Improving the Wetlands on our Downers Grove Campus

This spring, we have started a wetlands restoration project at the entryway to our Downers Grove Campus. For those of you who have visited the campus, you will recall that we have a beautiful location nestled adjacent to the Lyman Woods Forest Preserve. Next time you visit, you will see that we now have a beautiful nature walkway at the entrance to campus.

We are extremely proud of our campus, and we work hard on its upkeep because it is the literal home of our on-campus students and the academic home for commuters and all the faculty/staff. For many years, environmental restrictions in the county prevented us from improving the wetlands, because it was considered a "protected" area. Last year, we received approval from the county and village officials to build this nature path on our campus.

Previously, the entrance to campus was a tangle of trees, weeds, cattails, and underbrush. Earlier this fall, the county officials conducted a "burn" of this area, where they literally set flame to the weeds and brush to clear out the dead growth. Now, the area has been "cleaned up," so that the remaining trees and plants can flourish. The wildlife on our campus (foxes, deer, geese, ducks, and a few coyotes) will also have a better living environment. We have constructed a gravel path, so that students and faculty can take a walk through the wooded area for relaxation and a respite from their hectic schedules. We have installed special seating areas along the path so people can enjoy nature. We will also be constructing a bridge over the wetlands area, with a wonderful view of the flora and fauna. I knew this project was coming for several months, but I was genuinely impressed when I saw how much it has improved the beauty of our campus.

Many of our students have asked if tuition dollars are being used for this project. We have let them know that this was financed through our endowment funds. Tuition dollars are only used for direct educational services and academic expenses, such as our faculty, our academic facilities, our clinical rotations, etc. Additionally, we have submitted two federal grants and one county grant to help defray the costs of the wetlands restoration, as the improvements will benefit the entire community and promote the ecology of the region.

I cite this project as an example of the way Midwestern University is a good steward of our campus environments. We are fortunate to have such beautiful campuses, and we work hard to maintain and enhance them. Our alumni are so proud when they come back to visit us and see the beautiful setting we have created for our students to learn the art and science of health care. I look forward to welcoming all of our incoming students to this "new and improved" Downers Grove Campus this summer and fall. And I encourage you to take the time to take a walk on the nature path and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.