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PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona State University plans to ban smoking anywhere on its properties beginning next August.

Officials with the state's largest public university briefed faculty leaders this week about their plan. The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/Twdkuz ) ASU plans to formally announce its decision next month.

The Republic says the university's chief human resource officer told the Academic Senate that ASU considers smoking a health-and-safety and wellness issue. Kevin Salcido says the hope is that people will quit smoking or chewing tobacco.

ASU has 73,000 students at campuses in Tempe, Glendale, downtown Phoenix and Mesa and already bans smoking indoors or within 25 feet of building entrances.

Student groups began lobbying the administration to prohibit tobacco on campus in 2009.

The University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University have not announced smoking bans.