Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Eastern Illinois University Once Again Earns Tree Campus USA Recognition

  • 02/18/20

CHARLESTON, IL – Eastern Illinois University (EIU) has once again received word from the Arbor Day Foundation that the university has earned recognition as a “Tree Campus USA.” Eastern has received the distinction for several years running, providing abundant evidence of the university’s sustained commitment to and appreciation and maintenance of its campus trees.

Tree Campus USA recognizes college and university campuses that care for their campus trees and develop connectivity within the community in order to foster healthy forests. The Arbor Day Foundation outlines several benefits of being recognized as a Tree Campus partner. In the broadest sense, trees offer protection from the sun and wind while filtering breathable air. More distinctly, a university with a Tree Campus USA designation also benefits from reduced energy use; limiting the amount of carbon dioxide in the air; and engaging its students and residents by planting trees as a collaborative community activity.

“Eastern Illinois University’s campus is accentuated by a variety of trees and plantings meant to enhance the experience of our students and guests while committing to sustainable practices,” says Dr. Ryan Hendrickson, dean of the Graduate School at EIU and chair of the university’s tree advisory committee. “We are extremely thankful for our partnership with Tree Campus USA and for the day-to-day work of our amazing groundskeeping staff in showcasing EIU’s natural beauty throughout the year.”

EIU further demonstrates its commitment to trees via a strategic tree care plan, landscape and maintenance budgeting, Arbor Day observance and service projects. Each plays a part in helping the university earn the Tree Campus USA status.

“EIU is proud of its commitment to helping create a more sustainable future by making our campus cleaner and greener,” Hendrickson says.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization driven by a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. In addition to EIU’s status as a Tree Campus USA, the Arbor Day Foundation website lists Charleston, IL, has having held Tree City, USA status for the past 17 years. For more information about Tree Campus USA or Tree City USA initiatives, visit www.arborday.org.

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.

This year marks the 125th Anniversary of EIU’s founding in 1895. EIU faculty, staff, students and alumni will commemorate this historic anniversary throughout the year with a variety of special events and activities throughout the year, including Homecoming. For upcoming information about EIU’s 125-year celebration activities, visit www.eiu.edu.

Featured

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • Higher Ed is Betting on New Buildings While Quietly Undermining Their Campuses — Here’s Why

    In this climate, the owner’s representative has changed from a delivery-focused advisor to a strategic campus partner. Institutions are increasingly relying on owner’s reps not just to manage, cope, schedule, and budget, but also help evaluate whether a project should proceed at all.

  • Arlington High School

    Arlington High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Arlington High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.