As of July 2026, 2,577 colleges and universities in the United States have adopted 100% smoke-free policies.  Of these, 2,175 are 100% smoke and tobacco-free.  A growing number of these schools are also adopting or amending policies to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes. In California, 115 public colleges and universities are 100% smoke or tobacco-free.  Policy adoption can happen in all kinds of different ways, but in our experience there are two common paths to policy adoption, establishing a taskforce, or going through the shared governance process

We Recommend Establishing a Taskforce

Establishing a taskforce is essentially bringing all of the decision-makers that are a part of the shared governance into one group and holding regular meetings on this one topic. Taskforces can be especially helpful when the President of the campus appoints the taskforce and ensures representation from each decision-making group on campus.  Decision-makers on campus may include: Associated Student Government, Classified Senate (i.e. campus staff, Faculty Senate, Unions, and Administration (i.e. Student Services).