Montana State University was named a Tree Campus USA for the 14th consecutive year, according to an April 21 announcement. The designation is awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation and recognizes universities that demonstrate effective campus tree care, community engagement, and educational outreach.
The recognition highlights MSU’s ongoing efforts to maintain a healthy and diverse landscape on its campus. To earn this honor, universities must have a tree care plan, advisory board, dedicated budget for forest development and maintenance, host Arbor Day tree planting events, and organize service-learning projects involving students and the community.
MSU has maintained its Tree Campus status since first receiving it in 2012. The university currently has more than 2,700 trees on campus and added 20 new trees this year. Landscape manager Craig Bennink said his team works with arborist Alex Aarsvold to provide extensive care through pruning, fertilizing, mulching, watering young or transplanted trees more frequently, and conducting non-invasive coring to check for rot. “This Tree Campus designation proves our commitment to keeping MSU a diverse and nice-looking landscape,” Bennink said. “The fact that MSU provides the leadership and budget to maintain all this is incredible and is not the case with every institution.”
Four additional trees will be planted on campus this year thanks to donations from Circle K International’s MSU chapter. Two of these will be planted during an Arbor Day event at Roskie Hall scheduled for Friday afternoon; attendees are invited to help plant spruce trees with gloves and tools provided by the university while Aarsvold discusses proper planting techniques.
Montana State University leads in research funding within Montana with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university also contributes through volunteer efforts as well as outreach initiatives aimed at improving lives and environmental quality according to its official website. MSU ranks among the top five percent of global universities per the Center for World University Rankings according to its official website, enrolling about 17,165 students split evenly between residents and nonresidents according to its official website.
As Montana’s land-grant institution focused on research, education, community outreach—and serving both state residents as well as broader communities—MSU continues addressing key challenges facing society today according to its official website.
“Anytime we can be planting trees and taking care of our landscape, that’s really impressive to see,” Bennink said.