EIU Media Relations

Arbor Day Foundation Honors EIU with 2018 Tree Campus USA® Recognition

(Lincoln, Neb.) – Eastern Illinois University was honored with 2018 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

“Tree Campuses and their students set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of your school’s participation air will be purer, water cleaner and your students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty the trees provide.”

The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Eastern Illinois University achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project. Currently there are 364 campuses across the United States with this recognition.

“Eastern Illinois University is proud to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation to enrich and enhance campus through a dedicated tree management program,” said Dr. Ryan Hendrickson, dean of the Graduate School and chair of EIU’s tree advisory committee. “We are equally proud that the City of Charleston was recently recognized as a ‘Tree City USA,’ and we look forward to continuing our work together to heighten the beauty of both our campus and our community.”

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $51 million in campus forest management last year. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.

For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its growing assortment of programs and services, visit the university’s website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.