Bee CAMPUS USA

Purdue University in West Lafayette became the 207th educational institution in the U.S. to be certified as a Bee Campus USA in 2025.

Bee Campus Program

The Bee Campus USA program endorses a set of commitments for creating a sustainable habitat for pollinators, which are vital to feeding the planet.

Purdue’s commitment to pollinator conservation

As Purdue University in West Lafayette grows and evolves, we strive to develop our campus into a living laboratory that encourages people to observe and interact with the landscapes around them.

By joining the Bee Campus USA community, Purdue University in West Lafayette can enhance its initiatives toward sustainable landscape practices, reflecting its commitment to pollinator conservation.  Pollination is essential for the reproduction of more than 85% of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species, according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Yet pollinator populations are declining, putting food supplies at risk.

Becoming a designated Bee Campus USA institution reflects Purdue’s commitment to sustainability and the strong partnerships that bring together students, staff and faculty to support pollinators through teaching, research, outreach and sustainable operations.

POLLINATOR EVENTS

Our first Purdue ‘Bee Campus USA’ event was a big success!

Date: April 25, 2025

Location: Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine and the west side of the Biochemistry Building

Number of Volunteers: 40

As part of our ongoing Bee Campus USA efforts, volunteers planted 142 native plants to help boost biodiversity and support pollinator habitats across campus.

Members of the Student Bee Campus Committee were on-site to share educational materials and handouts, helping participants learn more about the importance of native plants and how they support a healthier, more sustainable environment.

BEE CAMPUS Committee

Our committee brings together students, staff and faculty who are committed to supporting Purdue’s leadership in pollinator conservation efforts.

  • Establish/maintain a Bee Campus USA committee or subcommittee comprised of the landscape director and other staff, administrators, faculty and students, charged with overseeing pollinator conservation and education efforts.  This committee fulfills this first requirement.
  • Develop and maintain a Campus Pollinator Habitat Plan to include a locally native (indigenous to your ecoregion), pollinator-friendly plant list with regional sources for such plants and a least toxic integrated pest management (IPM) plan.
  • Host campus event(s) each year to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and to acknowledge the institution’s certification as a Bee Campus USA institution.
  • Annually sponsor and track student service-learning and/or service projects to enhance pollinator habitats on and off campus. Service learning projects may or may not be part of courses.
  • Biennially offer a pollinator protection course and/or workshop and/or incorporate pollinator protection topics into the curriculum.
  • Post signage regarding pollinators to educate the campus and broader community about pollinator-friendly landscaping principles.
  • Maintain a webpage on the institution’s website to share your Bee Campus USA news and activities.

Additional Resources