NDSU is a Tree Campus USA for the second consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation announced in February. The award recognizes colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals.

NDSU achieved the title by meeting five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.

“It’s great to have NDSU nominated again to be a Tree Campus USA,” said Michael Ellingson, director of Facilities Management at NDSU, noting that NDSU was the first campus in North Dakota to receive the honor. “It just shows the dedication and hard work that staff, faculty and students have given to make this happen.”

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization that aims to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. It created the Tree Campus USA national program with Toyota Motor North America, Inc. in 2008.

For more information about the Tree Campus USA program, visit www.arborday.org/programs/treecampususa/index.cfm.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.