About

Tree Campus Higher Education (formerly Tree Campus USA) is a national program of the Arbor Day Foundation that honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy management of their campus forests and for engaging the community in environmental stewardship. In 2020, the Arbor Day Foundation changed the name of the program from Tree Campus USA to Tree Campus Higher Education to unify the larger family of tree campus recognition programs, which now includes Tree Campus K-12 and Tree Campus Healthcare.

The University of Iowa was designated the state of Iowa's first Tree Campus Higher Education institution in 2009 for its excellence in tree stewardship, as well as student and community involvement in its efforts. The campus has achieved this status each year since.

The Tree Team launched a Tree Inventory App to catalog trees across campus. Check it out here:

go to the Tree Inventory App

UI receives Tree Campus Higher Education designation

The Landscape Services Tree Crew was recently honored with a 2024 Tree Campus Higher Education Award. The UI was the first college in Iowa to win the award in 2009 and is one of only eight Tree Campus Higher Education award winners in Iowa. This is the 16th year in a row that the UI Tree Crew has received this honor.

To earn the award, a campus must at a minimum 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 University of Iowa is one of only eight Tree Campus Higher Education award winners in Iowa. To receive the award, a campus must, at a minimum, 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 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, Arborist, ISA-certified 
  • Chase Hamer, Tree Trimmer
  • Cortner Reimer, Tree Trimmer