About Tree Campus Higher Education
No matter where you’re from, trees and green space are an integral part of the college experience. They make campuses more livable, healthy, and beautiful, benefiting students and the environment as a whole.
Tree Campus Higher Education was founded in 2008 to foster that tradition of excellence. The program provides a simple framework for colleges and universities to grow their community forests, achieve national recognition, and create a campus their students and staff are proud of.
Is your campus ready to apply?
Take the quiz to find outIn 2023
411
Recognized Campuses
168994
Trees Planted
19,060
Students Engaged
Why should my school participate?
- A commitment to trees can significantly reduce the amount of energy your campus, and community, needs to generate.
- Planting and maintaining trees absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change.
- Green space provides important mental health benefits to students, faculty, and staff, as well as encourages physical activity.
- Involving students in tree-related service-learning projects helps educate the next generation about the importance of caring for the environment.
Recognition also builds pride among your campus and the wider community. We make it easy for you to share your designation, sending flags, press releases, logos and graphics, and other materials after your acceptance.
Become a Tree Campus
Your college or university campus can receive annual Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by meeting five overarching standards. They include:
- Establishment of a campus tree advisory committee
- Evidence of a campus tree care plan
- Verification of the plan’s dedicated annual expenditures
- Observing Arbor Day
- Creating a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body
Tree Campus Higher Education Standards
Your college campus can receive annual Tree Campus Higher Education recognition by meeting five standards. Two- and four-year accredited colleges and universities meeting these standards will receive recognition materials to showcase their dedication to the campus environment.
Standard 1 - Campus Tree Advisory Committee
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.
Standard 2 - Campus Tree Care Plan
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:
- Clearly stated purpose.
- Responsible authority/department - who enforces the Campus Tree Care Plan.
- Establishment of a Campus Tree Advisory Committee, terms of the representatives, and role committee plays.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tree damage assessment - enforcement, penalties, and appeals.
- Prohibited practices.
- Definitions of terminology related to campus trees.
- 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.
Virginia Tech has an excellent example of a comprehensive Campus Tree Care Plan. You may download their Tree Care Plan below.
Virginia Tech’s Campus Tree Care PlanStandard 3 - Campus Tree Program with Dedicated Annual Expenditures
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
Standard 4 - Arbor Day Observance
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.
Evidence—recording of 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.
Click here for free materials to help you promote your Arbor Day observance.
Standard 5 - Service Learning Project
The Service Learning Project should be an outreach of the spirit of the Tree Campus Higher Education initiative. This project should provide an opportunity to engage the student population with projects related to trees and can be part of a campus or community initiative. The project must be done within the course of the year application is submitted.
Project ideas include, but are not limited to:
- Volunteer tree plantings or tree maintenance
- Tree inventory (campus or community)
- Establishment of campus arboreta
- Student-led effort to have community designated a Tree City USA
- Coordinate internships with the urban forestry or parks department in your community
- Assist Project Learning Tree or other programs centered around trees in training teachers at schools near your campus or organize training for your school’s College of Education
- Other tree-related service learning or educational programs for students
- Partnership with state forestry departments on regional projects
Start Your Application
Apply NowResources
Use the tools below to get buy-in from your campus leaders and collaborators.
Here are some additional resources that may be helpful on your journey to recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions Program Toolkit Sample Tree Care Plan Tree Celebration Toolkit Arbor Day Celebration TipsOnline Store
After being accepted, you can visit our online store to order promotional materials for your campus.
FAQ for Tree Campus Higher Education
Standard 1: Establishment of a Campus Tree Advisory Committee
-
Does the Campus Tree Advisory Committee have to be a newly established committee, or if we already have one that has the same function, just a different name, can this be considered our Tree Advisory Committee?
-
What are examples of meeting agendas for the Tree Advisory Committee?
If you have never met as a committee before, consider for your first meeting, gathering all the appropriate representatives simply to discuss the Tree Campus Higher Education program and the goals that need to be achieved to receive the recognition within that calendar year.
