University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Sustainability is addressed by name within the heart of the strategic plan - the Mission- and many of the Values listed and explained are elements of sustainable development.

A. Vision
To be one of the nation’s leaders in higher education, its premier Hispanic-serving institution, and a highly engaged bilingual university, with exceptional educational, research, and creative opportunities that serve as catalysts for transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

B Mission
To transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world through an innovative and accessible educational environment that promotes student success, research, creative works, health and well-being, community engagement, sustainable development, and commercialization of university discoveries.

The annual UTRGV Campus Tree Care Plan includes a section called Campus Tree Care Policy with published Tree Preservation and Protection Standards and Specifications. http://www.utrgv.edu/sustainability/_files/documents/2016-tree-care-campus-report.pdf

UTPA published an Athletics Sustainability plan in 2011 that has been adopted to UTRGV and is available via the Athletics department website:
http://goutrgv.com/mobile/page.aspx?filename=Sustainability&file_date=9/12/2011

By policy, UTS169- Sec. 14 - Curricula Integration, UTRGV addresses sustainable development in education.

The institutions will strive for excellence in sustainability education by integrating sustainability concepts into curricula, increasing faculty and student awareness of sustainability issues, and producing graduates who will carry the mission of sustainability into the state, the nation, and the world.

UTRGV Strategic Plan Draft Section 5 CORE PRIORITIES Section B. Educational Opportunities
i. Executive Summary
Affordable, geographically accessible, and culturally-relevant educational opportunities
are critical to prepare a diverse workforce for the 21st century. UTRGV will expand such
educational opportunities for residents of the Rio Grande Valley, spanning from pre-K to
postdoctoral education, and directly addressing the UT System’s Quantum Leaps of Student
Success, The American Leadership Program, and the Texas Prospect Initiative. Innovative new
certificate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs will be developed to prepare students for careers and life-long learning, boost the region’s economy, on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, and build environmental, health, and social resilience. New faculty will be recruited strategically to create new doctoral programs. Flexible faculty workload policies will be established to enable, facilitate, and incentivize the development and implementation of innovative pedagogies and technologies that address distance, language, culture, and class-scheduling barriers, ensuring access for a diverse student body. Support for graduate students and post-docs will be generated to position the university as an emerging research institution.
ii. Goal
Strategically expand educational opportunities from pre-K to post-doc to increase
experiential learning, research, creative endeavors, and community-engaged scholarship for people in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
iii. Key Initiatives
 Strategically expand existing and establish new Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral
programs to prepare a 21st century workforce and address local and global challenges, including economic and environmental resilience, sustainability, and health and well-being.
 Increase access to educational programs through the development and implementation of innovative pedagogies and technologies that address distance, language, culture, and scheduling barriers.
 Strategically increase high quality educational opportunities and mentoring programs for pre-K to 12 students to increase college preparedness particularly for STEM, health, and medical fields.
 Create and expand educational programs that incorporate experiential learning opportunities and promote engaged research and creative works through community partnerships.
iv. Sample Metrics
 Number of Doctoral, Master’s, and Bachelor’s degree programs.
 Percent of graduate students among the total student population.
 Percent of courses offered in hybrid or online format, or through non-traditional scheduling.
 Number of PhDs awarded.
 Number of pre-K to 12 students involved in UTRGV initiatives to increase college preparedness.

From Sustainability Campus Action Plan (SCAP) 2010-20
Goal: Create a rich and engaging research environment that integrates sustainability into the research activities.
Strategies:
1. Provide seed funding as a special reserved allocation of programs, such as a “Faculty Research Support Program” or a “Multidisciplinary Ventures Fund.”
2. Foster interdisciplinary research collaborations:foster local interdisciplinary research collaborations; foster external/international interdisciplinary research collaborations.
3. Provide administrative support to obtain and manage grants that relate to sustainability.
4. Encourage participation in multidisciplinary grant proposals, especially those that would not necessarily otherwise be available to individual single disciplinary researchers.
5. Mentor junior faculty: create mentoring programs for junior faculty that support interdisciplinary and transformational research.
6. Establish metrics of success and evaluation: establish metrics of success; evaluate and report on performance in terms of these metrics.

