OVERVIEW
JeffValues is an independent study backed by the American Cancer Society to research tobacco use on the Jefferson East Falls campus. This project was in collaboration with Kayla Gerace and Emily Williams.
INITIAL RESEARCH
To start off, we researched a variety of topics including tobacco use in general, health effects, history, different forms of tobacco, and cost. Next, we gathered primary data by sending out surveys to the campus community including students, faculty, and staff. We also interviewed a handful of people from all three audiences. Our goal was to find out opinions on the topic, they're knowledge thus far, and what they thought about the policy and if it should change.
PARTICIPATORY INSTALLATION
Next, we designed a participatory installation so we could get direct feedback from students, faculty, and staff regarding specific questions we wanted to know about tobacco use on campus. The idea is that it would be a walk through activity with an introduction, and three other stations. This first one is the introduction where we explain what we were doing, and how they could help.
With this first installation, we wanted to know how people perceived the harmfulness of different forms of tobacco when they were compared. We gave each person one sheet of stickers with colored dots ranging from green to red and asked them to place one in each category depending on how harmful they think each scenario is. What we were really trying to target was the different views on cigarettes vs vapes.
Overall, people thought secondhand smoke from cigarettes was okay. However, while the results from secondhand vape were more varied on each side, more people thought it was on the safer side.
More people believed that smoking one pack of cigarettes was more dangerous than vaping one pod a day. (One pack of cigarettes contains about an equal amount of nicotine to one vape pod.)
For the third installation, we wanted to know how many people on campus vaped, smoked, or did neither and how often they used tobacco. We also wanted to know which major had the stereotype of using tobacco the most. We asked each student to take a colored string based off of their personal tobacco use. They tied one end of the string to which major they were in, and tied the other end to which major they thought used tobacco the most.
Most people on campus do not vape or smoke cigarettes. Many people believe that design students smoke the most compared to other majors on campus.
For the last installation, we wanted to know what the community believed would be the best next step for Jefferson regarding the tobacco use on campus. We explained four different options and asked them to take a colored pom pom based on whether they were an undergrad student, graduate, faculty, or staff. They placed one pom pom into the option they believed would best suit the campus community.
The majority of people voted for the campus to go tobacco free or to have designated smoking areas.
THREE PHASE PLAN
With that information, we came up with a three phase plan to transition the Jefferson East Falls community to be a tobacco free campus. The first phase involves educating the community about the decision to go tobacco free. Phase two is to implement a support system for those who want to quit, and phase three is to inform the community about the new permanent changes.
PHASE ONE— BANNERS
With phase one, we decided to create a week long event that would take place in Kanbar, a popular building on campus. These three banners would help inform the community about what’s happening moving forward and to help slowly introduce the new JeffValues App.
PHASE ONE— TABLETOP GAME
During this week, there would be a tabletop game of truth or dare which would engage the community and inspire conversations regarding this new transition.
PHASE TWO— POSTCARDS
As part of phase two, we created accountability postcards. These postcards are made for people who wish to quit tobacco use and who would benefit from informing a trusted friend to hold them accountable for their goal. On the postcard, the person would explain what they want to be held accountable for, their goal, how many times they would like their friend to check in with them and their expected quit date. They would be kept inside the box shown above and be located in the health center.
PHASE TWO— APP
We also create the JeffValues app. The app has sections regarding a tobacco free tab, resources to contact the health center, mental health support, nutrition, and exercise. Within the tobacco free section, you can view a map that shows the designated smoking areas on campus and a timeline of when each area would be eliminated until eventually, the campus would become tobacco free. There is also a calendar which is designed to help people follow their personal quit schedule, resources for other options on how to quit, educational information, inspirational quotes for when you’re feeling down, and more.
PHASE THREE— EXTERIOR SIGNAGE
As part of phase three, we created signage. This is the exterior signage that would be located on the outside of all campus buildings. We chose metal for durability and also for a professional look. It was important to us that we carry out the heart shape that's seen within the JeffValues logo.
PHASE THREE— INTERIOR SIGNAGE
We also created interior signage. These signs are made from wood which gives a more comfortable and inviting reminder that we are a tobacco free campus. Wood was also chosen for production reasons. The campus has access to a laser printer which would make creating the signs cost effective and convenient. Again, we carried out the heart shape for a more caring and inviting look. These would be placed inside classrooms, bathrooms, common areas or any other rooms within the buildings on campus. It was important to create an interior sign because our research shows that it is common for students to vape inside buildings.
PHASE THREE— EMAIL HEADER & FOOTER
The top image is the email header. The bottom is the email footer.
PHASE THREE— EMAIL BLASTS
It was also important for us to create a series of emails what would be sent to the entire campus community. The first email is explaining the JeffValues App.
The second email is informing the community in detail about our three phase plan for the campus to transition to a tobacco free environment.
The third email would be sent out every time a designated smoking area is eliminated, until there are no more areas to smoke on campus.
PHASE THREE— TOBACCO FREE POLICY
Lastly, we created the language for the new tobacco free policy that would live on the website, handbook, and any other areas where the current policy exists.