Baylor University Recognized as Tree Campus Higher Education
Arbor Day Foundation honors Baylor for its commitment to forest management and environmental stewardship
Contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin, 254-327-8012
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Baylor University is widely known for its beautiful campus, with a long-standing history of planting, caring for and celebrating the hundreds of majestic trees across the University’s 1,000-acre campus. Baylor now adds national recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation.
The national program celebrates colleges and universities for their commitment to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment and engagement. By becoming a Tree Campus Higher Education institution, Baylor joins a prestigious group of more than 400 recognized Tree Campuses across the nation, said Gary Cocke, senior director of sustainability at Baylor, who leads Baylor’s Tree Campus initiative.
The trees around the Baylor campus – including its stately live oaks, elms and magnolias – not only create a beautiful environment but also serve as a living laboratory supporting the educational mission of the University both through student leadership roles and classes, he said.
“When I first came to Baylor, one of the things I noticed as an asset for sustainability on campus was the trees, in particular, the huge live oaks that we have in the campus core,” Cocke said. “They are something that we can all take pride in and something that we can center on as we’re growing our priority for sustainability as a university.”
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, commitment to trees and green spaces offers a multitude of benefits to the campus community, including reducing energy consumption, absorbing carbon dioxide, encouraging physical activity and fostering overall environmental wellness, all while enhancing the campus environment for the entire Baylor family.
To be recognized as a Tree Campus Higher Education, campuses must fulfill five commitments:
- Establish a campus tree advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and community members.
- Establish a campus tree care plan.
- Track expenditures related to tree care.
- Host a public observance of Arbor Day.
- Host service-learning projects.
“These commitments serve as a great tool for better stewardship of our trees, as well as for campus and student engagement and culture,” Cocke said. “It helps lead to operational improvements that can build momentum for what we are doing in our campus ecosystem.”
Trees as living laboratory
Baylor embraces its trees – including the roots, limbs and leaves – as a vital asset that also serves as an educational resource for students and the community through hands-on learning opportunities.
As part of the process towards achieving the Tree Campus Higher Education recognition, Cocke and other members of the Office of Sustainability initiated the Eco Rep program in fall 2024. This student position is currently held by senior biology major Marlo Treece, who took the lead role in fulfilling the five Tree Campus commitments, including the application and certification process.
“I am thankful to have a job on campus that allows me to be involved in sustainability progress for Baylor, something that will continue to be meaningful for generations to follow,” Treece said. “Aiding in the application for Tree Campus, I have had the opportunity to lead in various experiences, such as hosting the first meeting for the Tree Campus committee, learning about grounds and facilities management and collaborating on this project with many Baylor employees.”
Through her role, Treece is responsible for leading Tree Campus Committee meetings and community outreach events such as the Arbor Day Orchard Planning at the Baylor Community Garden.
“I’m really proud that this is a developmental educational opportunity for a young environmental leader,” Cocke said. “The Eco Rep program is intended to help students who have a passion for the environment contribute to real-world projects while they are still students, while also preparing them for a path towards environmental leadership.”
"Studying the trees provides lessons in biology, ecology, social structures and diversity. All of these concepts are essential for understanding how our world works." - Tamarah Adair, Ph.D.
Tamarah L. Adair, Ph.D., senior lecturer in biology who directs Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURES) in biology and Undergraduate Research in the Office of Engaged Learning, teaches a popular class on campus – BIO 1105 (BU-TREES) – which integrates the basic concepts of biology with laboratory and scientific communication skills by studying the trees on campus.
“Studying the trees provides lessons in biology, ecology, social structures and diversity. All of these concepts are essential for understanding how our world works,” Adair said. “I also want our students to recognize and appreciate the biology and life history of the trees because when students go deep into a topic to look at things from a different perspective, they learn a greater way of knowing.”
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.