Tobacco Free Initiative Portland Community College Linda Reisser, Dean of Student Development, Cascade Campus Feb. 5, 2

1. Tobacco Free InitiativePortland Community CollegeLinda Reisser, Dean of Student Development, Cascade CampusFeb. 5, 2008

2. Overview Chronology of PCC addressing tobacco use problems and moving toward tobacco-free environment Challenges Lessons

3. My involvement? member of Student Development Committee in 2005 appointed to Smoking Task Force learner about the effects of smoking and tobacco usage appreciator of the relationship between this issue and student access, health, and preparedness for the smoke-free working environments of the future

4. PCC�s Smoking Regulations (prior to 2008) Smoking is permitted only in exterior, designated smoking areas. Designated smoking areas are designated by signs depicting a cigarette enclosed with a green circle, with the text �Smoking Permitted.� Smoking is not permitted closer than 20 feet from any door, window, ventilation vent or air condition unit. Smoking is not permitted in or by any well-traveled passage or pathway to a college facility that may cause non-smokers undue exposure to secondhand smoke.

5. PCC Policy included: MAPS: shall be available in a prominent and easily accessed area showing the Designated Smoking Area(s) for that facility. EDUCATION: Kiosks shall be strategically placed at College facilities with Smoking Policy Rules & Procedures information available in the form of flyers and/or pamphlets. COMPLIANCE: All College employees, students, visitors and vendors are required to comply. Public Safety and staff will enforce the Smoking Policy Rules & Procedures. SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS: The College shall provide information about the Oregon Quit Line to staff, faculty, and students who request assistance to stop smoking or using other tobacco products

6. Prompted by complaints about second-hand smoke, litter. Recommendation was referred by the Cabinet to the Educational Advisory Committee (EAC). EAC Included representatives from across the district (students, faculty, staff, or administration). EAC was a deliberative group that reviews policy issues (academic, curricular, student development, and student governance) and make recommendations to the District President.� Two campus Health and Safety Committees recommended banning smoking

7. September, 2005 - EAC referred issue to the Student Development Subcommittee The SDC viewed a video of ABC News coverage of problems with smoking, following the death of news anchor, Peter Jennings reviewed memo from the College Architect summarized �pros and cons� related to banning smoking at PCC Read about smoking ban at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington (and other colleges)

8. Recommendation from College Architect July 23, 2003 �I recognize that this idea may likely not be popular but I feel that it must be explored in our present tight economic climate. I think a strong case can be made for making PCC a �smoke free� institution and eliminating the use of all tobacco products at any of our facilities.� His reasons included: -the health of our staff and students, including risks from secondary exposure to tobacco smoke; -the unsightly appearance of cigarette butts in receptacles, walks, and planted and paved areas; - the direct expense to the College in cleaning up the cigarette butts, which he estimated at $150,000 per year, not including the pressure washing needed to clean burn marks.

9. December, 2005 SDC Recommended Smoking Ban Recommendations: Prohibit smoking or other tobacco usage on any PCC properties, beginning in Fall, 2006. Create task force to plan the implementation of this ban in a way that promotes cessation of smoking, provides education about the health risks of tobacco use, and reflects compassion for tobacco users (to include students, faculty and staff, Public Safety officers, OSD staff, Physical Plant staff, and both smokers and non-smokers).

10. March, 2006 - EAC referred issue to a Smoking Policy Task Force Included: - proponents and opponents - balance between campuses - balance between employee classifications - student voice Charge: Review the current policy and determine if it can be enforced. Gather input from the entire college community. Hold campus forums (all campuses, all employee and student groups). Address the issue of enforcement, no matter what the policy. Provide a recommendation to the EAC regarding the issue.

11. March, 2006 - Clark College banned smoking on campus and in parking lots Rebecca Wale from Clark College came to the April meeting of the Task Force - provided a review of their four year process - discussed the kinds of research, input, and/or policy considerations in designing a plan. Rebecca�s suggestions to the committee: Look at cost of shelters (e.g. 10 shelters would cost $57,000). Document all sources when providing information. Use neutral communication with open dialogue Use the term �Tobacco-Free� vs. �Smoking Ban.� Emphasize student access and health issues.

