Paul Smith's College honored with Tree Campus USA designation

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Arboriculture and landscape management students at Paul Smith's College plant a tree for Arbor Day in 2012. Prof. Randall Swanson (far left) oversees the planting.

PAUL SMITHS, NY (04/07/2014)(readMedia)-- Paul Smith's College has been named part of the Tree Campus USA program for the first time by the Arbor Day Foundation. The program honors colleges and universities that promote effective campus forest management and engage students, faculty and staff in conservation goals.

"We're proud of the care we take of our landscape trees and put forth the effort to maintain them at a high level," said Prof. Randall Swanson, who led the college's effort to win Tree Campus USA designation and is coordinator of the college's arboriculture and landscape management program. "The college's grounds crew spends hours and hours on tree care – and our arboriculture students also play a critical role in our efforts as they conduct tree-care activities during lab sessions. That kind of hands-on experience is an integral part of their education."

The Tree Campus USA program was created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and sponsored by Toyota. Since then, 200 colleges and universities have been honored with the designation. Paul Smith's achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA's five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project.

"Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment," said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for us all."

The Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota have helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested over $26 million in campus forest management last year. More information about the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCampusUSA.

About Paul Smith's College

At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. Paul Smith's, which was founded in 1946, is the only bachelor's degree-granting institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs, in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences, draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information: www.paulsmiths.edu.