UCO Earns First-Ever Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus Higher Education Designation
April 24, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma has been named a Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation, earning the national designation for the first time in the university’s history.
The recognition, based on campus work completed in 2025, was announced during an Edmond City Council meeting. The Tree Campus Higher Education program honors colleges and universities that demonstrate a strong commitment to effective urban forest management and student engagement.
To achieve the designation, UCO met several rigorous standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation, including the formation of a campus tree advisory committee, development of a comprehensive tree care plan, documentation of annual investments in tree maintenance, an Arbor Day observance and student-focused service-learning projects.
“This recognition underscores our commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient campus environment,” said Chad King, Ph.D., professor of biology and director of the Selman Living Laboratory at UCO.
“By investing in our tree canopy, we are not only improving the beauty of our campus but also creating lasting environmental and economic benefits for our community.”
A key highlight of UCO’s efforts was a collaborative tree-planting event held in November 2025, in partnership with the City of Edmond. The event served as both the university’s Arbor Day observance and a hands-on, student service-learning opportunity, reinforcing UCO’s commitment to experiential education and environmental stewardship.
This designation reflects UCO’s broader commitment to campus sustainability and environmental responsibility. Ongoing efforts to expand tree canopy coverage will help reduce stormwater runoff and erosion, mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve overall campus climate. The planting of Oklahoma-native and regionally adapted tree species will also support ecosystem health, strengthen pollinator habitats and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
UCO will display its Tree Campus Higher Education recognition plaque in the Sustainability Center, located in the Liberal Arts building, Room 130.
In addition to UCO, the City of Edmond and Edmond Public Schools were honored for their efforts.
For more information about UCO, visit www.uco.edu.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma has been named a Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation, earning the national designation for the first time in the university’s history. Pictured left to right, front row: Josh Delich, Ph.D., superintendent of Edmond Public Schools; Shannon Boyer, educator at Ida Freeman Elementary School; Mark Nash, mayor of the City of Edmond; Leigh Martin, urban forester with the City of Edmond; Riley Coy, urban and community forestry coordinator with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; back row: Kevin Tero, assistant vice president of UCO Facilities Management; Fred Fieth, director of the UCO Physical Plant; Benjamin Boateng, UCO graduate student in public administration in urban management from Trondheim, Norway; Mark Walvoord, Ph.D., coordinator of the UCO Sustainability Center; Kurt Atkinson, vice chair of the Edmond Urban Forestry Commission; and, Glenn Fisher, director of Edmond Electric.
