| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.22 |
| Liaison | Mei May |
| Submission Date | Nov. 27, 2019 |
University of Texas at San Antonio
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Mei L
May Director Office of Sustainability Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
The University of Texas at San Antonio has several students groups focused on sustainability issues. These include:
• The UTSA Student Government Association (SGA), Sustainability Committee A university sponsored group that focuses on sustainability issues and works through he SGA.
• The UTSA Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) (http://www.usgbcutsa.com/). Works to bring LEED to UTSA
• The UTSA Green Society (http://twitter.com/greensociety). Works to advance sustainability at UTSA.
The garden society: a group of students that care for the campus garden.https://www.facebook.com/UTSAgarden
SYA Sustainable Youth in Action:
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The UTSA Student Community Garden was established in 2017 and has been an exciting addition to the UTSA sustainability efforts. It is a joint effort by the Green Society, Garden Society, the Office of Sustainability, and their academic advisor through an MOU with the Nutrition and Dietetics department.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Leadership Takeover Sustainability Leaders' Session: Sustainable Leaders Capacity-Building, Presentations, and student engagement seminars, at the Leadership Takeover conference.
Bringing together students, faculty and staff around care for environmental justice and sustainability with programs such as:
• Strengthening a “community of practice” for environmental leaders
• Enhancing sustainable leadership skills
• Developing follow-up action plans
• Identifying ways to measure and communicate meaningful impact
Karen Blaney and Lani May (OS Director) co-presenter. Formerly with UT Austin office of sustainability and now Community Development Program Manager with GrantWorks, Inc. Ms. Blaney is a Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program (https://elpnet.org/)
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Heritage Impact Assessments: Center Director William Dupont, in a presentation to the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation's HIA Advisory Committee, offered training on a Heritage Impact Assessment model.
Darryl Ohlenbusch UTSA Design Build: Green Spaces Alliance Studio X designs, builds outdoor classroom http://cacp.utsa.edu/news/studio-x-designs-builds-outdoor-classroom-with-green-spaces-alliance/
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The UTSA recreation center (Campus Rec) organizes a variety of outdoor activities including Orienteering, Mountain Biking, Bike and Climb, Trail Clean-Up, Coast Clean-Up, Sailing and Rock Climbing.
All Campus Rec outdoor activities follow the "Leave no Trace" principles.
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
All incoming Freshmen to UTSA are required to read the book: "Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living", by Doug Fine. The book describes the experiences of a world-weary journalist who decides to live sustainably, and settles down in a New Mexican ranch.
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Consortium for Social Transformation (CST) is an administrative unit within the College of Education and Human Development (COEHD), at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The CST is a leader in preparing culturally responsible citizens who are active collaborators and agents of positive change through scholarship, teaching and service that supports the existence of equitable and just communities.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The University of Texas at San Antonio created the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute to partner with our community and contribute to a new energy future that builds on a diverse resource base to position San Antonio as a significant contributor to the 21st century global energy economy.
The Institute integrates scientific discovery, engineering innovation and policy deliberations with pragmatic implementation and a commitment to our multicultural traditions to realize the promise of tomorrow’s America as a global energy leader. The Institute also serves as a center of intellectual creativity that promotes socioeconomic development regionally, nationally and globally.
We provide systems solutions that pursue novel opportunities for technology insertion to reduce costs, improve reliability and assure responsible environmental stewardship that contributes to our energy future. Our impact will drive San Antonio’s economic future, coalesce our intellectual capital, serve as a magnet for thought leaders from around the globe and help secure a foundation for enhanced prosperity for south Texas and the Alamo region for decades to come.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
About The Order
The Order of the Engineer was initiated in the United States to foster a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering profession, to bridge the gap between training and experience, and to present to the public a visible symbol identifying the engineer.
The first ceremony was held on June 4, 1970 at Cleveland State University. Since then, similar ceremonies have been held across the United States at which graduate and registered engineers are invited to accept the Obligation of the Engineer and a stainless steel ring. The ceremonies are conducted by Links (local sections) of the Order.
The Order is not a membership organization; there are never any meetings to attend or dues to pay. Instead, the Order fosters a unity of purpose and the honoring of one’s pledge lifelong.
The Obligation is a creed similar to the oath attributed to Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) that is generally taken by medical graduates and which sets forth an ethical code. The Obligation likewise, contains parts of the Canon of Ethics of major engineering societies. Initiates, as they accept it voluntarily, pledge to uphold the standards and dignity of the engineering profession and to serve humanity by making the best use of Earth’s precious wealth.
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
The Student Government Association hold a position for 2 sustainability representatives. http://www.utsa.edu/sga/branches/executive-branch.html
Sustainability Director
Chair the Student Health Advisory Committee within Student Government. Work with Directors, Executive Board and UTSA Administrators to ensure students are informed of Health initiatives and resources on campus.
Directors: Lucy Schoolfield
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.