Impact of the Adoption of Tobacco-Free Campus Policies on Student Enrollment at Colleges and Universities, North Carolina, 2001–2010

Abstract

Objective: College and university administrators have expressed concern that adoption of tobacco-free policies may reduce applications and enrollment. This study examines adoption and implementation of 100% tobacco-free campus policies by institutions of higher education on applications and enrollment. Participants: North Carolina private colleges and universities and public community colleges. Analysis was conducted in 2011. Methods: Student enrollment and application data were analyzed by campus type to determine (a) if there was a difference in student applications and enrollment before and after policy implementation, and (b) if there was a difference in student applications and enrollment for campuses with versus without a policy. Results: No significant differences were found in student enrollment or applications when comparing years prior to and following policy implementation or when comparing with institutions without 100% tobacco-free campus policies. Conclusions: The authors found no evidence that 100% tobacco-free policy adoption had an impact on student enrollment or applications.

Keywords:

• organizational policies
• policy making
• school enrollment
• smoking
• universities

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish to thank Jennifer Greyber for editorial assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States. Because no human subjects were involved in this research, Institutional Review Board approval was not sought.

NOTE

For comments and further information, address correspondence to Adam O. Goldstein, Tobacco Prevention and Evaluation Program, Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 590 Manning Drive, CB 7595, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA (e-mail: [email protected]).