2019 Tree Campus USA Award

Tree Campus USA Recognition - 10 Years In A Row!

Each year, the Arbor Day Foundation invites colleges and universities throughout the United States to submit an application for recognition as a Tree Campus USA. The Tree Campus USA program goal is to help colleges and universities around the country establish and sustain healthy community forests. To qualify, campuses must satisfy five standards for the calendar year. These standard ensure university and college campuses go above and beyond typical expectations of a campus landscape to provide exceptional horticultural care, serve and engage students and work with the community to extend the garden's reach. The standards include:

1. Establish 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 includes undergraduate and graduate students, members of the grounds services and members of the community. 

2. Create and maintain A Tree Care Plan which establishes expection, policy and guidance for planting, maintaining, and removing trees. It also serves to educate the campus community, citizens, contractors, and consultants about the importance of the campus forest and the protection and maintenance of trees as part of campus development process.

3. Provide evidence of adequate funds have been allocated for annual campus tree work including tree planting, pruning, removal, fertilization, irrigation repair etc. The recommendation for our campus is to aim for $3 for each full time enrolled, roughly equal to $120,000. 00 annually.Much of this is provided by the Univerity of Arizona Facilities Managment Grounds Services Superintendent. 

4. Host an Arbor Day observance each year. This 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. 

5. Engage undergraduate students in a Service Learning Project, which is an outreach honoring the spirit of the Tree Campus USA 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.

Evidence of completion must be provided by Dec. 31st of each year and after evaluation by the State's Arbor Day Foundation representatives, a letter of recognition is sent to the University President to validate and promote the accomplishments inherent in the award. Recognition materials are sent to the Campus Arboretum including a token that is affixed to a Tree Campus USA plaque. This year, we received our 10th award and wish to congratulate all those who have worked with us in myriad ways to qualify 10 years in a row for this recognition. 

Each year, the State Forest office hosts an event on or around Arbor Day to celebrate trees and the multitude of benefits they provide. It includes a reading of the Arizona Arbor Day proclamation, an awards ceremony for Tree City, Tree Campus, and Tree Line USA, Citizen Forester of the Year, Magnificent 7 Trees, and a commemorative tree planting. On April 24th, 2019 the event was held at the Arizona State Capitol Building in Phoenix. Special thanks to Campus Arboretum Board Member Lori Woods, who attended along with other Campus Arboretum friends and supporters, to receive the award on behalf of the University of Arizona Campus Arboretum.