May 03, 2013 08:13 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Husson University has launched an 18-month campaign to eliminate on-campus tobacco use.

"Husson is committed to providing a healthy working and learning environment for the entire campus community,"said  university President Robert Clark. "The simple reason we are doing this is to reduce harm from tobacco use and secondhand smoke, provide an environment that encourages persons to be tobacco free, to reduce our insurance and health care costs and to promote a campus culture of wellness."

Meanwhile, the university officials will be soon introducing an information campaign to spread awareness about the ill effects of tobacco and at the same time help students and employees who wish to quit.

Plus, during its 2013-2014 academic year, the university will be encouraging its community members to start practicing the university's no-tobacco policy, even though, it will be officially introduced and implemented beginning September 2014.

Then, the university will not allow smoking and tobacco products in any of the buildings, administrative facilities, residence halls or campus grounds.

Clark said that they will be working closely with every department to successfully implement this policy.

More than a year ago, the student senate approached the Husson administration to transform the university in to a tobacco free campus.

Apart from Husson college, University of Maine System's flagship campus in Orono, University of California, the University of Southern Maine, Illinois State universities, University of Maine at Farmington and Cleveland State University among other 800 U.S. universities and colleges have announced similar policies in recent years .

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit