The University of Texas at Dallas
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration

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APPA Leadership in Educational Facilities

I. Mission and purpose: “To support educational excellence with quality leadership and professional management through education, research and recognition.”
-To excel in an educational environment revolved around continuously trained employees aimed toward adapting, enhancing, and transforming the facilities of the future
-To create positive impact in educational facilities on three important levels APPA transforms individual facilities professionals into higher performing managers and leaders, which
--Helps transform member institutions into more inviting and supportive learning environments, which…
--Elevates the recognition and value of educational facilities and their direct impact on the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff.
II. UT Dallas membership and participation: UT Dallas representatives attend and participate in conferences
-Attendees will present UT Dallas achievements and efforts toward innovative facilities

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Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) North Texas

I. Mission and purpose: "To connect organizations in North Texas to enable healthier communities, shared value and sustainable development through education, collaboration and capacity-building."
-RCEs are networks of individuals and formal, non-formal, and informal organizations and institutions that facilitate ESD in local and regional communities, through education, training, and public awareness to build a sustainable future.
-North Texas Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development was recognized on February 2019 by United Nations University Institute for Advanced Studies in Sustainability.
-Sustainable Developement Goals (SDGs) for RCE North Texas (12 counties): SDG #3 Good Health And well Being, SDG #4 Quality Education, SDG #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
-Identify and align initiatives:
1. Map existing sustainability organizations
2. Synergize regional partnerships
3. Expand and engage beyond silos
4. Identify and align with initiatives
5. Leverage/share resources
6. Develop sustainability curriculum
7. Increase training and public awareness
8. Job training and internship programs
9. Create collective impact
10. Build leadership and volunteer opportunities
11. Promoting collaboration vs. competition
12. Increasing grant funding opportunities
13. Advancing sustainability policies
14. Aligning local initiatives with SDGs
15. Modeling actions at work, in classrooms and at home
16. Respecting and connecting with diverse expertise
17. Engaging in communities throughout region

II. UT Dallas Membership: Commitment to developing RCE North Texas
-Review and coordinate for major initiatives of committees.
Objectives:
-Coordinate work between committees so work is concerted and complementary.
-Prepare quarterly report for Advisory Board
-Assess major initiatives for alignments with RCE priorities
-Incorporate RCE Survey feedback into RCE into practice
-RCE Coordinators are Liaison between Advisory Board, Steering Committee, and RCE Member Organizations.
-Facilitate as needed for success at all levels.

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Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
Member Since April 2013

I. Mission and purpose: STARS® is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of higher education institutions, from community colleges to research universities. It encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions, as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability. STARS is designed to:
-Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education.
-Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the -international campus sustainability community.
-Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
-Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.
Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.

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Tree Campus USA
Member Since 2016
I. TMission and purpose: Tree Campus USA recognition is met by five standards. Two- and four-year accredited colleges and universities meeting these standards will receive recognition materials to showcase their dedication to the campus environment.

II. UT Dallas Membership Commitments:
Standard 1: Campus Tree Advisory Committee
--Comprised of students, staff, faculty, facilities management, and community
Standard 2: Campus Tree Care Plan
-- This tree care plan establishes the priorities of the Facilities Management department at UT Dallas when geared toward the beautification of the campus environment, and to ensure that a diverse, healthy, visually appealing, and safe landscape is maintained. This plan details the current tree management based policies, procedures, guidelines and practices the Grounds department adheres to at this institution of higher education.
Standard 3: Expenditures Calculation
-- Campus Tree Planting, Care, Management, Volunteer Time, etc.
Standard 4: Arbor Day Observance
-- The University of Texas at Dallas celebrated Texas Arbor Day during the annual Viva Volunteer Service Event by planting trees
Standard 5: Service Learning Project
-- Viva Volunteer student participated in service learning projects at UT Dallas and in the community.
-- Students to serve their university and community in the form of planting and learning about trees and their local environment.

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Bee Campus USA
Member Since
​I. Mission and purpose: The Bee Campus USA program endorses a set of commitments, defined in an application, for creating sustainable habitats for pollinators, which are vital to feeding the planet.

