DENTON (UNT) Texas – The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the University of North Texas as a 2013 Tree Campus USA university for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. This marks the sixth year in a row UNT has earned this recognition.

Tree Campus USA is a national program honoring colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy management of their campus forests and for engaging the community in environmental stewardship. Tree Campus USA was launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and is supported by a grant from Toyota.

"Continuing to improve our sustainable living practices on campus is highly important because caring for and protecting our campus trees makes our campus stand out as a desirable place to study, work and play," said Lanse Fullinwider, UNT's Grounds Manager.

UNT met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement in order to receive Tree Campus USA status. Those standards are establishing a campus tree advisory committee; having a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in an Arbor Day observance; and the institution of a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.