| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 32.74 |
| Liaison | William Hargrove |
| Submission Date | April 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas at El Paso
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Luis
Perez Sustainability Coordinator CERM |
Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
| Yes or No | |
| Active student groups focused on sustainability | Yes |
| Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes | Yes |
| Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills | Yes |
| Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | No |
| Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | Yes |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | No |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | No |
| Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution | Yes |
| Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions | No |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | Yes |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Student Group are as followed:
1. Permaculture Society
The Permaculture Society aims to bring together students and organizations alike to promote ecological sustainability and community outreach by using different systems of ecological design.
2. Environmental Advocates
Is a student organization dedicated to promoting environmental issues and awareness on campus and in the community.
3. Miner Recycling System (MRS)
Mission is to implement a top quality sustainable recycling program for the University of Texas at El Paso integrated by strategic partners working together to generate a social movement in our city and our campus. The innovative approach will establish a successful infrastructure driven as a student business entity to change UTEP community behavior. This will manage growth and increase university sustainability. The vision of the MRS is to make UTEP a Net Zero Waste institution and an example of how it can be accomplished for other Universities in Texas and the country.
4. Student Government Association
We provide the official voice through which student opinion may be expressed. We ensure student participation in the University decision-making process. We help to defend the rights of each student and we work together with the administration for the advancement of the University community.
5. Green Fund Committee
Is a fee referendum that will cost $3 per student per semester, raising up to $40,000 per year for campus sustainability projects. Reviews project applications and recommend funding allocations to the University President.
6. Geology Students Association
Sigma Gamma Epsilon/UTEP Geology Club is a student-run group that is interested in the exploration, understanding and promotion of Earth Sciences.The members of our group work together to organize geologic field trips and hikes. We hope to educate and excite our community about geology. We are also interested in helping our fellow students with professional development and research.
Sigma Gamma Epsilon/UTEP Geology Club is open to any UTEP student that is interested in the Geological Sciences.
The website URL where information about student groups is available:
A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:
Organic Gardens
1. Chihuahuan Gardens Desert
Consist of a number of adjacent gardens designed to show the attractiveness of native desert plants for landscaping, demonstrate landscaping techniques the conserve water in this desert region, and serve as resource for both formal and informal botanical and environmental teaching.The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens were formally dedicated in September 1999 and currently 625 different species of plants, thus comprising one of the largest captive assemblages of Chihuahuan Desert Flora in the world.
2. Ocotillo Garden (Miner Heights)
The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
Permaculture Society- The Permaculture Society aims to bring together students and organizations alike to promote ecological sustainability and community outreach by using different systems of ecological design
Miner Recycling System (MRS) - Mission is to implement a top quality sustainable recycling program for the University of Texas at El Paso integrated by strategic partners working together to generate a social movement in our city and our campus. The innovative approach will establish a successful infrastructure driven as a student business entity to change UTEP community behavior. This will manage growth and increase university sustainability. The vision of the MRS is to make UTEP a Net Zero Waste institution and an example of how it can be accomplished for other Universities in Texas and the country.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
Green Fund – This student-led fee referendum was voted on and passed in Spring 2010. The fund provides monies for projects that
Help reduce UTEP’s negative impact on the environment
Help make UTEP more energy sustainable
Support educational initiatives related to energy conservation.
Funds are generated though a three-dollar fee that applies to each enrolled student per semester. A Green Fund Committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff votes on Green Fund proposals for award.
The following programs/initiatives/studies have been funded using Green Fee funds:
Title Amount Funded Description
Miner Recycling System $17,580 12/4/13 Funding provided to continue the progress made by the Miner Recycling Program.
Solar Panels $33,000 7/29/13 Funds were allocated to purchase solar panels for Cottonwood Building in Miner Heights. Energy savings realized will be use for additional panels.
Rent-a-bike program $33,600 5/1/13 Bike kiosks will be strategically located throughout campus where bikes can be rented on an hourly basis. The funds will be used to supplement a $176,000 commitment by El Paso’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, which will then result in a $1.5 million grant from the federal government.
Residential Garden at Miner Heights $5,256 4/4/13 Funds were used to purchase equipment, supplies and student wages.
Miner Recycling System $14,400 2/28/13 Feasibility study to design and implement a Miner Recycling System.
Green Fund Awareness Initiative $11,684 12/14/12 Inform UTEP students about the benefits and opportunities associated with the Green Fund. The primary goal is to increase the number of Green Fund applications.
Bus System Study $36,781 10/03/12 Feasibility study to consider the implementation of an off-campus bus system for UTEP students.
Wise Family Theatre $32,040 6/25/12 Funding was allocated to replace incandescent theatrical lighting with LED fixtures that will increase bulb life and reduce power consumption.
Energy Dashboard $30,200 6/29/11 This project was developed by students from the College of Engineering to help Facilities Services monitor energy efficiencies with on-campus buildings. The Energy Dashboard monitors electric energy use from campus buildings for the purposes of analyzing consumption and trends. The UTEP Library is the only building currently connected to the Energy Dashboard. The dashboard is accessible to the public at
Energy
Dashboard at UTEP
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
Earth-week, is a week long full of events that focus on sustainability and the arts.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
1. The Department of Recreational Sports (RSD)
Provides access to innovative programs, services and facilities inclusive to all UTEP students that build a balance of lifelong healthy habits with academic excellence. The RSD is global leader in educations students on the values of balanced active lifestyle and academic success.
2. Miner Recreational Club
To serve student triathletes of all abilities by providing support, education and events to encourage and promote triathlon as a sport and a healthy lifestyle, and to encourage contact with other athletes and the triathlon community as a whole.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The GREEN FUND has employed student for research and implementation of the sustainable projects.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
All student organization at UTEP are considered to co-curricular opportunities for students. MineTYracker keeps record of all students who are involve sustainability programs and gives credit to the students by transferring their record as co-curricular.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.