SHIP stories
The Statewide Health Improvement
Program (SHIP) works to improve health
through better nutrition, increased physical
activity and decreased commercial tobacco
use and exposure.
Colleges are a key area in which the Statewide
Health Improvement Program (SHIP) works to
improve health through reducing exposure to
commercial tobacco products. As of June 2011:
• 31 post-secondary schools in Minnesota
are working toward becoming tobacco-free
campuses.
Clearing the clouds: St. Cloud State
goes tobacco-free
St. Cloud State University had to work hard and fast
to finish their goal of becoming a tobacco-free campus
within two years. With the help of the Statewide
Health Improvement Program, St. Cloud State
University went tobacco-free in August 2012. “Without
SHIP funding it would not have been possible to have
such broad engagement by our campus and such a
positive, successful process,” stated Corie Beckermann,
Director Student Health Services.
First, the university created a coordinated task
force to engage the entire campus in discussions
around creating a tobacco-free campus – one that
included both smokers and nonsmokers. “If campus
wasn’t behind it, it wasn’t going to work,” shared Ms.
Beckermann. “We worked in really creative ways
to get people’s input: focus groups, email, Facebook
page, etc. One of the most effective ways was
8/2012
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii
meeting with students on their schedule – conversations
with pizza and pop from 10 pm to midnight – and
going to where students were and asking questions and
listening.”
In the end, a student survey vote supported a tobaccofree campus initiative and the university’s president
confirmed students’ desire by deciding to officially
go tobacco-free. “We’ve received a lot of positive
comments like, ‘thank you, I don’t have to walk thru
smoke anymore.’ Plus, our campus is cleaner with less
litter.”
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SHIP works with communities across Minnesota to help
create real, sustainable health improvement. Find out
how at www.health.state.mn.us/ship