Oklahoma City University has earned recognition as a 2019 Tree Campus USA, an 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 Oklahoma City University'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. OCU 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 projects. Currently there are 385 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
“We are honored to receive this distinction again from the Arbor Day Foundation,” said OCU President Martha Burger. The recognition holds extra special meaning for our students, faculty and staff this year after the loss of one of our beloved professors, Dr. John Starkey, who taught us to appreciate the grace and grandeur of all trees.”
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. This work directly supports the Arbor Day Foundation’s Time for Trees initiative — an unprecedented effort to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspire 5 million tree planters by 2022. Last year, Tree Campus USA schools collectively planted 34,515 trees and engaged 33,432 tree planters — helping work toward those goals.
More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.