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GENESEO, N.Y.— �鶹��ý�Ŷ� has been certified as one of 254 colleges for its commitment to sustaining a healthy environment. 

In order to receive such recognition from the national program, �鶹��ý�Ŷ� had to meet Tree Campus USA’s five standards. The five standards include creating a Tree Advisory Committee, making a Campus Tree Care Plan, planning dedicated annual expenditures for its Campus Tree Program, formulating an Arbor Day observance and making a student service-learning project. 

“One of the standards was to create a Campus Tree Care Plan, which includes all policies and procedures related to Tree Campus. That—for us—included the Arboretum on campus, our plant pallet and what kinds of trees �鶹��ý�Ŷ� already plants on campus—just things like that, along with our future goals,” said junior Sarah Kowalski, a student representative on the Tree Advisory Committee and an intern at the Office of Sustainability. 

To satisfy the service-learning project standard, the Office of Sustainability and Nature Walk Club maintain native tree plantings in the Spencer J. Roemer Arboretum. Additionally, the Arbor Day observance standard was satisfied when Kowalski and junior Tori Roberts arranged a walk on Arbor Day. 

“I think a lot of the recent evasive species removals in the Arboretum—as well as native species plantings—is cool and something �鶹��ý�Ŷ� excels at compared to other colleges,” said Kowalski. “�鶹��ý�Ŷ� also did other native species plantings and things like that, which have been really helpful.” 

With the certification, �鶹��ý�Ŷ� will receive annual expenditures. Tree Campus USA colleges and universities spent more than $36.8 million for campus forest management in 2015. 

“Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for us all.” 

A myriad of �鶹��ý�Ŷ� representatives participate in Tree Campus USA colleges through the Tree Advisory Committee. The group includes facilities ground services representative Carrie Pickering, community member Ben Gajewski from the Genesee Valley Conservancy and faculty representatives James Kernan, Jennifer Apple and Dan DeZarn. 

“We’re hoping with this certification there will be more awareness on campus. We have a couple of goals in our care plan, one of which is to have a native tree plant pallet so that the trees we plant around here in �鶹��ý�Ŷ� are native to the environment and can not only thrive, but also can support wildlife and things like that,” said Kowalski. “The certificate will also lead to a lot of community engagement, so that we can have more trees and walks and more. This will create greater awareness at �鶹��ý�Ŷ� for the environment overall.” 

News release written by College Communications intern Alexandra Ciarcia. 

Media Contact:

David Irwin
Media Relations Director
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu