Press Releases

Pollinator-Friendly Gardens Aplenty at NCC

Nash Community College is bringing awareness to National Pollinator Week June 22-28 as the 28th educational institution in the nation to be certified as an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program. The program designed to marshal the strengths of educational campuses for the benefit of pollinators. College students, faculty, administrators, and staff have long been among the most stalwart champions for sustainable environmental practices.

In 2007, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved and designated a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marking a step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has grown into an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.

The campus community takes pride in its commitment to minimizing hazards to pollinators by using no neonicotinoid pesticides, and almost no glyphosate herbicide or other potentially dangerous synthetic pesticides. Each certified campus must reapply for certification each year.

As a certified affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program, NCC follows a Campus Pollinator Habitat Plan featuring locally native, pollinator-friendly plants and a least toxic integrated pest management plan. The campus hosts events to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and annually sponsors and tracks student service projects to enhance pollinator habitats on-and off-campus. NCC biennially offers a pollinator protection course and incorporates pollinator protection topics into curriculum.