The Virginia Department of Health updated its Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard this week, giving many colleges and universities in Southwest Virginia a low grade.
The grades are based on the school’s polices on tobacco use on their campuses. According to their website, the criteria used for this grade include whether the school has a designated smoking area and who/where the policy applies to.
Receiving a C grade on the dashboard are Radford University, Roanoke College, and Hollins University. Schools receiving a D grade are Ferrum College and Emory & Henry College.
The only school receiving an F was Averett University. Liberty University received the best grade out of all local schools with a B grade.
Virginia Tech received a D grade in a recent Virginia Department of Health assessment of campus tobacco policies, highlighting concerns about smoking regulations at Southwest Virginia higher education institutions.
The evaluation comes as health experts warn about the rising use of various nicotine products among college-age adults, including e-cigarettes, traditional cigarettes and smokeless alternatives.
“Most of our chronic diseases are connected with tobacco use,” said Kyle Girone, VDH program evaluator. Girone pointed to specific dangers of vaping, noting, “There’s nickel, metallics that degrade in vapes and you’re inhaling into your lungs. Formaldehyde can form in vapes.”
Virginia Tech’s current policy permits smoking on campus property, provided it occurs outdoors and away from buildings. Mark Owczarski, Virginia Tech spokesperson, defended the university’s approach.
“I think it’s very difficult to take a complex and complicated topic like smoking and boil it down to a letter,” Owczarski said. “The current policy represents a balance of creating an environment conducive to learning and working and the rights of those who smoke.”
The VDH report revealed Southwest Virginia schools lag behind other Commonwealth institutions in tobacco policy implementation. Health officials emphasize the critical nature of addressing tobacco use during college years, citing statistics that nine out of 10 lifetime cigarette users first try smoking before age 18.
“It’s the perfect time for an intervention and to implement and roll out these policies,” Girone said.
While maintaining current regulations, Owczarski indicated Virginia Tech hasn’t ruled out becoming a smoke-free campus in the future, suggesting potential policy changes ahead.