Two colleges in Hampton Roads have model anti-tobacco use policies, according to new ratings by the Virginia Department of Health.
Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and Regent University in Virginia Beach earned A grades for having blanket non-smoking policies on campus.
On the other end of the grading scale, Christopher Newport University and William & Mary earned Ds for their campus tobacco policies.
The region’s other schools - Hampton, Old Dominion, Norfolk State and Virginia Wesleyan universities - received Cs, on par with the majority of colleges in the state.
The lowest schools could get is an F. Five schools in the state earned that grade; none were in Hampton Roads. The ratings didn't include every college and university in the state.
VDH began analyzing campus tobacco policies in 2018 as part of a larger state effort to curb tobacco use among young adults.
“Tobacco use is a major public health problem in Virginia and across the nation,” the health department writes on its website. “It is one of the biggest risk factors for many chronic illnesses like heart and lung disease, high blood pressure, and many types of cancer.”
According to state data, 12% of adults in Virginia in 2022 considered themselves current smokers. That was down from 17% in 2017.
Even though older Virginians make up the biggest percentage of smokers, the percentage of people 18-24 years old who became regular smokers between 2017 and 2022 has gone up and down.
“Higher education institutions, which include colleges and universities, can reduce tobacco and nicotine use through comprehensive tobacco policies,” VDH wrote.
Health officials evaluate campus policies using criteria like whether smoking is allowed in designated areas, what kinds of products the policy applies to and if there are enforcement mechanisms.
VDH says William & Mary could improve its grade by removing designated smoking areas on its campus and instead of restricting smoking within 25 feet of college buildings, restrict it on the entire campus. The college could also include smokeless products, like chewing tobacco, in its policy.
At CNU, the state says the policy could be rewritten to explicitly apply to students, faculty and visitors. The policy could also more clearly define banned products and restricted areas.
But even the schools with As could do more, VDH said.
EVMS could prohibit tobacco promotion on campus and create a compliance structure, meaning people are disciplined when they’re found in violation of the policy.
Regent’s policy could improve by adding prevention resources, VDH said.