13. Numerous Problems Documented on PCC Campuses No maps or signs on campus designating smoking areas Inaccurate, misleading smoking signs on campus Ashtrays are placed close to buildings 20 foot signs are misplaced or missing No kiosks with smoking policy, flyers and pamphlets as the policy states No information about the Oregon Quit Line No enforcement

14. Polling Institutional Research Office spent six months designing and piloting a survey. It could be taken only once, online. A poll of 4025 PCC staff and students (April, 2007) showed a lack of agreement on what the policy should be. 29.5% preferred allowing smoking in designated outdoor areas; 18.2% preferred allowing smoking only in shelters built for that purpose; 17% preferred that smoking be prohibited near doorways and air inlets and allowed in all other outdoor areas; 27% preferred that smoking be banned everywhere on PCC property; 7.7% preferred allowing smoking in PCC parking lots only.

15. Some areas of agreement 92% of staff and 89% of students feel that second hand smoke is a concern. 77% concerned about the effects of second-hand smoke they breathe at PCC. 36% of staff and 31% of students experience immediate health effects from second hand smoke they breathe at PCC. 58% of staff and 49% of students agree that reducing smoking areas is important to PCC�s mission as a community college.

16. June, 2007 - Smoking Policy Task Force Recommended Tobacco-Free Environment. Recommendations: prohibit tobacco use, with a carefully planned education and implementation process; begin an educational phase related to tobacco use on campus that will inform the community, and allow for additional concerns and feedback to be expressed; support a campaign for smoking cessation and�a re-evaluation of existing smoking areas. �

17. Debate EAC publicized the report and recommendation. E-mails flooded the campus, pro and con. EAC held hearings, at which there was passionate testimony. EAC leaders and administrative liaisons understood that there was not a consensus, or majority. Task Force Recommendation was not adopted.

18. EAC Recommendation to Cabinet Adopt a strategy which would allow efficient enforcement of the current policy. Provide smoking cessation/education campaign. Discuss problems related to tobacco use at the individual campus level.

19. November, 2007 � Back to the Campuses District President instructed Campus Presidents to: assign this issue to a campus committee to begin the discussions and determine logistical challenges to include locations for smoking, ventilation, signage, etc. review a white paper provided by the Deans of Students (which advocated action to solve the problems) make recommendations

20. Debate Continues. Support builds. OHSU went tobacco-free in September, 2007. In December, 2007, PCC�s Faculty Federation recommended: restricting smoking to parking lots only, in order to move second-hand smoke away from the core areas of the campus. modeling its enforcement policy on OHSU�s, which focuses on asking people to cooperate with the policy, and offering them support if they want to quit. The District Student Council endorsed this proposal. Ty Patterson, Director of the Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy (Ozarks Technical Community College) met with campus leaders. Coalition for a Tobacco-Free PCC was formed.

21. District President Decision March, 2008 - Campus presidents make recommendations. One campus recommends a tobacco-free college starting Fall Term, 2009. June, 2008 � PCC District President announces: �PCC will become tobacco-free at the beginning of Fall Term 2009.� February, 2009 - PCC Board will act on formal resolution in, following public testimony in November, 2008.

22. Fall, 2008 � First Steps District Tobacco-Free Steering Committee established in September, 2008. Student-staff-community coalition formed Oregon Quit Line brochures, cards, and posters distributed.

23. Phasing in: Fall 2008 Term: Consistent signage at entrances to College sites saying �Smoking in Designated Areas Only� Removal of all things that might legitimize smoking in non-authorized areas, including signs saying �No Smoking Within 20 Feet of Doors� New maps, brochures, information cards PCC website updated; announcements posted Smoking cessation information and links on MyPCC under Employee and Student tabs

25. Challenges Getting buy-in on a major change efforts to hold forums, visit Neighborhood Associations hearings, email comments Reluctance of decision-makers to mandate (especially in academia) Fear of alienating students, co-workers, neighbors (visceral responses) Resistance to feeling �pressured� Surveys - help or hindrance? No staff member for health/wellness (no one�s job to lead the effort) Battle fatigue in advocates hearing the same objections over and over again objectors weren�t reading the studies or reports over 10 years of complaints about smoking, but no resolution 4 committees recommended tobacco-free college referral back to the campus presidents after 2 years of debate

26. What have we learned? It takes a concerted effort by a few dedicated, persistent leaders Trying for consensus prolongs the problem. Influencing the presidents is critical. positions by Faculty Federation and District Student Council input from influential people news coverage, editorials A decision made at the top makes it easier to move forward. Help from external resource people and organizations has been valuable. Clark College and OHSU American Lung Association Multnomah County Health Dept. TPEP � Oregon Public Health Division

27. Next Steps Hire coordinator to work with campus advisory groups, students/staff/faculty. Plan new information campaign. Create new signs. Create compliance plan; write rules. Identify training needs. Determine need for additional education/cessation initiatives.