Future meetings can be held to set targets for the following year, update your tree care plan, get feedback/advice from representatives about tree management issues, etc. -
Is the Campus Tree Advisory Committee going to take decision-making authority away from the grounds or facilities departments?
-
The Campus Tree Advisory Committee members and establishment date are already written on the main application page. Is more information needed about it in our Tree Care Plan?
Standard 2: Evidence of a Campus Tree Care Plan
Standard 3: Dedicated Annual Expenditures
Standard 4: Involvement in an Arbor Day Observance
Standard 5: Instituting a Service Learning Project
Miscellaneous
State Deadlines
If the deadline to apply for your state has passed, please reach out to your state coordinator for a deadline extension.
State Urban Forestry Coordinators
State Urban Forestry Coordinators are specialists that can provide support and expertise to help you care for trees in your community.
ALABAMA
Alabama Forestry Commission
513 Madison Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-467-7971 | [email protected]
Visit Website
ALASKA
Alaska Division of Forestry
550 W. Seventh Avenue, Suite 1450
Anchorage, AK 99501-3566
907-269-8465 | Fax: 907.269.8931 | [email protected]
Visit Website
AMERICAN SAMOA
PO Box 5319, ASCC - AHNR
Pago Pago, AS 96799
011-684-699-1394 or 1575 | [email protected]
ARIZONA
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
1110 W. Washington St. Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85007
408-769-4184 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Arizona is:
Timara Crichlow - Urban and Community Forestry Specialist
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
1110 W. Washington St. Suite 500
Phoenix, AZ 85007
480-878-6551 |
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Forestry Division
258 Lower Dam Pike
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
479-228-7929 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Arkansas is:
Harold Fisher - Urban Forestry Partnership Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Agriculture – Forestry Division
#20 Industrial Blvd,
Greenbrier, AR 72058
501-580-4054
[email protected]
CALIFORNIA
CAL Fire
P.O. Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244
916-214-5420 | [email protected]
Visit Website
COLORADO
Colorado State Forest Service
4777 National Western Drive, Office H-A416
Denver, CO 80021
970-218-8508 | [email protected]
Visit Website
CONNECTICUT
DEP Forestry Division
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-424-3178 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Connecticut is:
Chris Teter - Urban Forestry Partnership Coordinator
DEP Forestry Division
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
203-295-1897 | [email protected]
DELAWARE
Delaware Forest Service
2320 S. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901
302-698-4578 | [email protected]
Visit Website
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
District Department of Transportation
55 M Street, SE Suite 400
Washington, DC 20003
202-497-0227 | [email protected]
FEDERAL STATES OF MICRONESIA
Palikir Station
PO Box P-12
Pohnpei, FM 96941
011-691-320-2646 | [email protected]
FLORIDA
Florida Forest Service
3125 Conner Blvd. Suite i-275
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-681-5874 | [email protected]
Visit Website
FSM-STATE OF CHUUK
P.O. Box 189
Weno, Chuuk FSM 96942
691-330-6219
FSM-STATE OF KOSRAE
Development Review Commission
P.O. Box DRC
Kosrae, FSM 96944
691-370-2076 | [email protected]
FSM-STATE OF POHNPEI
Division of Forestry and Marine Conservation
P.O. Box 562
Kolonia, Pohnpei FSM 96941
691-320-7457 | [email protected]
FSM-STATE OF YAP
P.O. Box 463
Yap, FSM 96943
691-350-2183 | [email protected]
