Colleges Against Cancer
The information on this page is intended to provide CAC Chapters with some of the most effective and successful strategies for meeting your Chapter requirements. The tools here are not the only ideas, and you should feel empowered to be creative and to come up with some of your own. After all, each of these best practices were the brain-child of an individual chapter at one time.
The purpose of the Colleges Against Cancer Cancer Education Strategic Direction is to recognize, adapt, and promote programs of the American Cancer Society, focusing on those directly pertinent to college-aged adults. By educating others on cancer prevention and early detection, we can increase awareness of what campuses can do to decrease cancer risk.
The CAC Cancer Education Program focuses on:
- Breast Cancer
- Tobacco
- Healthy Living (nutrition, physical activity, and reproductive health)
Suggested Cancer Education TimelineOctober: Breast Cancer Awareness Month November: Great American Smokeout Spring: Healthy Living | ResourcesCancer Education Best Practices Breast Cancer Mission Toolkit CAC Cancer Education Guidebook American Cancer Society |
Advocacy is working with elected officials and campus administrators to influence policymaking. Students often don’t realize how loud their voices can be when they join together. Advocacy allows them to do this and see change happen as a result. Planning and participating in advocacy events is simple! Here are a few examples of what chapters have done:
- Hosting a letter-writing party to state senators
- Circulating petitions about cancer-related legislation
- Encouraging people to register to vote
- Meeting with campus officials to discuss the campus going smoke-free
Resources
CAC Advocacy Guidebook
Advocacy Best Practices
CAC Training Manual
GASO Toolkit
Tobacco Mission Toolkit
Men have a 1 in 2 chance of getting cancer in their lifetime, while women have a 1 in 3 chance. With these odds, it’s no surprise that many people are already involved with the American Cancer Society because they know someone who’s been diagnosed. Survivors are the people we’re fighting for, our hope and inspiration, and our reason to keep going. They’re a vital part of the CAC experience. Here are a few highlights of what some chapters have done to honor the Survivors on their campuses:
- Sponsoring a Survivor Brunch
- Starting a support group on campus
- Making dinner and dessert at a Hope Lodge
- Hosting a card-making party around the holidays and sending the cards to a pediatric cancer ward
Each CAC chapter works with an American Cancer Society staff partner. This person serves as the link between your chapter and the Society. He or she can guide you in the policies of the Society and help you think of creative ideas for your chapter.
There are so many ways to become involved with Colleges Against Cancer. Check with your campus activities board to see if there’s a chapter at your school. If there isn’t, ask how to get one started! You can e-mail CAC@cancer.org for more information about the program and for a starter kit.
CAC Survivorship & Caregiver Engagement Guidebook
Survivor and Caregiver Best Practices
Hope Lodge
Many students decide to become involved with CAC because of prior involvement with Relay For Life in their hometowns. It’s a great way to stay involved with the Society when you go away to college! Chapters are encouraged to host their own Relays if possible, or to put together a team at a local Relay if one isn’t possible on campus. Here are some other great Relay For Life-oriented events held by CAC chapters:
- Hosting a multi-college Relay (great if there are multiple colleges in an area)
- Participating in Paint the Campus Purple
- Fundraising for a local Relay on campus with a car wash
- Mentoring a "rookie" Relay to help it get started
2011 National Collegiate Summit Resources
Program Growth and Development focuses on increasing the number of CAC chapters across the nation joining us in the fight against cancer each year. PG&D wants to ensure that each chapter has the necessary resources and abilities to ensure the expansion and progression of their chapter.
Training is responsible for guidance of Colleges Against Cancer chapters across the nation to ensure the chapters are well equipped to provide recognizable service to their college community. Also to expand leadership development of chapter leaders through interactive media and other resources.
