Seattle Pacific University: Visual Communications, “Tobacco
Epidemic” Campaign
Seattle Pacific University—Curriculum Infusion
Public university located in Seattle, Washington
Enrollment: 2,934 undergraduate students
Type/Category: Curriculum Infusion
Program and Background: As part of Seattle
Pacific University’s (SPU) participation in the Campus
Health Action on Tobacco Study (CHAT), the Visual Communications
program added the development of an educational campaign to
raise awareness of tobacco’s impact on society to the
curriculum.
Students, faculty, and staff were recruited to join a Campus
Advisory Board (CAB) to design and implement tobacco intervention
activities best suited for the campus. The CAB identified
three objectives for the intervention period, including: (1)
heightening awareness about the availability of free nicotine
replacement therapy (NRT),
(2) educating the campus community about tobacco’s global
implications on society, and (3) continuing tobacco prevention
and education programs following the conclusion of the CHAT
Study.
Results from the CHAT Study’s baseline survey indicated
that only a small percentage of SPU students had or currently
used tobacco products. As a result, the CAB sought means to
educate the campus community about tobacco-related issues
instead of focusing on the health implications of tobacco
use.
One of the resulting initiatives was the collaboration of
the CAB with the Visual Communications department to create
an assignment in which students would develop a tobacco awareness
campaign that addressed the global implications of tobacco.
The CAB initiated contact with the Director of Visual Communications
who then referred group members to the class professor. The
CHAT Intervention Specialist provided a one-page synopsis
of the proposed project to the professor and after clarifying
roles, responsibilities, and further details of the project,
solidified a project plan requiring collaboration among CHAT
Study staff, the CAB, and the Visual Communications professor
and students.
The CAB verbally presented the assignment to the Visual Communications
class and provided a brief titled, “The Tobacco Epidemic,”
which described the project and its intended outcome and highlighted
the ramifications of tobacco production. With ongoing feedback
and guidance from CAB members, students then created an educational
campaign targeting their peers that included a logo, tagline,
promotional device, large poster, and media kit. Following
a formal class presentation of their work, the campaigns were
displayed throughout campus in conjunction with other intervention
activities hosted by the CAB in honor of World No Tobacco
Day.
Cost: The project and all supplementary
materials (e.g., 4-page assignment overview, brochures, and
handouts) utilized during the initial phase of the project
were provided through funds from the CHAT Study (approximately
$125.00). Design students were responsible for all costs associated
with the development of their campaign. The CHAT Study contributed
funds towards the lamination of students’ 24’
x 36’ posters, which totaled $147.00.
Future: Following the successful completion
and display of students’ campaigns during World No Tobacco
Day, the Visual Communications professor aims to replicate
this project in the future.
Contact Information:
Karen Gutowsky
Adjunct Professor
Visual Communication Design
kgz@spu.edu
Jennifer Hymer
Intervention Specialist
CHAT Study, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
jhymer@fhcrc.org
The case study brief was written in November 2005.
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