Rice received the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus USA designation for the 10 consecutive year in 2021.
Rice's campus, officially designated as an arboretum, met the foundation’s five core standards for effective campus forest management: having a tree advisory committee, a tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for the campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and a student service learning project.
Tree Campus USA, launched in 2008, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in conservation.