Tree Campus Higher Education Standards

A Campus Tree Advisory Committee comprised of members representing the diverse audience of those with a stake in campus trees is established and meets regularly.

This committee must include a representative from each of the following audience:

• Student (undergraduate or graduate).
• Faculty.
• Facility Management.
• Community - for example - city forester, municipal arborist, community tree board member.

Each individual campus may also have other interested student organizations, alumni, faculty, or staff that could be represented such as administration, sustainability coordinator, professor emeritus, etc.

While responsibility of the campus trees often ultimately lies with the campus forester, arborist, landscape architect, or designated facilities department, the Campus Tree Advisory Committee can assist in providing guidance for future planning, approval of a comprehensive campus tree plan, education of the campus population as to the benefits of the campus trees, and development of connectivity to the community.

On your application, you'll provide the contact information for at least one representative of each category above that serves on your committee - including name, title, and email address - as well as report on how often your committee met throughout the year.

A Campus Tree Care Plan should be flexible enough to fit the needs and circumstances of the particular campus. The Tree Care Plan should be goal oriented and provide the opportunity to set good policy and clear guidance for planting, maintaining, and removing trees. It also provides education to the campus community, citizens, contractors, and consultants about the importance of the campus forest and the protection and maintenance of trees as part of the growth and land development process.

A Campus Tree Care Plan must include:

1. Clearly stated purpose.
2. Responsible authority/department - who enforces the Campus Tree Care Plan.
3. Establishment of a Campus Tree Advisory Committee, terms of the representatives, and role committee plays.
4. Campus tree care policies for planting, landscaping, maintenance and removal including establishing and updating a list of recommended and prohibited species; managing for catastrophic events.
5. Protection and Preservation policies and procedures - include process for implementing tree protection plan including step-by-step process that every project must follow including construction and trenching.
6. Goals and Targets - develop at least one goal and target for your Campus Tree Plan. These could include (but are not limited to) tree canopy target, development of a link between the Campus Tree Plan and other green initiatives on campus or in the community; completion of a campus-wide tree inventory, etc. Include how the goal will be measured.
7. Tree damage assessment - enforcement, penalties, and appeals.
8. Prohibited practices.
9. Definitions of terminology related to campus trees.
10. Communication strategy - how the campus tree care plan will be communicated to the college community and contractors to heighten awareness about policies and procedures as well as the goals of the institution.

On your application, you'll upload your Tree Care Plan and summarize the progress toward your goals and targets listed in the plan. We recommend that Tree Care Plans are updated or reviewed by the Tree Campus Advisory Committee at least every five years.

Tree Care Plan Template    Virginia Tech's Sample Plan

A college campus, to be designated a Tree Campus Higher Education campus, must allocate finances for its annual campus tree program. Evidence should be shown that an annual work plan has been established and expenditures dedicated towards that work plan.

It is suggested, but not mandatory, that campuses work towards an annual expenditure of $3 per full-time enrolled student.

Expenditures could include, but are not limited to:

• Cost of trees purchased
• Labor, equipment and supplies for tree planting, maintenance (pruning, watering, fertilization, mulching, competition control, etc.) and removal, if needed
• Value of volunteer labor and other contributions from student or civic organizations
• Staff time dedicated to campus forest planning, tree care contractors
• All associated costs of the campus tree management including:
  • public education related to the campus forest;
  • professional training;
  • related association memberships (International Society of Arboriculture and local chapter, Urban and Community Forestry Society, state urban forest council, etc.);
  • campus tree inventory

An Arbor Day observance provides a golden opportunity to educate the campus community on the benefits of the trees on their campus property and in the community. The Arbor Day observance can be on the campus or held in conjunction with the community where the campus is located. Your observance may be held at an appropriate time for your campus as long as it is related to trees in some way.

On your application, you'll be asked to report on the date the observance was held with attachment that includes program of activities, news coverage, and/or pictures—will be required when submitting your application.

Find Your State's Arbor Day