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 2025. 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
- Yvette Amerman, Missouri Department of Conservation
- Donna Liss, Chief Information Officer*
- Sue Limestall, Past President of the Kirksville Area Master Gardener Club & Community Representative
- Dan Robbins, Grounds Supervisor
- Bryan Waddle, Physical Plant Assistant Director
- Kenny McKim, Physical Plant Director
- 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 has been awarded Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grants from the Missouri Department of Conservation. TRIM grants offer cost-share funding for government agencies, schools and nonprofit groups to manage, improve or conserve trees on public lands. Truman’s most recent grant included updating our campus tree inventory of our approximately 1800 trees. (Truman received previous TRIM grants in 2011, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.)
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.