David H. Jolly, DrPH¹, Patricia Wigfall, PhD², Kenneth Ray, MPH³, Sheryl A Scott, MPH⁴, and Rosalind Richardson, BBA¹. (1) Department of Health Education, North Carolina Central University, P.O. Box 19738, Durham, NC 27707, 919-530-7130, djolrhar@intrex.net, (2) Department of Public Administration, North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC 27707, (3) North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch, 1318 Dale St., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27605, (4) Scott Consulting, 204 Hammond Street, Durham, NC 27704

Long-term strategies to address health disparities include efforts to ensure that strong and effective advocates from minority communities are at the table when important health policy decisions are made. Historically Black colleges and universities are fertile ground for developing African American leaders, but few efforts have been made to formally teach tobacco policy advocacy at these institutions. We developed a two-semester experiential course on tobacco policy for students at North Carolina Central University. In the first semester (spring 2003) students conducted an assessment of the tobacco environment on campus and identified potential policy changes to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The focus of the second course (fall 2003) was advocacy, with students initiating a campaign for three specific changes in campus tobacco policy: establishment of smoke-free dorms, designation of a 25-foot smoke-free perimeter around building entrances, and stronger enforcement of existing tobacco policies. The campaign continued outside the classroom in the spring of 2004, providing students with hands-on experience in several critical components of policy advocacy: coalition-building, action planning, and working with the media. In this presentation we will describe the design and implementation of the campaign and chronicle students’ progress towards their policy goals. We will identify issues specific to conducting a policy advocacy initiative at a historically Black university. We will also discuss the potential of such initiatives for developing leadership and advocacy skills among young African Americans and for fostering long-term interests in and commitments to tobacco control issues.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• List steps in developing a campus based, student-led tobacco policy initiative.
• Identify opportunities and challenges in mounting a policy initiative at a historically Black university.
• Discuss the importance of such initiatives in long-term efforts to address health disparities.

Keywords: Advocacy, Tobacco Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.