The Arboretum Committee, a subcommittee of the Campus Master Planning Committee, consists of faculty, staff, administrators, and students who are interested in promoting the health of and engagement with the Vassar Arboretum. The committee is co-chaired by the Director of Sustainability and a faculty member. The committee meets once or twice a semester to weigh in on arboretum-related issues, plan events, and oversee the planting of class trees.

Tree Care Group

The Grounds Department in Facilities Operations, led by the Grounds Manager, is responsible for tree care and spends considerable time and resources stewarding the arboretum and campus grounds as a whole.

A subset of Arboretum Committee members form the Tree Care Group, otherwise known as the Tree Decider Group. This group meets regularly to discuss challenges, develop plans and policies, and make decisions about tree removals and tree planting.

• Myra Hughey, Associate Professor of Biology, Faculty co-chair of ArbCom
• Kenneth Foster, Director of Sustainability, co-chair of ArbCom
• Dean Jaeger, Grounds Manager
• Evan Lasher, Grounds Foreman
• Margaret Ronsheim, Professor of Biology
• Jen Rubbo, Director of the Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns
• Keri Van Camp, Director of the Preserve at Vassar

Tree Removal Policy

Given the importance of our campus tree canopy for ecological, aesthetic, historic, and health reasons, it is the policy of the college that, in most cases, a tree can be removed only if it has become a clear safety hazard, or if it is too diseased or damaged to survive. Even then, the decision is not taken lightly. Removing a tree requires consensus among the members of the Tree Care Group. If safety and aesthetic considerations allow, a portion of the tree is retained as a snag, which provides wildlife habitat and allows the natural process of decay to occur. The Tree Removal Policy also calls for replacement of each tree that is removed.

Communicating Ideas and Concerns

If you have ideas about the arboretum, concerns about any specific tree or area of campus, or any questions, please contact the Arboretum Committee co-chairs at arboretum@vassar.edu.