UC's tobacco-free campaign receives national recognition
American Cancer Society recognizes UC with the Guardians of the Campus Environment Award
The University of Cincinnati has received the Guardians of the Campus Environment Award from the American Cancer Society in recognition of its tobacco-free campus campaign.
The campaign, coordinated by staff from the Student Wellness Center, Be Well UC, UC Blue Ash and UC Clermont, relied on environmental scanning to examine tobacco use in various locations around UC’s campuses.
Tobacco use was recorded to identify campus “hot spots” where tobacco use is high. The groups developed an interactive map of high-use locations to help inform future programming efforts. The map will be used to determine where additional signage and awareness events should occur.
UC staff hosted public educational events as part of its tobacco-free campus campaign. Photo/Sarah Blanton/UC
“The Student Wellness Center is really excited to receive the award in recognition of the hard work we've been putting into the environmental scan and map to track hot spots and compliance of the tobacco-free policy on campus," said Sarah Blanton, who coordinates educational programs about alcohol, tobacco and drugs at the Student Wellness Center. "We plan to continue the environmental scans each semester to stay up to date about where hot spots are located on campus and how we can increase compliance in those areas with awareness programming.”
UC’s tobacco-free policy went into effect on May 1, 2017. Tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vaporizing devices, cigars and cigarillos, hookah smoked products, pipes, oral tobacco (e.g., spit and spitless, smokeless, chew or snuff), nasal tobacco (e.g., snus) are prohibited. The policy also includes any products that are intended to mimic tobacco products or contain tobacco flavoring and the smoking of any other substance which delivers nicotine.
UC students, faculty, staff and visitors can support efforts by reporting tobacco use via email or the Tobacco Free UC website.
Related Stories
UC students organize free health clinic in community
July 13, 2026
The University of Cincinnati student chapter of Remote Area Medical held its annual free health clinic July 11-12 at St. Xavier High School. Medical, dental and vision care was offered to adults and children, with no income requirements or insurance needed.
Is speech-to-text AI really reliable?
July 10, 2026
UC researcher Nelly Elsayed’s study in the International Journal of Medical Informatics reveals key risks in clinical speech-to-text AI and shows why human review is essential.
Hoxworth Blood Center CEO advocates on Capitol Hill during National Blood Advocacy Week
July 9, 2026
Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, has announced that David Oh, MD, director and chief executive officer, joined blood center leaders, patient advocates and partner organizations in Washington, D.C., in June as part of Blood Advocacy Week, a national initiative led by America’s Blood Centers to strengthen the nation’s blood supply.