The report card rates Virginia colleges and universities on their efforts to reduce smoking

NORFOLK, Va. — For many young adults in college, it seems like a fun thing to do. The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, is on the rise among young adults.

“I see a lot of vaping on campus, definitely more than cigarettes and smoking,” said Reigna Forrest, a student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Forrest doesn’t smoke, but he knows many students who do. He says that for many young people, vaping is more acceptable than smoking cigarettes.

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“It smells good, it tastes good, you don’t even think about it, and it comes in a variety of flavors,” Forrest explained.

According to the survey According to the National Institutes of Health, 24% of college students, or about one in four, say they use e-cigarettes. Latest research showed a direct link between e-cigarette use in college and lower scores on tests of learning, memory and critical thinking.

“It’s not technically a safer option when it comes to vaping instead of smoking cigarettes,” Forrest said.

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It’s a message students are hearing more and more often, thanks to the efforts of ODU’s Office of Student Affairs Health care for students. Part of Steven Gunzelman’s job as a health educator is to convince students that e-cigarettes are not safe.

“They are not a safer option when it comes to smoking,” Gunzelman warned. “They still put some dangerous chemicals into your body,” he added.

How are Virginia colleges and universities doing to reduce smoking and tobacco use on campus? The Virginia Department of Health has released a report card that grades each school on its tobacco policy. Click here for an interactive map with grades and policies for every college in Virginia.

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Here is a list of local schools and their ratings in the 2024 report:

Eastern Virginia Medical School – A
Regent University – A
Hampton University – C
Norfolk State University – C
Old Dominion University – C
Virginia Wesleyan University-C
Christopher Newport University – D
William and Mary -D

When it comes to getting students to quit, health educators try to be realistic.

“Make sure you don’t use it too heavily, knowing that you can limit your intake, perhaps in some sense promoting healthier strategies on how to deal with it,” Gunzelman explained.

His office of medical specialists uses wellness ambassadors. ODU has a team of students who serve as models for healthier behavior on campus. Students like Reigna Forrest.

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“As a student, I try as much as I can to provide information and correction in a loving way, like, ‘Hey, this is actually, you know, a little dangerous,’” Forrest said. “Or these are some of the side effects that can come from it.”

It is believed that a student is more likely to follow the example of a colleague rather than an authority figure. This is peer pressure put to good use.

“I think it’s very important. Peer to peer conversation has a huge impact,” Forrest added.

News 3 has reached out to every local school mentioned in the state report for comment. Below are the responses we received.

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Regent’s University

“We are thrilled to receive an ‘A’ rating for our 100% tobacco-free campus,” said Dr. William L. Hathaway, president of Regent University. “Discouraging tobacco use and reducing passive exposure helps create a culture of good health on our campus and improves the health habits of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. We believe that part of our mission is to be good stewards of all that God has given us, including our physical health. Therefore, it is extremely important that we treat ourselves and others well.”

Christopher Newport University

“We value the Department of Health’s observations and will carefully review the findings to determine whether any updates should be made to our wellbeing initiatives.” —Jim Hanchett, director of communications, Christopher Newport University

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William and Mary

“William & Mary has a comprehensive smoking policy developed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety that provides university employees and students with a smoke-free environment in which to work and study, while protecting lives and property where smoking could pose a safety risk or fire.

This policy implements the Virginia Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits smoking on public university facilities and state vehicles and establishes restrictions on outdoor smoking.

While the university’s policy does not include information on smoking cessation – which is one of the concerns of the Virginia Department of Health noted on a scorecard produced by the Virginia Initiative to Eliminate Tobacco Use – this information is regularly made available or shared through the William & Mary’s website Office of Health Promotion (wm.edu)“