Northeastern Illinois University earns 11th Tree Campus Higher Education award

For the 11th year in a row, Northeastern Illinois University has been named a Tree Campus Higher Education site by the Arbor Day Foundation, a global nonprofit organization inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

In order to earn this distinction, Northeastern has to promote healthy trees and engage the University community in conservation efforts. Through the collaborative efforts of faculty and staff members in the Departments of Geography and Environmental Studies (G&ES) and Biology, as well as Facilities Management, Northeastern also met the Tree Campus Higher Education five core standards for effective campus forest management, which include having a tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan and an Arbor Day observance.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus Higher Education webpage, there are a combined 395 recognized Tree Campuses at higher education institutions, healthcare facilities and K-12 schools across the United States. Northeastern is one of 15 colleges in Illinois that are recognized as Tree Campus Higher Education sites.

Professor and Coordinator of G&ES Melinda Storie, Ph.D., worked with students in her Conservation Psychology course to host an Arbor Day event on April 23 on the Main Campus in Village Square. Participants were able to take a poster with information about trees native to the area, play a matching game to learn about the different components of trees and decorate a leaf of a paper tree, which is now on display on the third floor of Bernard J. Brommel Hall.

“We know that people make more environmentally responsible decisions when they perceive themselves as part of nature,” Dr. Storie said. “Many of the activities that we design for Earth Day/Arbor Day are meant to build and enhance the human-nature relationship. This touches on the ‘caring for’ (behavioral) and ‘caring about’ (emotional) aspects of the human-nature relationship, which are core concepts in the Conservation Psychology field.”

A photo of the paper tree on display in Bernard J. Brommel Hall. 

The University also participated in an Earth Day activity earlier in the week. Students and employees cleaned the swamp white oak remnant area on the Main Campus, removing trash in collaboration with Northeastern’s Green Conservation Group, a student-led interdisciplinary environmental interest organization that strives to promote sustainable action at Northeastern.

Northeastern senior Ligia Veliciu is currently enrolled in Storie’s Conservation Psychology class. She said her biggest takeaway from the course is realizing that everyone has a part to play in conservation efforts and climate change. She specifically came to Northeastern because of the Geographic Information Science courses, offered as both certificate and minor programs at the University.

“We really need to take care of our trees and I am happy that NEIU does,” Veliciu said. She continued, “My favorite part of participating in the Arbor Day activity was hearing all the personal stories people shared about the trees that mattered to them. It was beautiful to hear just how connected we are to trees and how important they are to our NEIU community. Plus, I really enjoyed leading the tree matching game and watching people try to piece together the characteristics of different trees.”

Cameron Smith is also a student in the Conservation Psychology class this Spring. She said she enjoyed the Arbor Day event because it gave her a chance to connect with other like-minded environmentalists.  

“Conservation Psychology has helped me feel better connected to our environments, both human and non-human,” Smith said. “The diversity of our tree population on campus is reflective of our NEIU community. It is important to foster the health and sustainability of these systems for a stronger and more vibrant future.”

To that end, Dr. Storie noted that the University is continuing to make small strides toward having the Main Campus recognized as a Level 1 arboretum.

“At Northeastern, earning the Tree Campus is truly a collaborative effort between our students, staff, faculty and administration,” Dr. Storie said. “It’s one of the most rewarding things I get to be a part of. It’s really wonderful to leave a nature-based mark on the University and the beauty of our campus is something everyone can enjoy and appreciate.” 

Top photo: A photo of members of the Northeastern Illinois University community celebrating Arbor Day 2025 by hosting an informational table in Village Square on the Main Campus.