ȺpÎÞÂë honored again as Tree Campus USA
Published: March 18, 2015.
ȺpÎÞÂë has been named a Tree Campus USA for the sixth consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.
“Once again, we are honored with this recognition that signifies we are effectively caring for the campus environment,” said Brother James Gaffney, FSC, President of ȺpÎÞÂë. “As a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition, Lewis values the trees that serve as an essential component in our ecosystem. Our grounds staff is to be especially commended for their dedication in ensuring tree plantings that beautify our sweeping landscape, help to clean the air, and enhance our environment.”
ȺpÎÞÂë earned the honor by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, developing a campus tree-care plan, providing dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, scheduling an Arbor Day observance and holding a student service-learning project involving trees. The Morton Register accredited ȺpÎÞÂë as a veritable arboretum with more than 2,400 trees in addition to wooded areas.
Earth Week is celebrated at Lewis on an annual basis. Students, faculty and staff learn about the environment and participate in activities to preserve and maintain the environment. One of the activities includes clearing away invasive species and planting new trees each year along the Burnham Nature Trail on its campus in Romeoville, Illinois.
Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and sponsored by Toyota to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.
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 .
ȺpÎÞÂë is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,700 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit for further information.