| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.66 |
| Liaison | Marianella Franklin |
| Submission Date | Sept. 20, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Rebecca
Gadson Asst Dean of Students Student Involvement |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Central Sustainability Website
Yes
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
UTRGV has a central sustainability website which consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts and fosters awareness about sustainable development and educating for sustainable development. The objective is to provide clear and consistent messages about sustainability related research, teaching, and operational initiatives at UTRGV to students, faculty, staff, and other internal and external stakeholders.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Sustainability Newsletter
No
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
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None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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Social Media Platforms
Yes
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
The Office for Sustainability helps promote a culture of sustainability among students, faculty, and staff on the UTRGV campus through the use of Facebook and instagram. Much like the main Office for Sustainability website, the social media platforms exists to provide clear and consistent messages to internal/external stakeholders about sustainability at UTRGV; however the social media aspects allows the office to interact with the campus community and share their efforts on a more personal level.
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Student Newspaper Coverage
No
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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Student Research Publication
Yes
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Student research is published on DSpace, a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication. Other students may access their fellow students' research easily through the UTRGV library website.
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Green Building Signage
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Buildings which are LEED certified proudly display their plaques in the building's lobbies.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Sustainable Food Systems Information
Yes
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
UTRGV Dining Services website features healthy food preparation options (i.e. Vegetarian Exhibition Stations with menus prepared by our chef just for you at Display Cooking) and a wide variety of fresh food designed to satisfy everyone's appetite.
The site also announces sustainability initiatives for waste reduction efforts such as going “Trayless” and its national commitment as a national Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) Endorser.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Sustainable Grounds Signage
Yes
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Various signs across campus read, “Only Rain Down the Drain!” Also, a phone number is provided on the “UTRGV’s Guide to a Clean Stormwater System” pamphlet, to call if anyone is seen not complying with measures so that they may be properly addressed.
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Sustainable Walking Map or Tour
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
UTRGV offers maps for the three campuses: Brownsville, Edinburg, and Harlingen that illustrate safe, designated walking trails. Additionally, group tour of the first certified organic facility on Texas university grounds, the campus agroecology garden offers tours to groups; agroecology students may lead the tours as volunteering opportunities.
http://www.utrgv.edu/agroecology/community-engagement/tours/index.htm
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Guide for Commuters
Yes
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Parking & Transportation Services has partnered with local transit providers to provide additional connectivity throughout the Valley for faculty, staff, and students. Valley Metro operates routes throughout the entire Valley, including rural and urban areas. Students, faculty, and staff may ride on any Valley Metro route by showing their validated UTRGV ID Card upon boarding.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians
Yes
None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
UTRGV's Parking and Transportation Services offers maps and guides for bikers, bike safety workshops free to all students, and the regional bikeshare program available to its students, faculty, and staff through the Zagster app offers additional safety information.
None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Green Living Guide
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
During freshman orientation, students are provided with a Sustainability at UTRGV guide which gives them simple tips for a more sustainable campus, dorm, or first-time apartment experience. Additionally, the OFS website features longer explanations about each simple tip, and an interactive dorm illustration is in development to further demonstrate the ways in which sustainability can be incorporated into a students' residential experience.
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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Other Outreach Materials
Yes
A brief description of these materials or publications:
Every year, UTRGV Office for Sustainability produces a Campus Tree Care Report, which outlines care standards and other guidelines for UTRGV's trees, a large investment both financial and intangible. The Tree Care Report contributes to UTRGV's designation as a "Tree Campus USA" campus.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Optional Fields
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Although the UTRGV student newspaper doesn't offer a guest column on sustainability, students studying environmental studies in a course run by UTRGV lecturer Stefanie Herweck submitted a series of guest columns to local newspaper, the Rio Grande Guardian, making the case for conservation and the importance of organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://riograndeguardian.com/san-miguel-unspoken-heroes-of-the-rgv/
UTRGV’s sustainability outreach materials work towards the sustainable development goals of sustainable cities and communities as well as Partnership for the goals and Responsible Consumption and Production; producing publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge among students allows individuals from diverse fields to collaborate on sustainable development projects, and educates individuals on habits that they may not be aware they should be adopting.
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.