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Campus Roots,
Community Impact
Tree Campus Higher Education institutions are branching out beyond school grounds to grow a green legacy
September 3, 2026
Trees may be planted in a single spot, but their impact reaches far beyond their roots.
That’s why colleges and universities across the Tree Campus Higher Education network are embracing tree planting as a way to nurture strong relationships within their broader communities and create lasting, tangible benefits across entire regions. For these institutions, trees are a way to bring people together around shared environmental goals and cultivate connected communities.
Highlighted below are some of the Tree Campus Higher Education institutions using their expertise, land, volunteers, and partnerships to grow thriving community forests beyond the edges of campus.
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
2 YEARS, TREE CAMPUS HIGHER EDUCATION
White Oak trees have become both environmentally and historically significant to Rhode Island College. So, the college established a nursery focused on collecting acorns from White Oaks on campus and propagating them to grow more trees.
But instead of solely planting those new saplings on campus, Rhode Island College saw an opportunity to expand the White Oak species population across all of Rhode Island by giving saplings to alumni, schools, and libraries across the state.
That means future generations of trees in Rhode Island will originate from the trees on the Rhode Island College campus. By utilizing the campus nursery in this way, this work will simultaneously support the native White Oak population, engage the community in tree planting, and grow the legacy of Rhode Island College beyond school grounds.
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
16 YEARS, TREE CAMPUS HIGHER EDUCATION
Researchers at the University of Louisville have long been interested in the connection between trees and human health. In 2018, they launched a groundbreaking project called "Green Heart Louisville" which examines how living among green spaces can contribute to an individual’s heart health.
In an effort to build on that research and expand local access to green spaces in Louisville, the University of Louisville became a key partner in developing two new public parks. Trager Microforest and LOUMED Commons were both opened in 2025 in Downtown Louisville.
The University of Louisville’s leadership is a reminder that higher education institutions can utilize their expertise, partnerships, and resources to be a catalyst for positive environmental change. These meaningful outdoor spaces will contribute to both the mental and physical health of residents, students, and visitors for many years to come.
DALLAS COLLEGE EASTFIELD
DALLAS, TEXAS
9 YEARS, TREE CAMPUS HIGHER EDUCATION
Tree champions at Dallas College Eastfield knew that they could create a bigger impact inside their campus by asking for help from outside of campus. They approached the Texas Tree Foundation, a local tree planting nonprofit with experience in mobilizing volunteers for community forestry projects. Together, Dallas College Eastfield and the Texas Tree Foundation developed an initiative that combined community engagement with large-scale planting efforts and planted 75 new trees in the spring planting season of 2025.
This partnership-driven approach allowed Dallas College Eastfield to reach farther and dig deeper than they could alone and ultimately create even greater impact for their campus.
GROWING YOUR IMPACT
Stories from Rhode Island College, the University of Louisville, and Dallas College Eastfield all point to one thing: campus forestry thrives on connection, not isolation. The best programs are forging partnerships, pooling resources, and turning tree care into a shared community mission.
Every campus has the potential to become a catalyst for community forestry. Click here to learn how Tree Campus Higher Education can help your institution build meaningful partnerships, engage students, strengthen local ecosystems, and create lasting impact both on and beyond campus.
