Starting Friday, there will be no smoking on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus.

In November 2010, the University General Assembly approved the policy which bans smoking on all campus property, both indoors and outdoors.

Bob Samples is vice chancellor of marketing and communications at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He said the new policy is part of a national movement.

"Throughout the nation there has been a look at the issue of smoking and secondhand smoke," Samples said. "And universities are moving in this direction in public buildings and other factors throughout multiple states."

Samples said those who wish to smoke in their personal vehicles are still allowed to do so.

According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, there are at least 500 universities and colleges that have campus-wide smoking bans.

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