Franklin College has been recognized as a 2023 “Tree Campus Higher Education Institution” by the Arbor Day Foundation. This program recognizes higher education institutions for integrating green spaces and trees into their campuses. The award marks the 11^th consecutive year Franklin College has received the honor.

The Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. Its Tree Campus Higher Education program began in 2008 to encourage colleges and universities to plant trees on their campuses.

“Trees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and faculty’s overall wellbeing.”

Franklin College earned the recognition by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five core criteria for effective campus forest management, including establishing a campus tree advisory committee, creating a campus tree care plan, dedicating annual expenditures for a campus tree program, observing Arbor Day, and sponsoring student service-learning projects. There are currently 410 campuses nationwide with the distinction.

“Franklin College has considerable green space, which provides faculty, staff, students, and community members with a pleasant environment for work and life,” said Franklin College’s Alice Heikens, Ph.D., professor of biology. “In addition, by planting native species on campus, we provide habitats for animals as well as purifying the air and water.”

About the Arbor Day Foundation: Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of great need, the Foundation — alongside its more than 1 million members, supporters, and valued partners — have helped plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org

Contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185 for more information.

By: Preston Bertram ’24, Pulliam Fellow 

POSTED Apr 22, 2024