GEORGIA
Georgia Forestry Commission
1055 E. Whitehall Rd.
Athens, GA 30605
(478) 951-8286 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Georgia is:
Lindsay Neumann - Urban & Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator
Georgia Forestry Commission
5645 Riggins Mill Road
Dry Branch, GA 31020
478-874-9139
[email protected]
GUAM
Forestry and Soil Resources Division
163 Dairy Road
Mangilao, GU 96923
671-300-7976 | [email protected]
HAWAII
Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-270-8960 | [email protected]
Visit Website
IDAHO
Idaho Dept. of Lands
300 N 6th St. Ste 103
Boise, ID 83702
208-626-1779 | [email protected]
Visit Website
ILLINOIS
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-558-2517 | [email protected]
Visit Website
INDIANA
Indiana DNR, Division of Forestry
402 W. Washington, W 296
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-234-4386 | Fax: 317-233-3863 | [email protected]
Visit Website
IOWA
Iowa Department of Natural Resources - Forestry Section
6200 Park Ave. Ste 200
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-725-8454 | [email protected]
Visit Website
KANSAS
Kansas Forest Service
2610 Claflin Rd
Manhattan, KS 66502
785-473-1064 | [email protected]
Visit Website
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Division of Forestry
300 Sower Blvd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-782-3932 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Kentucky is:
Jack Baggett – Urban and Community Partnership Coordinator
Kentucky Division of Forestry
300 Sower Blvd.
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-782-0841 |
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Community Forests
C/O Baton Rouge Green
2241 Christian Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-408-3749 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Louisiana is:
Devon Brits- Partnership Coordinator
Louisiana Community Forests
C/O Baton Rouge Green
2241 Christian Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-408-3748
[email protected]
MAINE
Maine Forest Service
22 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0022
207-287-4987 | Fax: 207-287-8422 | [email protected]
Visit Website
MARYLAND
MD DNR Forest Service
580 Taylor Ave E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
443-775-0898 | [email protected]
Visit Website
MASSACHUSETTS
MA Dept of Conservation & Recreation
251 Causeway Street., Ste. 600
Boston, MA 02114-2104
617-626-1468 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Massachusetts is:
Mathew Cahill - Community Action Forester
DCR Urban & Community Forestry
40 Cold Storage Drive
PO Box 484
Amherst MA, 01004
617-626-1464
MICHIGAN
MI DNR - Forest Resources Division
525 W Allegan St., 4th Floor
Lansing, MI 48933
313-316-4137 | [email protected]
Visit Website
MINNESOTA
Minnesota DNR Forestry
500 Lafayette Road N
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-425-9196 | [email protected]
Visit Website
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Forestry Commission
3139 Highway 468 West
Pearl, MS 39208
769-237-2934 | [email protected]
Visit Website
MISSOURI
Missouri Department of Conservation
PO Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573.522.4115 ext 3306 | [email protected]
Visit Website
MONTANA
Dept. of State Lands
2705 Spurgin Rd.
Missoula, MT 59804
406-542-4288 | [email protected]
Visit Website
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Forest Service
PO BOX 830964
Lincoln, NE 68583
402-472-5049 | [email protected]
Visit Website
NEVADA
Nevada Division of Forestry
4747 W. Las Vegas Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89108
702-683-0639 | [email protected]
Visit Website
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands
172 Pembroke Road
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-2901 | [email protected]
Visit Website
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Forest Service
NJ
609-726-1621 | [email protected]
Visit Website
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico State Forestry
4001 Edith Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-690-8531 | Alyssa.O'[email protected]
Visit Website
NEW YORK
NYS Dept. of Env. Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
518-402-9425 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for New York is:
Amy Mackenzie — Urban Forester
NYS Dept. of Env. Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
518-402-8975
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA
NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
North Carolina Forest Service
1616 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-857-4842 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for North Carolina is:
Sarah Hollis — Community Forestry Coordinator
NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
NC Forest Service
1616 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
919-857-4841
[email protected]
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Forest Service
NDSU-Dept 7680, Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108
701-652-5055 | [email protected]
Visit Website
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
CNMI Dept. of Lands & Natural Resources
PO Box 10007, Lower Base
Saipan, MP 96950
670-322-5018 | [email protected]
OHIO
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
2045 Morse Road, Bldg. H-1
Columbus, OH 43229
614-265-6509 | [email protected]
Visit Website
Please contact your Regional Urban Forester with application questions.
