For the fourth consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation recognized Xavier University of Louisiana as a 2024 Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and community engagement.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit organization that inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Since 1972, its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries. The Tree Campus program recognizes schools, universities, and healthcare facilities that use trees to improve their communities. 

“This recognition is a testament to the tireless efforts of Xavier University of Louisiana's maintenance and sustainability team, who continue to expand our campus tree canopy, engage students in environmental stewardship, and grow our urban orchard,” said Helena Robinson, Xavier’s Director of Sustainability & Quality Control. “As a historically Black and Catholic institution committed to climate justice and community resilience, we see this work as vital. Every tree planted reflects our dedication to building a greener, healthier, and more equitable future for Xavier and the Gert Town community.” 

To earn Tree Campus recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation, colleges and universities must uphold five core standards, including maintaining an advisory committee, setting a campus tree care plan, verifying annual investment in the tree care plan, celebrating Arbor Day, and creating a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body. 

“Trees have the power to inspire learning and improve well-being,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “By growing campus green spaces, forward-thinking higher education leaders like Xavier are cultivating vibrant learning communities that also benefit the greater environment.”

Trees on campus can lower the energy cost of campus facilities by providing shade cover, reducing extreme heat, improving air quality, and boosting physical health benefits for students and staff. In addition, trees improve students' mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for gathering and studying.   

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and support from professional partner Bartlett Tree Experts.