University of Texas at El Paso
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

UTEP (and as part of the UT System) does have in place policies, procedures, and established practices. The President’s Office has a Development Board and University Relations Office regularly engages key stakeholders, which may qualify as the formal system of policies and procedures. In addition, the UT Regents’ Rules encourage university engagement with stakeholders, and all affiliations for research, internships, and other such programs are required to process affiliation agreements, including formal agreements with other universities. Colleges and Departments at UTEP also have advisory boards, which function as stakeholder engagement. UTEP regularly works with the ISDs and EPCC as key stakeholders. Some key stakeholder engagement processes related to environmental sustainability include: University Relations work with the El Paso Housing Authority, Facility Services work with utilities companies, and the campus transformation effort’s engagement with local neighborhoods on the development of arroyos and other conservation initiatives. In addition, Facility Services has developed green initiatives as part of the campus transformation, but also efforts for water and energy conservation (working with the local utility companies). UTEP has established strong ties to a number of El Paso community groups, including, among many others, the general public, neighborhood organizations, governmental agencies, state, city and county agencies and organizations, and a variety of nonprofit organizations. For example, Facilities Services lead by Greg McNicol works very closely with community and neighborhood groups and consults them as we develop and modify our campus master plan. When current campus transformation projects where being considered and designed, Greg, along with Vice-President Cindy Villa, University President Natalicio and others hosted several meetings with community groups, government officials and individuals seeking their input and reaction to our concepts and potential designs. We also seek input from our UTEP Development Board and routine consultations with local government as a means of soliciting input and reaction to our plans for expansion—including physical facilities.

University Relations and Facility Services identifies key groups. Because of UTEP's location on the US-Mexico border, many in the city of El Paso are vulnerable/underrepresented groups, particularly in the above mentioned focus on the El Paso Housing Authority.

School districts, El Paso Community College, El Paso Housing Authority, Neighborhood Associations, City of El Paso, utility companies, advisory boards comprised of community members relevant for the specific department or college.

Rio Bosque Park (see section on collaborative partnerships), UTEP campus transformation community engagement on arroyo development, El Paso Housing Authority collaboration (University Relations).