Purpose 

The purpose of this project was to develop community awareness of the potential benefits of a smoke-free Ball State University campus and to engage in advocacy efforts to ensure that such a policy came to fruition.

Action

Actions included collection of data and development of a variety of media (fliers, table tents, posters, brochures, newspaper advertisements, etc.) to engage students, faculty, and staff in discussing the implementation of a smoke-free policy at BSU.   Presentations were made to student organizations, the administration, and community groups.  A national speaker was brought to campus and students participated in the BSU Great American Smoke Out.  Banners, T-shirts, and tokens were created and used to promote a smoke-free campus. Members of the team participated in leadership seminars, served on a university task force, and made national presentations.

Results 

A no-smoking policy was instituted on the Ball State University campus March 17, 2008.  Increased emphasis on and availability of smoking cessation programs has also occurred.

Faculty Mentors

Jeffrey Clark, Department of Physiology and Health Science

Susan Clark, Department of Physiology and Health Science

Partners

Future Choices, Indiana Tobacco Prevention Coalition with collaborative assistance from the Minority Health Coalition, Delaware County Tobacco Coalition, Colleges Against Cancer–an American Cancer Society support organization, Lisa Thomason and the Ball State Health Education Center, and Patricia Hollingsworth, director of the Working Well Program

Students

Bingbing Chu; Kelsey Crim; Jenna Haring; Lindsay Martin; Tara Presley; Chariee Reason; Katie Robertson; Khalid Sajjad; Nicole Stompor; Dana Wollet