The verdict is in: A decision to ban smoking at EvCC has been reached.

After approximately four months spent evaluating the tobacco use policy at EvCC, the college has decided to become a tobacco-free campus, pending approval of the Board of Trustees and the State of Washington.

Even if approved, the change won't take effect until July 1, 2012, which gives students, faculty and staff more than two years notice.

"They are going about it [with] the right strategy," director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Bob Wright said about the upcoming change. "It gives them time to plan for it."

At the beginning of winter quarter, the Student Senate discussed what they felt were the most pressing issues on campus. Smoking was one of the burning topics, and the Student Senate moved forward and formed a senate go-committee to get the student voice on the issue. One of the ways to get the voice was through two open forums held on campus.

One of the main topics at the open forum was that of nonsmokers who had to endure all the smoke outside of Parks while getting around campus. Student Senate member and vice president of clubs, Eddie Herrera, is not fond of walking through a cloud of smoke every time he enters and exits Parks, but is sympathetic to the smokers who will be displaced in 2012.

"We're just as surprised as everyone else," Herrera said about the senate's reaction to the decision. "We found out Wednesday [April 21]," he said. An email was sent out on April 23 by vice president of College Services Pat Sisneros detailing the change in policy.

Although the change isn't happening for two years, students and staff alike will notice changes next fall quarter. The smoke shack outside of Parks Student Union will be relocated closer to the edge of campus by the Welding and Maintenance buildings.

"There should be a spot where students who pay can go smoke, even if it's off campus," said student Richie Owen.

One way the college is looking to help those who do smoke is by possibly increasing the number of smoking cessation programs available to students, faculty and staff on campus.

Neighbors of the college have also been critical of such a change, fearing their lawns and streets will become an ashtray for smokers who walk off campus to smoke.

"Setting a date two years in the future will give the college the time to provide plenty of notice to faculty, staff and students and to work with the surrounding neighborhood to mitigate the impact of such a change," Sisneros said in an email.

Until that day arrives, the current three-strike rule will be strictly enforced by security around campus. The first offense is a verbal warning, second offense is a written warning and the third offense will come with either a $100 fine, litter patrol or attending a smoking cessation class."There's no reason to change that," Wright said.