From UTRGV 2015 Inaugural Strategic Plan
ii. Goal
Increase the number and productivity of faculty and students engaged in research and creative work that improves the lives of people in the RGV and beyond.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Attract and retain scholars engaged in research and creative work that address challenges and generates opportunities for the RGV and beyond.
• Build a research enterprise, including shared equipment infrastructure, research services, graduate programs, and undergraduate research opportunities that empower the generation of knowledge, discoveries, and creativity.
• Organize and streamline professional development programs for scholars to advance their grantsmanship, research, artistic training, and communication skills.
• Increase research opportunities and support structures for UTRGV students to enrich their educational experiences to become the next generation of innovative researchers and entrepreneurs.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Research facilities.
• Research expenditures.
• Peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and creative performances/exhibitions.
• Community-based research partnerships.

From Sustainability Campus Action Plan (SCAP) 2010-20
Goal I:
Strengthen integration of sustainability message into established UTPA community-based outreach events by 2015, and ongoing.
Strategies:
1. Implement sustainability outreach educational programs, starting with 10% and leading up to 90%.
2. Track and record data on sustainability efforts of students targeted in outreach programs.
Goal II:
Increase UTPA’s profile as a community leader in sustainability through establishment of outreach event on campus promoting sustainability by 2011, and ongoing.
Strategies:
1. Establish agenda and execute UTPA’s first Earth celebration, Viva el Mundo, (Environmental Day), by 2011.

From UTRGV 2015 Inaugural Strategic Plan
ii. Goal
Foster sustainable community-university relationships to enrich scholarship, research, teaching, learning, and creative activities while addressing critical societal issues and contributing to the public good.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Strengthen leadership, capacity, and acknowledgement of community-engaged teaching, learning, and research at all levels.
• Increase and strengthen community and educational outreach programs and opportunities, including student internships and service learning.
• Contribute to community wealth and asset building through partnerships with constituents and local, regional, national, and global agencies, institutions, and organizations.
• Facilitate and advance public discourse around issues of local, regional, national, and
global significance.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Number of community outreach programs.
• Student participation in community-based internships and service-learning coursework.
• Partnerships with constituent groups at the local, regional, and national levels.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Number of community outreach programs.
• Student participation in community-based internships and service-learning coursework.
• Partnerships with constituent groups at the local, regional, and national levels.

Goal I:
 Strengthen integration of sustainability message
into established UTPA community-based outreach
events by 2015, and ongoing.
Strategies:
1. Implement sustainability outreach educational
programs, starting with 10% and leading up to
90%.
2. Track and record data on sustainability efforts of
students targeted in outreach programs.
Goal II:
 Increase UTPA’s profile as a community leader in
sustainability through establishment of outreach
event on campus promoting sustainability by
2011, and ongoing.
Strategies:
1. Establish agenda and execute UTPA’s first Earth
celebration, Viva el Mundo, (Environmental
Day), by 2011.

UTS169- Sec. 8 Climate Protection Practices.

Institutions will pursue the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining enrollment accessibility for every eligible student, enhancing research, promoting community service, and operating campus facilities more efficiently.

UTS169- Sec. 12 High Performance Buildings.

Each institution will strive to achieve a high performance building comparable to a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Certified rating or higher whenever possible, excluding laboratory and acute care and patient care facilities, within the constraints of program needs and budget parameters. U. T. System recognizes and commends the early leadership and accomplishments of LEED® as a green building certification program; however, that certification currently comes with a significant cost in documentation. Therefore, U. T. System strives for a high-performance building standard comparable to LEED® for new major capital projects. Money for certification documentation is better spent obtaining more energy-efficient building systems. Further study will be conducted before similar sustainable design policies for laboratory and acute care and/or patient care facilities are adopted.

UTS 169 - Sec. 6 Energy and Water Efficiency Practices.

6.1 Each institution will update Energy and Water Management Plans to reflect energy consumption reduction goals as of FY 2011 over the baseline levels established by the Energy Utility Task Force in 2001. The institutions will report annual progress to their Energy and Water Management Plans by means of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) template.

