Partners

The College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Science 
Its Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension have active research, teaching, and outreach programs at the Arboretum.  The Arboretum supports a variety of horticulture, natural resource and environmental science courses taught by college faculty.  Studies on woody and herbaceous plant evaluation, landscape plant production, conservation biology and environmentally friendly landscape maintenance practices are just a few of the research found at the Arboretum.

The College of Fine and Applied Arts
The Department of Landscape Architecture uses the Arboretum to provide real world design problems for a variety of landscape design and construction courses.  Creative products of the students and faculty of this unit are integral to the development of the Arboretum.  Japan House, a unique cultural program, is located in the Arboretum with a lovely view of the arboretum ponds.  It serves a cultural center and has scheduled classes which include: advanced tea ceremony, a Zen meditation group meeting, calligraphy, sweet-making for the tea ceremony, and a series of extramural courses featuring different types of Japanese art forms.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The departments of Plant Biology, Entomology, and Life Sciences use the Arboretum’s living collections for a variety of instructional and research activities.  The Spurlock Museum, scheduled to open in 2001, will provide a new home for the 45,000 ethnographic and cultural artifacts currently housed in the World Heritage and Natural History Museums. The natural habitat restorations and living collections of the Arboretum will serve will serve as a “living natural” compliment to the Spurlock Museum.

Illinois Natural History Survey
Scientists from the INHS assist in acquiring and organizing the Arboretum’s the living collections and habitat restorations in manner relevant to the biotic resources of Illinois.  Research findings acquired by INHS scientists from the Arboretum’s living collections and natural habitat restorations are used to formulate recommendations about the status, protection, development, and informed use of biotic resources of Illinois.

Partnership Illinois
Partnership Illinois consist of more than 400 programs and services link the University to the needs of Illinois citizens. A campus-wide commitment, Partnership Illinois raises visibility and improves access to University resources such as the Arboretum through partnerships with schools, businesses, government agencies, and private organizations.