University of South Florida (Tampa)
OP-T2-21: Tree Campus USA

USF complies with the Tree Campus USA program requirement and has developed and implements a Tree Campus Care Plan that has established policies, procedures, and best practices for campus tree management for the Tampa campus. USF has a Campus Tree Advisory committee that advises and guides the implementation of its tree campus care plan. As required by the tree campus USA program, the Office of Sustainability carries out service based learning opportunities for USF students and staff as well as community outreach learning activities. USF accomplishes this through hosted events, tree planting and Arbor Day (national and Florida) recognition events.

USF has been designated for the past 2 consecutive years (2011, 2012) as a Tree Campus USA by the National Arbor Foundation. Over 2,000 trees have been planted on campus in the last 15 years. Nearly 180 donated trees have been planted along Leroy Collins Boulevard and other pedestrian paths on campus. The shaded western extension of Sessums Pedestrian Mall from the College of Engineering to the new 1,000-bed residence Hall at Magnolia was completed in the summer of 2009. A total of 13 large live oak trees were saved and relocated from the construction site (a former parking lot) for the new Visual and Performing Arts Building project.