Building a comprehensive model to create tobacco-free cultures on college and university campuses

The Eliminate Tobacco Use (ETU) Initiative was founded by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas (UT) System in 2015 to reduce tobacco use in higher education settings across five campus constituencies-students, faculty, staff, patients, and the community. The operational framework was conceived to design, implement, and advance tobacco control actions involving public policy, awareness programming, and the delivery of tobacco cessation services. With commitment from every UT System president, participating institutions adopted evidence-based strategies, resource sharing, and toolkits. The ETU model attracted interest from colleagues outside of Texas with over 60 institutions/schools and across eight states. ETU has reached more than two million individuals, contributed to healthier academic environments, and served as a model for collaboration and sustainable impact in tobacco control within higher education. Campuses may be able to strengthen their tobacco-control efforts by following the recommendations outlined in this report.