The Arbor Day Foundation has designated Virginia State University (VSU) as a Tree Campus USA. This national designation honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus in environmental stewardship.
To receive Tree Campus USA status, VSU had to meet five core standards of tree care and community engagement: Establishment of a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; Verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in an Arbor Day observance; and creation of a service-learning project aimed at engaging students.
The Tree Care Advisory Committee is comprised of faculty representatives from the Colleges of Agriculture and Natural and Health Sciences. VSU is only the third college or university in Virginia to be designated a Tree Campus USA institution, joining Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech.
