Hastings College was honored with 2016 Tree Campus USA® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
In addition to caring for existing trees around campus, a team of volunteers and grounds staff at Hastings College planted 68 new trees comprised of 22 different species in 2016. The largest project centered around the new Jackson Dinsdale Art Center, where 22 trees were planted. Other major tree-planting projects included 16 trees on Steinhart Plaza, nine trees near the Fuhr Hall of Music and five trees planted in Circle Drive at the center of campus. The volunteer team included students, faculty and emeriti, who together volunteered 710 hours caring for trees during the year.
“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.”
Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Currently, there are 296 campuses across the United States with this recognition. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.
Hastings College 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.
Information on Hastings College’s Arbor Day program and tree planting will be available at a later date.
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.
Hastings College is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With 64 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, Hastings College has been named among “Great Schools, Great Prices” by U.S. News & World Report and a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.