II. UT Dallas Membership Commitments:
1. Establish/maintain a Bee Campus USA Committee or Subcommittee comprised of the landscape director and other staff, administrators, faculty and students, charged with overseeing your pollinator conservation and education efforts.
2. Develop a Campus Pollinator Habitat Plan to include a locally native (indigenous to your eco-region), pollinator-friendly plant list with regional sources for such plants and a least toxic integrated pest management (IPM) plan. The plant list and IPM plan should be publicized and available on the web to offer a valuable landscape-management model applicable to other local landscapes.
3. Host an annual campus event(s) to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and to acknowledge the institution’s certification as a BEE CAMPUS USA institution. Events may be workshops on pollinators, planting pollinator gardens, presentations about pollinators, garden tours and guided pollinator walks, films about pollinators, etc.
4. Annually sponsor and track student service-learning and/or service projects to enhance pollinator habitats on-and off-campus. Service learning projects may or may not be part of courses.
5. At least biennially offer a pollinator protection course and/or workshop and/or incorporate pollinator protection topics into the curriculum. Examples of possible topics include Pollinator Ecology, Integrated Pest Management and/or Landscaping for Pollinators. Workshops may provide continuing education credits for professional pesticide applicators and/or landscape designers, etc.
6. Post signage regarding pollinators to educate the campus and broader community about pollinator-friendly landscaping principles. For example, signage next to plantings might explain how beneficial insects provide a natural process for pest management and pollination, or signs in the cafeteria might explain the role of pollinators in food production. Signage may or may not be permanent.
7. Maintain a web page on the institution’s website to share your BEE CAMPUS USA news and activities.
8. After having been certified a full 12 months, annually apply for renewal of the institution’s certification and submit a brief narrative report of the previous year’s BEE CAMPUS USA achievements each January and complete the update and metrics forms.

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Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS)
I. Mission and purpose: The Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) fosters a statewide network that embodies inter-campus collaboration and aspires to lead the world into a sustainable future committed to environmental preservation, economic development, and social equity.The mission of TRACS is to provide resources, expertise, education, peer to peer support, and training to advance sustainability in Texas higher education through an annual statewide summit and diverse member-driven network of students, faculty, and staff.

II. UT Dallas membership and participation: UT Dallas serves on the Executive Committee and Chairs the Communications Committee for TRACS and representatives attend and present at the annual summit.

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Texas Association of Physical Plant Administrators (TAPPA)
I. Mission and purpose:Texas Association of Physical Plant Administrators (TAPPA) represents over 175 Texas education organizations including universities, junior and community colleges, and 4-year colleges with over 400 members who are actively involved in the administration and operation of facilities at institutions whose main emphasis is education.

II. UT Dallas membership and participation:
TAPPA is a non-profit organization in the state of Texas that promotes common interests, proficiency and professionalism in college and university facilities operations including:
1. The planning, development, administration, maintenance and operations of campus facilities;
2. Foster professional development and standards, share best practices, and better serve the objectives of institutions of higher education;
3. Promote interest, proficiency, and leadership in the administration of higher education facilities and physical plant operations;
4. As a state chapter of APPA (Leadership in Educational Facilities), aid and supplement the mission and work of the association in addition to the regional chapter CAPPA and the Texas Association of State Senior College and University Business Officers (TASSCUBO).

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US Green Building Commission (USGBC)Texas Chapter
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I. Mission and purpose:The Mission of USGBC Texas is to transform the way buildings, homes and communities are designed, built, maintained and operated in Texas through outreach, education, advocacy and partnerships, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life in Texas.

