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Campus News

Tree Campus USA


tree campus usa5/3/12
Jackson Campus
At the urging of Minnesota West Community & Technical College President Richard Shrubb, the Jackson campus is joining its sister locations in striving to become a Tree Campus USA.

On Monday, several automotive, powerline and electrician students quickly planted 10 Colorado blue spruce trees, purchased with funds from the student senate, behind the Jackson campus in observance of National Arbor Day. An additional five maple trees are planned for the front of the campus, with more plantings likely next year.

“It’s part of our beautification process,” said Dennis Hampel, dean of students. “We’re replacing some of the plantings we have here that have blown down or died over the years.” Tree planting is a new focus for the 48-year campus, with diversity of trees becoming more important due to the prevalence of species-specific diseases.

To achieve Tree Campus USA status, the college must establish a campus tree advisory committee, craft a campus tree care plan, allocate annual funding for its campus tree program, host an Arbor Day observance and conduct a service learning outreach project in the spirit of the Tree Campus USA initiative.

The Arbor Day Foundation began the Tree Campus USA program in 2008 to honor college campuses and the leaders of their surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forestry management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.

By: Ryan Brinks, News Editor
Jackson County Pilot