6.2 Any new capital or major renovation project will apply, as a minimum, the energy efficiency design and construction principles of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 or the International Energy Conservation Code as established by SECO. The institution planning and design process will include consideration of life cycle cost along with other factors in the project planning and design process, recognizing the importance of long-term operations, maintenance, total cost of ownership of U. T. System facilities, budgetary constraints, and programmatic requirements. A measurement and verification plan will be prepared prior to the completion of construction of a new building or major renovation, directed toward establishing an energy service consumption baseline during the first 12 months of occupancy. Subsequent energy consumption audits every three years will document 20% variances to the baseline levels. Institutions will require rainwater and gray water harvesting systems for non-potable use for new buildings where practical and within program budgets.

Sec. 7 Alternative Energy Practices.

With a goal of reducing U. T. System’s nonrenewable energy consumption, each institution will evaluate alternative energy designs for new major capital projects.

The food service provider for UTRGV, Sodexo, has published "The Better Tomorrow Plan," a roadmap for the future that includes 14 commitments with measurable targets and clear metrics to track the progress of Sodexo’s work to:

Protect and restore the environment (implementing eco-friendly practices in food growing, purchasing, and waste minimization, as well as utilizing biodegradable silverware and to-go containers.)
Support local community development
Promote health and wellness through choices with a reduced intake of sugar, salt and fats.

The annual UTRGV Campus Tree Care Plan includes a section called Campus Tree Care Policy with published Tree Preservation and Protection Standards and Specifications. UTRGV is a Tree Campus University. http://www.utrgv.edu/sustainability/_files/documents/2016-tree-care-campus-report.pdf

UTS169, Sec. 11 Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Practices:
Institutions will encourage suppliers to demonstrate environmental stewardship. Within the parameters of reasonable business justification and applicable laws and regulations, each institution will (a) utilize its purchasing power to advance the development of sustainable technologies; (b) evaluate the total cost of ownership, including purchase prices, operating costs, maintenance, collection, recycling, and disposal; and (c) encourage environmentally preferable practices when selecting suppliers.

UTS169, Sec. 9 Sustainable Transportation Practices:
To the extent practical, each institution will encourage and develop sustainable transportation practices such as carpooling, use of public transportation, use of fuel-efficient or alternative fuel fleet vehicles, flex schedules, and telecommuting.

UTS169, Sec. 10 Waste and Recycling Management:
Each institution will record and monitor annual waste and recycling quantities, implement procedures to reduce campus waste, and set a goal to increase campus recycling each year.

UTS169- Sec. 6 Energy and Water Efficiency Practices:
6.1 Each institution will update Energy and Water Management Plans to reflect energy consumption reduction goals as of FY 2011 over the baseline levels established by the Energy Utility Task Force in 2001. The institutions will report annual progress to their Energy and Water Management Plans by means of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) template.

6.2 Any new capital or major renovation project will apply, as a minimum, the energy efficiency design and construction principles of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 or the International Energy Conservation Code as established by SECO. The institution planning and design process will include consideration of life cycle cost along with other factors in the project planning and design process, recognizing the importance of long-term operations, maintenance, total cost of ownership of U. T. System facilities, budgetary constraints, and programmatic requirements. A measurement and verification plan will be prepared prior to the completion of construction of a new building or major renovation, directed toward establishing an energy service consumption baseline during the first 12 months of occupancy. Subsequent energy consumption audits every three years will document 20% variances to the baseline levels. Institutions will require rainwater and gray water harvesting systems for non-potable use for new buildings where practical and within program budgets.

From Sustainability Campus Action Plan (SCAP) 2010-20
Goal:
Assist all areas of the campus to achieve UTPA’s goal of becoming a model of sustainability in South Texas by preserving a healthy and sustainable ecological system,
developing economic viability, and pursuing social justice.
Strategies:
1. Provide and facilitate strategic planning sessions with all fifteen committees to develop and implement goals and strategies.
2. Provide training and development opportunities to anyone in the region.
3. Provide resources for campus community in sustainability issues.
4. Assist in researching grant opportunities for fifteen committees as well as individual faculty members.

