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PORTLAND — Kennebec Valley Community College and Central Maine Community College were among 11 awarded a Tobacco-Free College Gold Star Standards of Excellence Award by the Center for Tobacco Independence’s Breathe Easy initiative.
The awards were announced Thursday, March 29, by the program that elebrates the efforts of Maine colleges and universities to address smoking, tobacco use and exposure on their campuses. This year, 11 schools and two gold star champions were recognized for their achievements in advancing campus smoke and tobacco-free policies as well as promoting tobacco-free lifestyles for their campus community.
KVCC, of Fairfield, and CMCC, of Auburn, were recognized for achieving the Gold level in the 2018 Gold Star Standards of Excellence Program. All Maine post-secondary institutions were invited to apply for recognition; those that applied and met at least six of ten Gold Star Standards were recognized with a plaque. Award levels are based on best practice criteria such as, adopting a smoke and tobacco-free campus policy, making tobacco treatment information available to students, faculty and staff, and prohibiting tobacco product distribution and advertising on campus.
“The majority of adult smokers began before the age of 26,” said Sarah Mayberry of the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence.
“Campus policies support a healthy, smoke-free social norm for students and the entire campus community. We applaud the efforts of our Gold Star colleges and universities for proactively addressing smoking, tobacco use and exposure. Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Maine and the United States; these schools are taking important steps to address this issue for students, employees and the community.”
The awards ceremony provided an opportunity for schools to come together share to successes and challenges of their efforts to create smoke and tobacco-free campus environments and promote tobacco-free lifestyles. While many acknowledged challenges faced when they first adopted new campus policies and initiatives, all shared that addressing tobacco use on campus is an important health and environmental strategy for their campus.
Other Gold awardees were Central Maine Community College, Kaplan University, Maine Maritime Academy, Northern Maine Community College, Saint Joseph’s College, Treat Your Feed School of Reflexology, University of Maine at Presque Isle, University of New England, University of Southern Maine and York County Community College.
Individual Award winners were Heather Chase, USM student intern; Jenna Chase, St. Joseph’s College assistant director of campus recreation, fitness & wellness.
