Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph's University Earns ArbNet Level III Accreditation

The Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph's University has been awarded Level III Accreditation by ArbNet, the international arboretum accreditation program of the Morton Arboretum, recognizing the Barnes Arboretum as one of the nation's premier collections of woody plants and a leader in public horticulture. 

The designation places the Arboretum among just 48 Level III accredited arboreta in the United States and makes it the only Level III accredited arboretum among the 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the country. The accreditation recognizes more than a century of stewardship and the Arboretum's commitment to conservation, education, research and community engagement.

Level III accreditation is awarded to arboreta that meet rigorous professional standards for collections management, strategic planning, public engagement and organizational capacity, recognizing excellence in the stewardship of living tree collections.

“The Arboretum is one of Saint Joseph's great treasures, and this accreditation affirms our commitment to preserving it for generations to come,” says Cheryl A. McConnell, PhD, president of Saint Joseph’s University. “It embodies the environmental stewardship at the heart of our Jesuit mission and Laudato Si’ Sustainability Initiative, and we are proud to share this remarkable space with our University community and neighbors.”

The Barnes Arboretum traces its origins to 1880, when Joseph Lapsley Wilson established an extraordinary collection of specimen trees on the 12-acre estate. Albert C. Barnes, MD, and Laura L. Barnes preserved and expanded those collections after founding the Barnes Foundation in 1922. 

Since Saint Joseph's assumed stewardship of the property in 2018, the University has continued to build upon that legacy. Today, the Arboretum maintains 1,721 documented woody plant accessions, approximately 25 Pennsylvania state champion trees, and an exceptional diversity of gardens, woodlands, meadows and teaching collections.

The accreditation reflects both the significance of the Arboretum's historic collections and its continued evolution as a center for education, conservation and community engagement. In recent years, annual visitation has increased more than six-fold; new gardens and natural areas have enhanced the landscape; volunteer participation has grown substantially; and opportunities for student research, experiential learning and public programming have expanded.

“This recognition reflects generations of stewardship, but it is also a testament to the extraordinary dedication of the people who care for the Barnes Arboretum every day,” says Clint Springer, PhD, professor of biology and director of the Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph's University. “I am especially grateful to Katie Jacoby, our head gardener, and William Rein, assistant director of living collections and horticultural education, whose expertise and dedication were instrumental in achieving this milestone. This accreditation also recognizes the contributions of our volunteers, students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters, who have helped transform the Arboretum into a vibrant place for learning, discovery and environmental stewardship. Together, we are ensuring these remarkable living collections continue to educate and inspire future generations.”

The Barnes Arboretum exemplifies Saint Joseph's University's mission to educate the whole person through scholarship, stewardship and service. As a living classroom, research resource and public garden, it provides opportunities for students and the broader community to engage directly with biodiversity, horticulture and environmental stewardship while preserving one of the nation's finest living collections.

Learn more about the Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph’s University.