Lessons learned about post-secondary institution tobacco policy change by Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative Grantees, 2018-2020

Objective The Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative (TFGCI) granted funding to U.S. post-secondary institutions to assist with creating 100% smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies to prevent young adult tobacco use. This study assessed grantee experiences working on campus tobacco policy change. Participants: Sixty U.S. post-secondary institutions completing TFGCI funded work between 2018 and 2020. Methods: An online survey assessment was completed by each institution at the end of their 18-month grant period to share facilitators and barriers to policy change, lessons learned, and advice for future efforts. Results: Many institutions faced challenges of time and capital constraints and pushback from campus constituents. Collaboration, diverse constituent engagement, and educational efforts throughout the advocacy process were important facilitators of policy change. Conclusions: Adopting and implementing comprehensive tobacco policy on college campuses is challenging. Regardless of institution type, commitment to the long-term goal and diverse stakeholder support guided movement toward 100% smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1953032 .

Automated summary

This study assessed the experiences of U.S. post-secondary institutions in implementing smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies. Many institutions faced challenges in terms of time and funding, as well as opposition from campus constituents. Collaboration, diverse stakeholder engagement, and educational efforts were found to be important facilitators of policy change.