Campus Life

UPUA receives grant to explore smoke-free initiatives

University one of 20 schools to receive CVS Health Foundation/American Cancer Society grant

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) was awarded a $20,000 grant as part of the CVS Health Foundation/American Cancer Society (ACS) Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative (TFGCI) in a student-led effort to explore smoke-free initiatives. Penn State is one of 20 colleges and universities to receive a grant, in the first series of awards, announced today (Monday, Nov. 14) by the American Cancer Society.

“Penn State is proud to be included among the first recipients of this grant, and our students should be recognized for leading this cause and showing significant leadership and dedication,” President Eric Barron said. “Smoke-free initiatives have been supported more and more nationwide, and the results of student-led efforts here demonstrate the need to evaluate our own policies. The health of our faculty, staff and students is a top priority for the University.”

The grant includes assistance and resources from ACS along with support to increase student efforts such as education, communications, more cessation programs and evaluation at University Park and Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses.

“UPUA remains committed to exploring a smoke-free university policy,” said UPUA President Terry Ford. “Our efforts thus far include formalizing the stance of the student body through a resolution that was approved last year by our General Assembly, compiling information on previous smoking-related initiatives at Penn State and comparing our policies against those of other Big Ten institutions. We are excited to be moving forward and are grateful ACS has selected UPUA for this grant opportunity.”

At the national level, the TFGCI grants are part of a $3.6 million multi-year program intended to accelerate and expand the adoption and implementation of smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies. Over the next three years, colleges and universities throughout the U.S. will be awarded TFGCI grants to support their efforts to advocate for smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies. Penn State is one of the first 20 colleges and universities to receive a TFGCI grant.

This TFCGI grant announcement coincides this week with the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 17, an intervention effort to encourage smokers to quit for a day, quit for good, or make a plan to quit.

For more information, visit cancer.org.

Last Updated August 29, 2018