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.

Trees can also improve students' mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for gathering and studying.

To earn Tree Campus recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation, Colgate 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.