Take a S.T.A.N.D. – College Advocacy In Action: The Good, The Bad, & The

Lessons Learned

Presented by:CSUS Tobacco-Free Advocacy Project

The Project

Reduce the use of tobacco on campus Expose the tobacco industry’s targeting tactics Raise the awareness about tobacco use Create positive lasting change at CSUS

Our mission is to educate and empower over 25,000 students on the California State University, Sacramento

campus.

Presentation Objectives

• THE GOOD: Tips for Coalition Development & Maintenance

• THE BAD: Reasons for Unsuccessful Campus Activities & Campaigns

• THE LESSONS LEARNED: Ways to Reach the Entire Campus Community

Coalition Development• Learn About the Campus• Develop a Mission• Student Involvement Needed• Target Your Audience• On-Campus Coalition• Cash OR Credit?• Recruitment Event

Learn About the Campus• Meet with campus administrators

& leaders• Campus newspaper• Research website• Research campus schedule• Attend campus events• Hang out in Student Union

Develop a Mission• Relevant to campus needs• Something students will want

to be involved with• Includes the goals of the

project or organization• Attainable• Concise

Student Involvement Needed!!!• Working knowledge of campus

activities, trends, local popular culture, etc.

• Students have a powerful voice• Students are the intervention target• Students are the key to any

successful multi-faceted social norm change campaign

Target Your Audience Club/organization boxes Residence halls Career center Student Government Multi-cultural center Health center Health sciences departments Eating areas Kiosks

On-Campus CoalitionAdvantages

• Student led and driven

• Institutionalized• Power in numbers• Access to club

resources• Synergy counters

turnover

Challenges• Challenging to

organize and maintain

• Volunteer students tend to be over committed

• Individual skill levels tend to vary

CASH OR CREDIT?Incentives Incite Interest

• Stipends• College credits• Gift certificates• Scholarships• Promotional items• Positive

Affirmations• Recognition

• Trainings• Work experience• Certificates of

Achievement• Networking • Being involved• The incentives are

endless…

Recruitment Event• SCHEDULING & LOCATION• FOOD!!!!• Make it Fun!!!• Incentives• Interaction• Clear and pertinent information• Energy & passion• Call to Action

Coalition Maintenance

•STUDENTS

•AGENCY/ORGANIZATION

Coalition MaintenanceSTUDENTS

• Communication

• Trainings

• Logistics

• Incentives

Communication

• E-mailing: the most conducive to students’ busy schedules.

• Message boards/listservs: post messages, students can talk with one another.

• Telephone: mostly leaving messages, unless calls are made in the evenings.

• Snail Mail: NOT EFFECTIVE!• Open lines of communication: give

students alternative ways to contact you.

TrainingsImportance

• Education• Strategy Exchange• Materials,

literature, web sources, etc.

• Students choice of topics

• FOOD!!!

Topics• Advocacy• Policy• Social Norm

Change• Media• Campaign planning• The topics are

endless…

Logistics• Meet regularly• Stay abreast of campus issues,

policies, procedures, etc.• Schedule events & activities

consistently• Set attainable and achievable

goals

Incentives• Public speaking• Resume building• Leadership skills• Celebratory events• Specific roles/jobs• Creative control• Sense of their own power, so they

will feel invested

Coalition MaintenanceAGENCY/ORGANIZATION

• Campaign Development

• Allies, Opponents, & Roadblocks

• How to Get Allies Involved

• Implement Action Plan

Campaign Development• Conduct tobacco indicator assessments

(administrators & campus departments)• Administer student behavioral,

attitudinal, and perceptual survey• Administer faculty/staff behavioral,

attitudinal, and perceptual survey• Assess allies, opponents, and roadblocks• Develop an action plan based on the

priorities indicated by the assessment and survey results

Allies, Opponents & RoadblocksAlly: Dr. Jan Hemming, Director of the Student Health

Center, offers meeting spaces, suggests campus contacts, volunteers to be a liaison between project and administration.

Opponent: Dr. Cherry Zinger, Vice President of Student Affairs, smokes a

pack a day, views tobacco use as a personal decision and not a public health issue, advocates for smokers’ rights.

Roadblock: Lee Cannon, Director of Student Activities, insensitive

to issue, dislikes non-campus entities, inflexible to requirements of a social norm campaign.

How to Get Allies Involved• Schedule meetings/ presentations• Provide information on issues,

project goals, & how they can help• Incite interest in various aspects of

multi-faceted campaign• Make issue relevant• Provide incentives or an exchange

of service• Call to Action

Implement Action Plan• STUDENTS involved at every step• Address priorities through activities,

media campaigns, and literature that would reach the target audience

• Incorporate a positive atmosphere• Seek out resources and relevant allies• Adjust action plan as goals are met

and situations change

Coalition Development & Maintenance Highlights

• STUDENT involvement is a must• KNOW and BE on your CAMPUS• DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN based

on target audience• BE FLEXIBLE

Unsuccessful Campaigns & Activities

• Lack of Student Involvement (Coalition & Students-At-Large)

• Lack of Common Goal

• Poor Preparation & Planning

• Limited Resources

Lack of Student Involvement COALITION

• Planning events, activities, campaigns

• Advertising the events and activities

• Attendance at the events and activities

• Follow-up with interested students, or students in need of services

Lack of Student Involvement STUDENTS-AT-LARGE

• Buy-In

• Attendance

• Support

• Collaboration (I.e. campus clubs, organizations, etc.)

Lack of Common Goal• Other people, organization, agency

agendas• Different message, process, and

purpose• Lack passion from intervention

population

Poor Preparation & Planning• Collaboration• Facts &

Information• Campus

Procedures• Allies Aligned• Event/Activity/

Campaign Schedule

• Follow-up

• Timing • Weather• Advertising• Location• Checks &

Balances• Enticement• Call to Action

Limited Resources• Money

• Incentives, promotional items, gift certificates, etc.

• Donations

• Flexible and open

Unsuccessful Activities/Campaigns Highlights• STUDENT involvement is essential • PLANNING is a must• GOAL must shared• RESOURCES need to be available• BE FLEXIBLE

How to Reach Large & Diverse Campus Communities

• Involvement

• Creativity

• Purpose

• Multi-faceted

INVOLVEMENT: Needs to Involve Demographic

• Planning• Pre-Testing• Focus Groups• Interviews

Creativity: Needs to Appeal to Demographic

• Look• Design• Contents• Information• Presentation

Purpose: Needs to be Relevant to Demographic

• Buy-In

• Identify

• Positive

• Call to Action

Multi-Faceted: Needs to Have Various Components

• Events/activities• Policy work• Presentations• Participation (committees, ad hocs,

input)• Media• Cessation• Opportunities

Highlights• INVOLVEMENT is a must• CREATIVTY is key• RELEVANT PURPOSE• COMPRENHSIVE approach• FLEXIBILITY a must

Our Tips…• Limit frustrations and be patient• A successful college project needs

a youthful spirit• Show your appreciation for

students and allies• Always remember you are working

with students- keep an open mind• Expect both wins and losses• Celebrate successes

Contact S.T.A.N.D.American Lung Association of Sacramento – Emigrant Trails

909 12th StreetSacramento, CA 95814

916.444.5864916.444.6661

www.sacSTAND.org