Oglala Lakota College announced Nov. 14 it will become a tobacco-free campus at each of its college centers and the Piya Wiconi Administrative Headquarters effective Jan. 1.

The policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products, including spit tobacco, on all Oglala Lakota College properties, but it does not affect sacred use of traditional tobacco.

The Board of Trustees "wanted to send a message to our students, staff, and reservation citizens of its great concern that tobacco use causes major health problems with Indian people," college president Thomas Shortbull said in a news release.

The college applied for and received a $25,000 grant from the Tobacco Prevention Program with the South Dakota Department of Health.

The funds will be used for tobacco-cessation workshops for students.