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HIGH POINT – High Point University is banning the use of tobacco on campus by Sept. 1.

The use of tobacco, in any form, will be prohibited everywhere on campus. That's good news for people like sophomore Rachael Parker, who said she doesn't like the smell of cigarette smoke.

"There is occasionally a student or so outside of the building in between classes and stuff smoking and you walk in and get a whiff of cigarette smoke, which it's never pleasant," Parker said.

Although Sept. 1 is the final date for banning tobacco, the university will begin phasing it out June 1, according to Gail Tuttle, vice president of student life.

"We will allow that transitional time until Sept. 1, [when] enforcement such as fines or penalties or sanctions would be administered if someone were caught," Tuttle said.

Before administrators made the decision to go tobacco-free, officials surveyed 1,000 students, faculty and staff. About 70 percent thought it was a good idea.

Now the university must get to work on removing all ashtrays and designated smoking areas and informing people tobacco use will not be allowed anywhere on campus, including in cars.

"There's been no smoking in the residential buildings for quite some time or our classroom buildings, so the transition is not going to be too huge for our students who reside on the campus," Tuttle said.

Students like Parker say they are looking forward to a cleaner High Point University.

"I think it's going to be a great change for our campus," Parker said. "There won't be cigarette butts and stuff like that, because our campus is such a nice place and they've been working very hard to make it what it is and I think that'll go and make it just even better,"

Students and staff at High Point University will be offered classes on how to quit tobacco use in the spring and in the fall.