Tree Campus Higher Education

West Virginia State University is a proud recipient of Tree Campus Higher Education designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation – the first institution of higher education in West Virginia to receive this distinction.



What is Tree Campus Higher Education?

The Tree Campus Higher Education is an Arbor Day Foundation program that honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in community tree care. West Virginia State University achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus Higher Educaiton’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. As of June 2021, there are 392 campuses across the United States with this recognition.  West Virginia State University was the first campus in West Virginia to earn the distinction, in 2013.

Tree Advisory Committee Members

• Liz Moss, Extension Agent for Forestry & Urban Forestry, WVSU Extension Service, (304) 661-6016, elizabeth.moss@wvstateu.edu
• Maria Irfam, student representative
• Molly Erlandson, Professor, WVSU Department of Art
• Dayton Wilson, Director, WVSU Physical Facilities
• Jorge Vera, student intern, WV Tree Minders
• Andy Sheetz, Urban Forester, WV Division of Forestry Urban & Community Forestry program
• Shannon Skiles, Post Award Grants Specialist, WVSU Office of Sponsored Programs

WVSU Tree Care Plan

GOALS

• Increase and maintain diversity of campus trees
• Maintain and improve campus canopy coverage in landscaped areas
  • Current canopy is 6.5% and target is 10%
• Maintain tree inventory database and use it to monitor tree health
  • Available currently at https://pg-cloud.com/WVSU/
• Establish and maintain a teaching arboretum complete with signage and online tree tour
• Educate students, faculty and staff about the importance and value of trees
• Protect campus trees from negative impacts from contractors and stakeholders
• Prepare the campus community for the of removal of historic trees when declining health necessitates it
• Establish an adopt-a-tree program through the WVSU Foundation to procure ongoing funds for campus tree care and engage alumni

Links

• Tree Campus Higher Education information
• WVSU 2019 complete campus tree inventory
• WVSU 2019 campus tree maintenance plan
• WVSU June 2021 i-Tree Ecosystem Analysis (performed by Jorge Vera, WV Tree Minders intern)