PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Native plants can be found across the UW-Oshkosh campus. In fact, the campus has over two acres of pollinator friendly plantings, earning it a Bee Campus USA certification.
“This campus, for a long time, has really focused on and nurtured native plantings,” said Environmental Studies Professor Misty McPhee. “And that’s good for a number of reasons, it’s good for the ecology of the landscape, it’s good for wildlife, it’s good for the students as well as their learning.”
But over time, professor McPhee and Sociology and Environmental Studies Professor Paul Van Auken have noticed some changes.
The native plant life has been disappearing or is being trimmed down.
“This, kind of, ‘I’m going to mow this down and put grass, I’m going to mow this down and put grass, but you have this little space over here,’ has always been the response. And we are tired of that,” McPhee explained.
Van Auken started a petition on Change.org to protect the native landscape around campus. It’s raised just under 2,000 signatures since it was published a week ago.
Van Auken says the University has been a beacon for sustainability in the past. He added removal of the natural landscape would hurt that long-standing reputation.
“Wasn’t that long ago we were rated the third greenest school in the whole country. Ahead of Harvard, ahead of Madison. These are points of pride, now that’s slipped a little bit,” Van Auken explained. “It’s hard to take this focus on sustainability seriously if we’re going to start wiping away examples, living examples in a living laboratory that’s really thrived.”
McPhee said the loss of these plants won’t just impact the environmental studies program. It hits the entire community.
“We are lucky to have the space to do this, a lot of Oshkosh doesn’t. And so we’re providing a really important refuge here on campus for species that might not find other places to be,” she said.
In a press release, university officials said it’s working on relocating the plants closer to the riverfront.
Facilities Director Kurt Leibold explained the reason for moving the native species in the release.
“Rather than removing and discarding established plants affected by building and landscape management needs, UW-Oshkosh is carefully transplanting them to an expanded site along the university’s riverfront near the Wiouwash Trail corridor,” it reads.
You can read the full release below.
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is preserving and relocating native prairie plants from Halsey Hall and other areas of campus to a larger riverfront location, where they can continue to grow and contribute to campus biodiversity.
The university is not eliminating native prairie plants from campus. The project is specifically designed to preserve established native vegetation while expanding opportunities for native habitat, pollinator support, experiential learning and long-term environmental stewardship.
Rather than removing and discarding established plants affected by building and landscape management needs, UW-Oshkosh is carefully transplanting them to an expanded site along the university’s riverfront near the Wiouwash Trail corridor.
The relocation supports several university priorities, including preservation of established native prairie plants, expansion of pollinator habitat, responsible facilities and landscape management, protection of university infrastructure, support for UWO’s Bee Campus commitments and enhanced opportunities for ecological observation and student learning.
“Building and landscape management decisions must balance sustainability goals with structural maintenance, occupant well-being and safety, and effective pest-management practices. The existing location of native plants places vegetation immediately adjacent to building infrastructure. Grounds and pest-management professionals have recommended increased separation between buildings and landscape vegetation as the best practice for long-term facility management and pest prevention. At the same time, we preserve the native prairie plants elsewhere on campus. This project demonstrates that environmental stewardship and responsible facilities management can work together rather than compete with one another.” said Kurt Leibold, UW-Oshkosh Facilities Director.
Preserving Native Plants Through Relocation
Preservation, not elimination, is the central objective of the project.
UW-Oshkosh Grounds professionals routinely preserve and relocate plants affected by construction, maintenance and other campus projects as part of the university’s approach to responsible stewardship. The practice protects existing landscape investments, reduces waste and supports responsible use of university resources.
The native prairie plants currently located near Halsey Hall and other areas of campus will remain part of the UWO landscape. By relocating them to the riverfront, the university is providing additional space where the plants can continue to grow and contribute to campus biodiversity.
“Relocating these plants reflects how our Grounds team approaches stewardship every day. Rather than removing healthy, established plants, we look for opportunities to preserve and reuse plants whenever possible. This project allows us to expand habitat & enhance the aesthetics of our riverfront while continuing to support biodiversity, pollinators & the university’s sustainability goals.” said Joshua Ruplinger, UW-Oshkosh Grounds & Auto Supervisor.
Expanding Riverfront and Pollinator Habitat
The new riverfront location provides additional space for the relocated prairie plants while enhancing one of the university’s prominent natural corridors.
Expanding the native landscape will provide additional habitat and food sources for bees and other pollinators and support the overall health of the campus ecosystem. The project also complements UW-Oshkosh’s ongoing Bee Campus efforts and commitment to maintaining Bee Campus accreditation.
The relocation does not result in fewer native plants on campus. It provides a larger location where established prairie plants can continue growing and supporting wildlife.
The expanded riverfront site also offers opportunities for ecological observation and experiential learning, connecting campus sustainability efforts with the student learning environment.
Responsible Campus Stewardship
Sustainability remains a guiding principle of UW-Oshkosh landscape management.
The Grounds team follows Integrated Pest Management practices that emphasize prevention, monitoring and responsible approaches before chemical treatments are considered. Herbicides are used only when necessary and are applied by trained and qualified applicators.
The university’s approach to campus stewardship considers environmental sustainability alongside student and occupant well-being, building safety, infrastructure, accessibility, campus aesthetics and responsible use of university resources.
The native prairie relocation reflects that approach—preserving established native vegetation while meeting the university’s long-term facilities, environmental and stewardship needs.
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