NORFOLK, Va. — For many young adults, college seems like the cool thing to do. The use of electronic cigarettes, vaping, is on the rise among young adults.

“I see a lot of vaping on campus, definitely more than cigarettes and smoking,” said Reigna Forrest, a student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Forrest doesn’t smoke, but he knows many students who do. For many young people, she says, vaping is more acceptable than smoking.

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“It smells good, it tastes good, you don’t even think about it, and it comes in a variety of flavors,” Forrest explained.

According to a survey by the National Institutes of Health, 24 percent of college students, about one in four, say they have used e-cigarettes. Recent studies shows a direct link between e-cigarette use in college and lower scores on tests of learning, memory and critical thinking.

“It’s not technically a safer option when it comes to smoking cigarettes,” Forrest said.

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This is a message that students are hearing more often, thanks to the efforts of the ODU Office Student Health Services. Part of Steven Gunzelman’s job as a health educator is to convince students that e-cigarettes are not safe.

“They are not a safer option when it comes to smoking,” Gunzelman warned. “They still put some dangerous chemicals into your system,” he added.

How are Virginia colleges and universities doing when it comes to reducing smoking and tobacco use on campus? The Virginia Department of Health has issued an evaluation report on each school’s tobacco policies. Click here for an interactive map with grades and policies for every college or university in Virginia.

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Here is a list of local schools and their grades in the 2024 report card:

Eastern Virginia School of Medicine – A
Regent University – A
Hampton University – C
Norfolk State University – C
Old Dominion University – C
Virginia Wesleyan University – C
Christopher Newport University – D
William & Mary – D

When it comes to getting students to kick the habit, health educators try to be realistic.

“Make sure you’re not using it too hard, knowing that you can cut back, maybe by promoting these healthier strategies of how I can manage that,” Gunzelman explained.

His office of medical professionals receives help from health ambassadors. ODU has a team of students who serve as role models for healthier behavior on campus. Students, like Reigna Forrest.

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“I try my best as a student to just give the information and correct in a loving way, like, hey, this is, you know, actually kind of dangerous,” Forrest said. “Or, these are some of the side effects that can come from that.”

The thinking is that a student is more likely to follow the example of a peer rather than an authority figure. It’s peer pressure put to good use.

“I think it’s very important. It’s very impactful to have colleagues talking to their peers,” added Forrest.

News 3 has reached out to each local school named in the state report for comment. The responses we received are below.

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Regent University

“We are pleased to receive an ‘A’ rating for our 100% tobacco-free campus,” said Dr. William L. Hathaway, Chancellor of Regent University. “Deterring tobacco use and reducing secondhand exposure helps create a culture of good health on our campus and improves the health habits of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. We believe it is part of our mission to be good stewards of all that God has given us, including our physical health. Therefore, it is imperative that we treat ourselves and others well.”

Christopher Newport University

“We appreciate the Department of Health’s information and will carefully consider the findings to determine whether updates to our health initiatives should be made.” — Jim Hanchett, Director of Communications, Christopher Newport University

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William & Mary

“William & Mary has a comprehensive smoking policy developed through its Office of Environmental Health and Safety that provides university employees and students with a smoke-free environment in which to work and learn, while protecting life and property where smoking would could present a safety or fire hazard.

This policy implements the Virginia Clean Indoor Air Act to prohibit smoking in public university facilities and in state vehicles and to establish limitations on outdoor smoking.

While the university’s policy does not include information about smoking cessation—one of the Virginia Department of Health’s concerns noted in the scorecard established by the Virginia Tobacco Cessation Initiative—this information is shared or regularly shared through William & Mary’s . Office of Health Promotion (wm.edu).”