Kent State University earned the title of a Bee Campus by Bee Campus USA in Dec. 2024 and intends to maintain the environment to reduce pesticides for the bees and bugs.

Students and staff have been working diligently to cultivate the campus’s environment and educate others on the benefits of conserving native pollinators. 

Katie McNamara Manning, a postdoctoral research development specialist at the university’s Environmental Science and Design Research Institute and co-chair of KSU Bee Campus USA Committee, described the campus. 

“Bee Campus USA is all about increasing quality habitat for pollinators, decreasing use of pesticides and increasing education about pollinators,” Manning said. 

There is a four-step process to obtain the title of a Bee Campus from Bee Campus USA. The steps include forming a committee, completing an online application form, gaining approval from the president or chancellor and paying an application fee. The application and renewal fee is based on student enrollment. 

“Additionally, each year, affiliates are required to submit an annual report detailing what was accomplished on your campus related to pollinators, like the habitat created or improved, outreach activities, coursework, pest management plans, etc.,” Manning said. 

The Environmental Science and Design Research Institute is the main driving force of conservation on campus. They coordinated their first event on Sept. 5, 2025, called “Pollinator Day.” 

This activity was opened to students and staff as well as children and their families to learn more about conservation, native plants and pollinators in the garden.  

To keep children engaged, the institute planted plants as a hands-on activity.

“We partnered with KSU’s Child Development Center to bring around 60 preschool and kindergarten kids, teachers and some parents over to a campus pollinator garden,” Manning said.  “There was education and activities surrounding pollinators, and they helped enhance habitat by launching native plant seeds into a nearby meadow.”

This event had an excellent turnout, and it will not be the last. Manning credited the Xerces Society for bringing the title of Bee Campus to Kent State.

Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that’s major focus is environmental conservation. The society’s full title is the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and it runs the Bee Campus USA program to collaborate on reversing pollinator decline.

Since bees are present during the spring, summer and fall, and people tend to be afraid of them, this organization aims to highlight the positives of bees. 

Being a Bee Campus USA affiliate will not only benefit the bees but also other creatures nearby. 

By keeping readers and citizens educated, they are more likely to assist in the conservation of the environment.

“We are really excited to support the work of the Xerces Society and enhance Kent’s campus by being a Bee Campus USA affiliate,” Manning said.

Brooklyn Griffiths is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].