In light of mounting public health evidence regarding the adverse effects of exposure to involuntary tobacco smoke, an increasing number of universities have been evaluating and revising their campus smoking policies. The Smoking/Tobacco Use Sub-Committee of the University Safety Committee has been engaged in a systematic process to examine the issue at PSU.

In the February/March timeframe of this year, you may remember receiving a web survey with questions pertaining to the use of tobacco and smoking on the PSU campus. There were 2,104 surveys returned for an 8.7% response rate. Seventy percent of the returned surveys were from students, 16% from staff, and 14% from faculty. The data collected from the survey along with a literature review and peer institution trend and policy review provided the basis for a draft report with a set of recommendations for the PSU campus. The report is a final step prior to drafting a new institutional smoking policy.

Lindsay Desrochers, Vice President, Finance and Administration, has reviewed the executive summary and provided feedback, guidance, and support for moving the process forward. This is our first step in releasing the report to a larger audience within the PSU community.

Essentially, there were four goals identified as part of the recommendations outlined in the executive summary. These are highlighted in the following list:

• Establish smoke-free campus zones in the outdoor environment.
• Establish smoke-free zones in the indoor environment.
• Actions to facilitate the implementation of a revised policy:
  1. Tactical – changes to ash receptacles and signage; add ground art or other markings to designate areas; and provide smoking shelters.
  2. Strategic – strengthen communication, education, and compliance with a focus on wellness, prevention and cessation.
• Continuously evaluate policy and implementation targeting 2009 to re-visit the concept.

For the full details of the findings, the following link will guide you to the latest draft of the report by the sub-committee. It provides a summary of findings, conclusions, and recommendations drawn from the synthesis of the literature review, examination of other university policies and trends, and web survey data distributed to the PSU community: http://www.safetycommittee.pdx.edu/SmokingPolicyReport-Admin.pdf.

We invite your comments on the report. You can direct written feedback to the Smoking/Tobacco Use Sub-Committee through the following link: tobaccopolicy@lists.pdx.edu.