In recognition of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Tarrant County College’s Southeast campus achieved the 2013 Tree Campus USA® designation. The national Tree Campus USA® initiative, started in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors colleges and universities for leadership in promoting healthy trees and conservation.
“Being honored by the Arbor Day Foundation represents meaningful confirmation of our campus’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Southeast Campus President Bill Coppola.
To qualify for this honor, TCC SE met five core standards required for sustainable campus forestry, including establishment of a tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program; observance of Arbor Day and sponsorship of student service-learning projects including labeling newly planted trees by biology and geology students to update campus inventory.
The Arbor Day Foundation encourages colleges and universities to meet these standards to benefit the environment through reduction of energy needs and carbon dioxide. While campuses are enhanced by the creation of green spaces, students and the community benefit from service projects such as volunteer tree plantings and maintenance, internships with community urban forestry or parks departments and partnerships with state forestry departments on regional projects.
