to join the task force. Ultimately, the task force was made up of 17 people representing Student Government Association, College Senate, Classified Staff Council, and four current tobacco users.
In March 2009, CPCC delivered a survey to all students, staff and faculty to learn about tobacco use and support for smoke-free policies. A total of 2,195 responses were gathered showing that 21% used tobacco products and 23% reported having a health condition triggered by tobacco smoke. Finally, an encouraging 64% believed CPCC should do more to reduce tobacco use and would support a 100% tobacco-free policy on all campuses.
CPCC worked closely with the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) through the process of researching, drafting, and implementing this tobacco-free policy. HWTF funds 20 grants covering more than 60 organizations across North Carolina in an effort to prevent tobacco use and promote cessation among college-aged students (ages 18-24). This statewide network of Tobacco-Free Colleges participates in coalition building, policy advocacy and grassroots activities to create change.
When CPCC was looking at other institutions of higher learning in North Carolina, they found that 27 had adopted a 100% tobacco-free campus policy and several other institutions were working toward similar policies. In fact, by the time the CPCC policy was adopted, that number had jumped to 31, making CPCC the 32nd institution to adopt such a policy.
CPCC is just one of many colleges and universities across the nation choosing to become tobacco-free. Tobacco-free campus policies give all students, staff and faculty a healthier place to work, learn and visit.
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