CLEVELAND (AP) -- The head of Ohio's higher education board says he's introducing a measure to urge public college leaders to ban tobacco on their campuses.

Ohio Board of Regents Chairman James Tuschman tells The Plain Dealer in Cleveland ( http://bit.ly/M41eQi ) it's "the right thing to do." He plans to present a resolution at the meeting this month.

State law restricts smoking in and near many college buildings, but people can smoke on college greens and other open areas on most Ohio campuses. Trustees at each of the state's 14 universities and 23 community colleges would have to decide whether to create a stricter ban for their respective campuses.

That idea has support from Chancellor Jim Petro, who smoked daily for decades before being diagnosed with cancer in his neck. He's now cancer-free.

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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com