Columbia State Receives 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education Recognition from Arbor Day Foundation
Columbia State was recently honored with the 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
“I am grateful and proud that the hard work of the college has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the fifth straight year,” said Dr. Tim Hallmark, Columbia State director of facilities services and safety. “The college has been very fortunate to have a wonderful Tree Campus committee consisting of our students, faculty, staff and the City of Columbia that have worked as a great team to ensure that the college consistently meets and exceeds the requirements of the Tree Campus Higher Education program.”
Columbia State students and faculty plant trees on the Columbia Campus for Arbor Day.
The Tree Campus Higher Education® program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Columbia State achieved the distinction by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five standards, including 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 393 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
"Trees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and faculty’s overall wellbeing.”
Only nine colleges in Tennessee have received the Tree Campus USA distinction – Columbia State is the only community college recognized.
More information about the program is available at treecampushighered.org.
As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.