University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
EN-3: Student Life

Of the over 200 student organizations that support the growth and development of students with a variety of interests and values by providing opportunities to experience leadership growth, professional networking, and volunteering, many are focused on an aspect of sustainable development such as health or education. UTRGV has several active student groups focused specifically on sustainability or sustainable development. Each student group has a faculty advisor who oversees student activities. Environmental Awareness Club (EAC): The Environmental Awareness Club is a student organization at URGV, with a focus on protecting the environment as well as generating awareness on campus and in the community in cleaning up the earth, by promoting the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and engaging in awareness-raising activities. This club sponsors events and activities year-round with the university and community. https://www.facebook.com/EAC.RGV/ Journal Club The Biology Journal Club holds weekly meetings to discuss biological research. Research articles presented include recent newsworthy findings, original research, topics of interest, “hot off the presses” findings, and even occasional classics. Topics can also include area of biology, from microbes to plants to ecology and everything in between. http://www.utrgv.edu/biology/news/student-organizations/journal-club/index.htm Biology Club The purpose of the Biology Club is both literary and educational. It provides cultural stimulation and promote interest in biology for UTRGV students, and for the surrounding community, foster all aspects of excelling in the discipline of biology, promote exemplary character and good fellowship, provide interaction for members with professionals in various fields of biology, and participate in community service projects. http://www.utrgv.edu/biology/news/student-organizations/biology-club/index.htm Pre-Med/Bio-Med Society The club's mission is to supplement the Pre-Medical, PreDental, Bio-Medical and Pre-Health related curriculum by promoting cooperation among premedical and health-related educators, and the practicing members of the profession: to stimulate an appreciation of medicine, dentistry, health care, and research; to promote excellence in scholarship; and to establish a binding fraternal relationship among the members of the Society. Operation Smile Club Operation Smile is an international medical charity that provides free surgeries for children and young adults born with facial deformities. Operation Smile has student programs all over the world ranging from first graders to postgraduates. This semester marks the beginning of the Operation Smile Club at UTRGV. As a chapter of Operation Smile, its focus is on spreading awareness of cleft conditions and other facial deformities, and to help raise the funds to cover the cost of 6 free surgeries. Pre-Pharmacy Association The Pre-Dental Society at UTRGV aims to help students interested in the dental field by promoting dental-related events and programs, community involvement, and shadowing opportunities. In addition, this organization strives to build a sense of fellowship, encourage academic excellence, and deliver an equal opportunity for each member to excel. Society for Conservation Biology The SCB is an international professional organization dedicated to promoting the scientific study of the phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity.The Society's membership comprises a wide range of people interested in the conservation and study of biological diversity.

UTRGV Agroecology Research and Teaching Garden and Greenhouse is the first USDA certified organic garden in the state of Texas. Students have an opportunity apply their knowledge in an outdoor laboratory to explore ecology, biology, and agriculture. In addition, the Subtropical Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) is a campus lab where students can test their learning and connect to their community through organic farming. Both garden opportunities allow students to gain experience in sustainable food systems.

The Distinguished Speaker Series (DSS) is a signature program under the leadership of Student Activities that aims to provide the university and surrounding community with world-class speakers and lecturers to expand their knowledge and understanding on various topics. DSS hosts public events with priority seating for UTRGV students, faculty, and staff. The series has brought in notable speakers such as former leader of Russia Mikhail Gorbachev, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, author and civil rights activist the late Dr. Maya Angelou, Emmy award-winning CNN host Larry King, and Grammy/Oscar award-winning R&B artist John Legend. Journalist Soledad O’Brien talked voting, Latinos, and which issues are really of interest on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, before taking to the stage for her ‘I am Latino in America’ tour panel discussion. UTRGV was the second stop on O’Brien’s tour, which began Sept. 28 at Florida International University. For O’Brien, the tour was an opportunity to open the dialogue and amplify the Latino voice on critical community issues including education, access to health care, and creating opportunities through education. As represented above, the event provides opportunity for quality education and gender equality. LINK: http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/about-utrgv/news/press-releases/2015/october-06-soledad-obrien-talks-voting-latinos-and-which-issues-are-really-of-interest/ Laverne Cox also participated in the DSS, giving a talk called "Ain't I a Woman: My Journey to Womanhood," which explores how the intersections of race, class, and gender uniquely affect the lives of trans women of color. Laverne draws from her own personal narrative to share how she has been able to navigate the world and all it's challenges; giving equal voice to individuals from all walks of life furthers the sustainable development goal of reduced inequalities. Zapotec Language A UTRGV student organization is working on a children’s storybook that could help save a dying indigenous language. Members of the Cross-Linguistics Undergraduate Board (CLUB) are nearing completion of a year-long, trilingual children’s storybook written in Zapotec, Spanish and English. The Zapotec in the book is Macuiltianguis Zapotec, an indigenous language from the town of San Pablo Macuiltianguis, a mountain village in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dr. John Foreman, assistant professor in the Department of Writing and Language Studies and CLUB’s faculty advisor, has been guiding and mentoring members on research documenting and analyzing Macuiltianguis Zapotec. As represented above, the student organization provides opportunity for quality education, sustainable cities & communities, and partnership for the goals. LINK: http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/about-utrgv/news/press-releases/2017/february-16-students-study-indigenous-zapotec-language-aid-in-its-preservation/index.htm

