Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little announced Friday that the University would stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products on all campuses starting July 1.

The Board of Regents discussed the possibility of banning tobacco sales at all six Regent schools in January, but the issue was tabled and referred to the Council of Presidents for discussion this month. Chancellor Gray-Little, who has final say in university policy, decided to implement the ban before the meeting.

Lynn Bretz, director of university communications, said the chancellor wanted to support the University’s initiatives of health research and the sale of tobacco products didn’t support that mission.

“While some will point out that students and employees can buy these products elsewhere, I think it is important to make it clear that the University does not encourage the use of tobacco and will not sell it on campus,” Gray-Little said in a prepared statement.

Bretz said cigarette and tobacco product sales had already ended at the University of Kansas Medical Center.