Tree Campus Higher Education

Just in time for Earth Month, the University of Iowa was once again designated a 2022 Tree Campus Higher Education award (formerly Tree Campus USA). The award was presented to the Facilities Management Landscape Services tree crew by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources during the annual Community Forestry Awards luncheon on April 12. The UI was the first college in Iowa to win the award in 2009 and is one of only seven Tree Campus Higher Education award winners in Iowa. The UI has earned this award each consecutive year since 2009 through its longstanding commitment to sustainable campus forestry and a rich tradition of student service-learning.

To earn the award, a campus must have a campus tree advisory committee, a tree care plan, a tree program with dedicated annual expenditures, an annual Arbor Day observance, and a service-learning project to engage the student body.

“The Tree Campus Higher Education award is a symbol for universities and colleges who continually strive to educate and engage their students and surrounding community about the benefits of trees and exhibit excellence in their tree management,” says State Forester Jeff Goerndt. “Your campus has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa colleges and universities, by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations."

The Facilities Management Tree Crew contributors include:

• Mike Rhinehart, Supervisor, Landscape Construction, ISA-certified arborist and 2016 Outstanding Professional, Iowa Urban Tree Council
• Andy Dahl, Urban Forestry Supervisor and Campus Arborist, ISA-certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist and 2014 ISA National “True Professional of Arboriculture” Award Winner
• Alan Allgood, UI Tree Trimmer and ISA-certified Arborist
• Wayne Norman, Tree Trimmer
• Grant Raitt, Groundskeeper I

The Tree Team maintains approximately 8,000 trees on the main campus and the UI Research Park, and typically plants more than 300 trees each year.

  Tree Inventory App   UI Campus Arboretum