Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine a Midwest university in North America over a one-year period on current smoking policies and programs, student support for implementing additional smoking policies, and to produce a follow-up report on supporting policies that were approved by administration. Design/methodology/approach: The researchers used a convenience sample from a four-year public university located in the Midwestern USA. A four-year public university is a publicly funded institution of higher learning awarding baccalaureate, Master's and doctoral degrees. Data were collected from administrators (n = 6) and on Assessment Day of all freshmen (n = 1,743) and juniors (n = 643) at the university. Data were collected through document mining, a survey instrument, interviewing, and observation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize frequency data for this study. Findings: The data produced some interesting findings. First, the study provided college administrators with a model to follow in moving forward in developing policies for their students, faculty and staff. Second, the study offered support for implementing practical policies which may save the universities money, while protecting students, faculty, and staff from harmful environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Finally, the study addresses the need of the university to implement and enforce policies on campus that will embrace tobacco control. Research implications: The implications of this study are that other universities may utilize the steps involved in this study to move forward in developing policies for their employees, universities may utilize this information by stressing that students are less likely to begin smoking if the university or campus offers smoke-free resident halls and apartments, and fire safety is increased by banning smoking in resident halls and apartments. Originality/value: Embraces more comprehensively than previously the situation, treatment and future research regarding smoking among college students in the USA. (Contains 3 tables.)