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TRACS 2017
Presentation Title: Monarch Habitat
Presenter: Thea Junt
Description: Thea Junt discussed a program to establish and maintain monarch waystations at universities under the direction of The Monarch Watch.
Link: https://texascampussustainability.com/2017-summit-presentations/
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APPA 2018
Presentation Title: Success With the Water Trifecta – Condensate, RO Reject & Landscape
Presenter(s): Richard M. Dempsey, P.E., Associate Vice President for Facilities Management, The University of Texas at Dallas; Kevin Masten, Director of Research Facilities Operations, The University of Texas at Dallas
Description: Modern research facilities must be innovative, cool, and adaptable; they must also meet facilities requirements for easy operation and sustainability. Traditional water conservation measures in new construction would have reduce water demand by 3%. By utilizing creative water sources and solutions, the UT Dallas Bio-engineering and Sciences Building was able to reduce annual water use by 52%. This session will provide an overview of the issue, design and construction constraints, analytical evaluations, and maintenance and operations of the water systems.
Link: http://www.appa.org/training/APPA2018/AUG5PG.cfm
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TRACS 2019
Session Presentation Title: Growing the Scope of Sustainability and Leveraging Student Engagement
Presenter: Gary Cocke
Description: The field of sustainability has become much more defined through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the role of sustainability in higher education is increasingly defined by the standards in the AASHE STARS report. As the field of sustainability is growing and maturing, the role of the Sustainability Office on campus must also grow and mature. UT Dallas is focused on the growing scope of sustainability beyond its rots in Facilities Management to also impact student engagement, academics, and administration with student leadership through Eco Reps, Student Government, and Sustainability Club playing key roles. This presentation discussed the evolution of the Sustainability Office at UT Dallas while outlining how specific student projects contribute to the growth and impact of the office.

Session Presentation Title: Waste Management at UTD
Presenter: Evan Paret
Description: The mission of The Office of Sustainability at The University of Texas at Dallas within the department of Facilities Management is to engage the UT Dallas community as a catalyst and champion for environmental stewardship and social responsibility, while fostering a culture of sustainability that permeates all aspects of the campus experience. Comprised of two full-time staff and six sustainability interns, the office focuses its energy on key areas including but not limited to water, energy, habitat conservation, waste management (recycling), greening up buildings, and outreach. With a variety of recycling programs offered, the presentation was oriented toward identifying waste management practices, how to manage relationships with internal and external partners, and the futures of sustainability at UT Dallas.

Poster Presentation Title: Sustainability and Culture Assessment: Bridging Student Expectations for Sustainability
Presenter: Aleks Adamopoulos
Description: Sustainability means something different to almost every student that you speak to on a college campus, and many students have differing ideas pertaining to what they would like to see from the Sustainability Office on campus. At UT Dallas, we conducted a Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessment to gauge student opinions and knowledge, which is being used to guide office priorities related to sustainable communication. Furthermore, as a non-traditional student with a passion for sustainability that found an Eco Rep position assisting with AASHE STARS reporting during my senior year, I have deepened my knowledge widened my perspective to what sustainability in higher education could and should be. My poster will present findings from the Sustainability and Literacy Assessment along with personal reflections regarding the student perspective of sustainability and how they align, or do not align, with institutional priorities related to sustainability.

Poster Presentation Title: Student Eco Rep Internship for Greenhouse Gas Analysis
Presenter: Morganne Blaylock
Description: A greenhouse gas emissions report can be a tedious process requiring numerous stakeholders, the collection of information which may not have been previously gathered, and data analysis. This project can seem insurmountable, especially for institutions which have bot previously completed an analysis. However, through planning, dedication, and consensus building, greenhouse gas analysis reports are possible. UT Dallas is utilizing a student-led report in order to fulfill an AASHE STARS credit. This presentation explained places to begin, lessons learned. and how to engage students and the university to complete a greenhouse gas emissions report, especially for the first time.
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UT Dallas provided a case study of the for the Innovation Credit in LEED certification of the Engineering and Computer Science West building that was certified LEED Gold through the USGBC in 2019

North Texas Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) in Education for Sustainable Development
-Board of Directors, Gary Cocke
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Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainabiltiy
-Executive Committee Member and Communications Chair, Gary Cocke

Sustainable Semester: Water Crisis Spring 2019
Student Government in partnership with The Office of Sustainability launched a new way to learn about sustainability. During this ten-week program, students explored the scarcity of water both in the United States and around the world. The group met for a seminar-style discussion on the provided materials.
Collaborative Efforts:
Discussion Title: Urban design for water conservation and water capture.
Presenter: Mr. Patrick Dickinson
Institution: Texas A&M Agrilife Water University