A Play on Words Albuquerque’s poet laureate and a UTRGV student featured on the “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry” show will perform Thursday and Friday on both campuses of the university. Amalia Ortiz, who is pursuing a master’s in creative writing, will open for Jessica Helen Lopez, the poet laureate of the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show is titled “Más Palabras: Slam Poetry by the City Poet Laureate of Burque.” Ortiz recently published “Rant. Chant. Chisme.” (Wings Press, 2015) a collection of her work. Both artists describe themselves as Chicana feminist poets. As represented above, the event provides opportunity for quality education and gender quality. LINK: http://www.utrgvrider.com/a-play-on-words/ STORY: A UTRGV student organization is working on a children’s storybook that could help save a dying indigenous language. Members of the Cross-Linguistics Undergraduate Board (CLUB) are nearing completion of a year-long, trilingual children’s storybook written in Zapotec, Spanish and English. The Zapotec in the book is Macuiltianguis Zapotec, an indigenous language from the town of San Pablo Macuiltianguis, a mountain village in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dr. John Foreman, assistant professor in the Department of Writing and Language Studies and CLUB’s faculty advisor, has been guiding and mentoring members on research documenting and analyzing Macuiltianguis Zapotec. This work is important for the communities served by UTRGV as this is a rapidly-disappearing language that is part of Mexico's cultural history. Educating about all parts of history and culture contributes to a high-quality education and respect for indigenous cultures, and thus partnership for the goals of sustainable communities. LINK: http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/about-utrgv/news/press-releases/2017/february-16-students-study-indigenous-zapotec-language-aid-in-its-preservation/index.htm

Student Support Services staff members are available to advise participants in Financial Aid education, and advise participants in areas of personal finance education including developing a budget, learning about banking, understanding credit, and searching for student employment. Financial literacy is a vital skill for living in an economically sustainable way.

Student internship opportunities are made available by almost every department of UTRGV, but the biology department has some unique offerings for student employment. They are regularly updated every semester. In May 2017, the two positions were available: -Horticulture Supervisor Assistant at Hiltop Gardens, Inc. (Intern duties include identifying, labeling, mapping and photographing aloe species in Hiltop Gardens' Memorial Aloe Garden which contains approximately 200 species of aloe.) -Food Safety Assistant/Quality Assurance at Tenaza Organics. Tenaza Organics ships 5000 to 7000 boxes per week to local retailers and customers in the south east. Internship duties include daily inspection of harvest crews to insure adherence to food safety protocols, help with best practices if adherence is not in compliance, complete proper documentation for future audits and compliance, inspect product quality - insure proper labeling, pack size, and product condition. Additionally, Since its inception, The Office for Sustainability has employed over 40 Fellows, Scholars and Interns. Sustainability Fellows Program The Office for Sustainability and the Office of the Provost have implemented the Sustainability Fellows Program, a campus service learning-initiative that provides talented UTRGV graduate students the opportunity to work closely with the Office of Sustainability staff. As part of The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), UTRGV is submitting its first ever documentation of sustainability efforts on campus by means of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, STARS. To advance sustainability in this higher education institution, Sustainability Fellows serve as Graduate Research Assistants, working 20 hours per week to help coordinate sustainability activities, engage in educational and community-based initiatives, and perform other tasks integral to the mission of the Office of Sustainability. Two Sustainability Fellows will be selected each semester. Reappointment for a second semester is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties. Each fellow will receive a designated stipend per semester. Sustainability Scholars Program The Office for Sustainability is collaborating with the Office of Undergraduate Research in efforts to implement the Sustainability Scholars Program. This service-learning program provides talented UTRGV undergraduate students the opportunity to work closely with the Office for Sustainability staff and stakeholder groups on a range of campus based sustainability projects. Under The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and STARS program students examine and assess social, economic, and environmental practices that promote or impede sustainability. The greater goal of the research effort is to help the UTRGV community become a cleaner, greener more sustainable institution. Throughout the experience, Scholars will learn how to construct and implement a formal research design, receive training in research ethics and relevant methods for data collection and analysis, and use their results to help create and evaluate policies and programs for sustainability initiatives at UTRGV. Sustainability Scholars were selected in the fall and spring semester for a 20 hour a week commitment and awarded a stipend along with up to three credit hours of mentored Undergraduate Research. Sustainability Intern Program welcomes both graduates and undergraduates from all majors and backgrounds as sustainability interns. Under the direction of the Office of Sustainability, UTRGV students work 10-15 hours per week applying their experience and education to assist in designing and executing sustainability themed campaigns and events, representing the Office for Sustainability as well as assist in campus wide sustainability data collection efforts for the implementation of UTRGV sustainability goals.

Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences (MS) The AESS program provides students with a unique, integrative education and training experience that prepares them to meet the challenges and opportunities in the multiple dimensions of contemporary agricultural, environmental, and sustainability science disciplines. Link:http://www.utrgv.edu/agroecology/education-programs/ay16-17%20agricultural,%20environmental%20and%20sustainability%20sciences%20masters%20....pdf Master of Science in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Science (OCES) The goal of the OCES program is to provide students a unique integrative education and training experience that prepares them to meet the challenges and opportunities in the multiple dimensions of contemporary marine, coastal, and environmental science disciplines. Specifically, the OCES program targets students wishing to pursue a graduate degree with the intention of entering the work force to contribute their gained expertise and comprehensive understanding of complex ecological and resource systems made up of biotic and abiotic components coexisting and interacting with human communities and relevant socio-economic activities in ocean and coastal zone environments.

UTRGV’s co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives work towards the sustainable development goal of sustainable communities and land life by having active student groups and projects focused on sustainability where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems.