Bees and Pollinators

The mission of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is to enhance the lives of citizens in Illinois, across the nation, and around the world through our leadership in learning, discovery, innovation, engagement, and economic development. Our campus is committed to educating the future leaders of the world, especially regarding grand societal challenges like environmental sustainability.

At the U. of I. we recognize that pollinators are an important asset for our campus and the community. Pollinators facilitate diversity in plant species and provide us with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Each year, we celebrate pollinators on campus with a variety of awareness and hands-on events. The U. of I. is dedicated to the conservation of pollinator species, and we plan to continue expanding our efforts throughout each year.

The history of campus pollinator support is rooted in ground-breaking research, with the world-famous May Berenbaum, a recognized authority on insects, as a principal team member. Along with entomologist Dr. Gene Robinson, a leader in honey bee research, Dr. Berenbaum coordinated the development of the Pollinatarium on campus, which was the first free-standing center in the nation devoted to flowering plants and their pollinators. Throughout the year, the Pollinatarium provides tours and workshops on protecting and strengthening pollinator habitat.  You can find out more about the Pollinatarium here: https://pollinatarium.illinois.edu/.

Campus Landscape Master Plan

The Campus Landscape Master Plan (CLMP), published 2022, promotes the use of campus’s greenspaces and turf locations on campus to add or convert to pollinator-friendly plants. This encourages greater insect species diversity, including butterflies and bees. Per the 2020 Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), one initiative is to increase native pollinator areas on campus.  The initial goal was to increase the 26 pollinator locations to a total of 36 locations by April of 2024. As of December 2024, the university boasts 55 plantings on campus, surpassing our initial goals and providing greatly needed support.

From the CLMP, regarding planting and soils:
Pollinator support should be inclusive in all designs. The use of native and adaptive plant materials should be prioritized. Plants that support the local and migratory species should be incorporated to assist the local wildlife ecology.

Bee Campus USA

In 2018, the University of Illinois proudly became the first Big Ten university to receive Bee Campus USA status. F&S is proud to support the students’ efforts to complete the necessary steps to be a Bee Campus USA.

To be recognized as a Bee Campus USA, the F&S and the Bee Campus USA committee developed a comprehensive habitat plan, called the 2018 Illinois Bee Campus USA: A Plan for the Pollinators. It includes an Integrated Pest Management program, a list of native planting areas on campus, and an overview of pollinator outreach and engagement. As part of this designation, the university commits to continue hosting awareness events; coordinating pollinator-focused service projects, courses, and workshops; posting signage to educate the campus; and renewing the Bee Campus USA certification annually.

Bee Campus USA is an initiative of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon. The Xerces Society is focused on raising awareness, enhancing habitats, and celebrating achievements; for more information, visit https://xerces.org. For more information about Bee Campus USA, visit https://www.beecityusa.org.