Trees

tree campus 2

Here at Truman State, we believe that trees play an important role in both the education process and being environmentally responsible. This page details some of the ways we have contributed to the health and multitude of our trees. We are proud of our beautiful campus, which has been recognized since 2014 as a Tree Campus USA site by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Campus Tree Care Plan

Trees provide shade for people and buildings, thus reducing heat gain. They also provide habitats, can reduce rainwater runoff, lessen noise, improve air quality and naturally provide beauty to the environment. For these reasons, our university has created a Campus Tree Care Plan 2024. This plan outlines appropriate tree care policies, and identifies responsible departments and  our communication strategy.

Current Members of the Campus Tree Advisory Committee:
  • Dr. Maria Beatriz de Souza Cortez, Agricultural and Biological Sciences Faculty Member
  • Bill Kuntz, University Farm Manager
  • Donna Liss, Chief Information Officer*
  • Sue Limestall, Past President of the Kirksville Area Master Gardener Club & Community Representative
  • Dan Robbins, Grounds Supervisor
  • Sam Guth, Physical Plant Director (left in September)*
  • Kenny McKim, Physical Plant Acting Director
  • Lori Shook, Campus Planning*
  • Hannah Kuhnert, Student Representative

*Denotes a member of the President’s Sustainability Action Committee

Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance

Truman was awarded a Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation for 2024. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, schools and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands. Truman’s grant is to update our campus tree inventory of our approximately 1800 trees.  (Truman received previous TRIM grants in 2011, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.)

Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence

In 2016, in partnership with the City of Kirksville, the Green Thumb Project, the Kirksville R-III School District, and the Environmental Campus Organization (ECO), Truman State University received  the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence in the Business/Institutional category. This award recognizes entities that act as good stewards for trees in their community.

Tree Walks

In collaboration with Dr. Lisa Hooper in Truman’s Biology Department, we have created two Tree Walks for our students and visitors! Electronic and printable information for these tree walks are available.

Click the images below to view our new Campus Tree Walks.

Tree Walk on the Quad

Tree Walk in Red Barn Park