Click here to find your Regional Urban Forester’s contact information.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
2800 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-522-6150 | [email protected]
Visit Website
OREGON
Oregon Department of Forestry
2600 State St., Building D
Salem, OR 97310
971-375-7163 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Oregon is:
Brittany Oxford - Community Assistance Forester
2600 State Street
Salem, OR 97310
971-375-6346 |
PALAU
PO Box 460
Koror, PALAU 96940
011-680-488-2504 | [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIA
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105
717-705-7988 | [email protected]
Visit Website
PUERTO RICO
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
PO Box 366147
San Juan, PR 00936
787-999-2200-5417 | [email protected]
Visit Website
REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
Office of the Chief of Agriculture
P.O. Box 1727
Majuro, MH 96960
011-692-625-3206 | [email protected]
RHODE ISLAND
Division of Forest Environment
235 Promenade St, Suite 394
Providence, RI 02908
401-537-4067 | [email protected]
Visit Website
SOUTH CAROLINA
Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator
5500 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29210
843-209-7536 | [email protected]
Visit Website
SOUTH DAKOTA
SD Dept. of Agriculture, Resource Conservation & Forestry Division
4305 S Louise Ave, Suite 107
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
605-362-2830 | [email protected]
Visit Website
TENNESSEE
Tennessee Department of Agriculture/Forestry
PO Box 40627
Nashville, TN 37204
615-815-6921 | [email protected]
Visit Website
TEXAS
Texas A&M Forest Service
200 Technology Way
College Station, TX 77845
979-402-1339 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Texas is:
Morgan Abbott - Urban & Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator
Texas A&M Forest Service
200 Technology Way
College Station, TX 77845
909-458-6650 |
UTAH
Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands
1594 W North Temple, Suite 3520
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
801-330-7976 | [email protected]
Visit Website
VERMONT
VT Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
111 West Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452
802-522-6015 | [email protected]
Visit Website
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture
RR1 Box 10345
Kingshill, VI 00850
| [email protected]
VIRGINIA
Virginia Dept. of Forestry
900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800
Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-220-9185 | [email protected]
Visit Website
WASHINGTON
Department of Natural Resources
1111 Washington St. SE, MS Box 47037
Olympia, WA 98504-7037
360-485-8651 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Washington is:
Julia Kast — Evergreen Communities Coordinator
Department of Natural Resources
1111 Washington ST SE
P.O. Box 47037
Olympia, WA 98504
564-669-3294
[email protected]
WEST VIRGINIA
Division of Forestry
1106 Railroad St.
Farmington, WV 26571
304-825-6983 | [email protected]
Visit Website
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin DNR
101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
608-535-7582 | [email protected]
Visit Website
The Recognition Program Contact for Wisconsin is:
Laura Buntrock
107 Sutliff Ave.
Rhinelander, WI 54501-3349
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/UrbanForests
WYOMING
Wyoming State Forestry Division
5500 Bishop Blvd
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-3626 | [email protected]
Visit Website
Urge Your Campus Officials to Make Your Campus a Tree City Higher Education Campus
Write a letter or email to your campus leaders, urging them to apply for Tree Campus Higher Education recognition. Below is a sample you can use for inspiration. It is helpful and more effective to edit in your own experience.
Here’s an Example You Can Use:
Trees make our campus, and our town, a special place to live. They shade our classrooms, our homes, our businesses, and our streets. They clean our air and water, reduce storm water run-off, increase our property values, reduce energy costs, and make our campus greener, safer, and healthier.
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus Higher Education program recognizes excellence in campus tree management as well as student and community involvement. This is really an exciting way to raise environmental awareness from the bottom up, engage the community here on campus, and raise our profile for prospective students. You can learn more on how we can make a healthier, greener campus community by visiting the Tree Campus Higher Education Web site at treecampushighered.org.
Sincerely,
Hear from Participating Institutions
2023 Recognized Campuses
Contact Us
Looking for more information about Tree Campus Higher Education?
You can learn more by:
- Visiting our Frequently Asked Questions page
- Contacting your State Urban Forestry Coordinator
- Emailing [email protected]
- We’re excited to work with you!
Thanks to Our Professional Partner
Ready to become a sponsor?