From UTRGV 2015 Inaugural Strategic Plan
Student Success
ii. Goal
Support our students in achieving their academic goals in a timely manner and reaching their professional aspirations through excellent integrated learning experiences both in and out of the classroom.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Increase experiential learning opportunities that enrich the academic experiences of all students and link to future careers and advanced study.
• Support high quality and innovative instruction through faculty development, curricular evaluation, course redesign, empirically supported learning strategies, and universal design of learning.
• Increase access to courses across campuses and platforms for students to make timely progress to graduation.
• Provide excellent academic advising through highly trained advisors, robust technological tools, timely outreach to students, and self-advisement tools.
• Cultivate a campus environment that supports students’ resilience and interpersonal skills to enhance relationship development, personal health, and safety.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Retention and graduation rates.
• Number of hours earned versus hours enrolled.
• Percent of students participating in experiential learning opportunities.

Educational Opportunities
ii. Goal
Strategically expand educational opportunities from pre-K to post-doc to increase experiential learning, research, creative endeavors, and community-engaged scholarship for people in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Strategically expand existing and establish new Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs to prepare a 21st century workforce and address local and global challenges, including economic and environmental resilience, sustainability, and health and well-being. (See Appendix H for a list of undergraduate and graduate programs UTRGV expects to develop during the next five to ten years.)
• Increase access to educational programs through the development and implementation of innovative pedagogies and technologies that address distance, language, culture, and scheduling barriers.
• Strategically increase high quality educational opportunities and mentoring programs for pre-K to 12 students to increase college preparedness particularly for STEM, health, and medical fields.
• Create and expand educational programs that incorporate experiential learning opportunities and promote engaged research and creative works through community partnerships.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Number of Doctoral, Master’s, and Bachelor’s degree programs.
• Percent of graduate students among the total student population.
• Percent of courses offered in hybrid or online format, or through non-traditional scheduling.
• Number of PhDs awarded.
• Number of pre-K to 12 students involved in UTRGV initiatives to increase college preparedness.

UTS169-Sec. 15 Endowment Transparency.

The University of Texas Investment Management Company shall disclose to the public information as required pursuant to Section 552.0225 of the Texas Government Code regarding “Right of Access to Investment Information” (private investment information) and the Texas Public Information Act.

From Sustainability Campus Action Plan (SCAP) 2010-20
Health and Wellness
Goal I:
Promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles for students, faculty, and staff by implementing programs that teach this lifestyle by 2012.
Strategies:
1. Create and implement programs that promote safe, fun exercise.
2. Create and implement summer camp programs for youth that promote sustainability in the program as well as encourage youth to exercise.
3. Participate in Edinburg’s annual Healthy Living
Festival.
4. Market the “walkability/cyclability” of the UTPA campus to prospective students, faculty and staff as a healthy alternative means of transportation and a way to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
5. Implement an educational program that emphasizes the physical, financial, social and educational benefits of walking/cycling, whether on campus or commuting to campus.
6. Collaborate with surrounding communities to publish a map of walking/cycling routes with distances to popular destinations, etc.
7. Develop an outdoor activity program that promotes healthy/exercise based activities utilizing a variety of recreational opportunities in the greater Rio Grande Valley area.
Goal II & III:
Promote healthy and sustainable eating habits for students, faculty, and staff through incorporation of these topics into existing programs by 2015 and ongoing.
Promote healthy and sustainable eating habits for students, faculty, and staff by collaborating with other departments by 2015 and ongoing.
Strategies:
1. Promote the use of organic, locally grown, humanely grown, fair trade sustainable
food.
2. Develop programs that educate students, faculty, staff and communities about sustainable food literacy.
3. Collaborate with Dining Services to promote organic, locally grown, humanely grown, and fair trade sustainable food.
4. Collaborate with various other departments to develop community gardening
classes to include a demonstration garden for students, faculty, staff and communities to learn how to grow organic fruits and vegetables.
5. Incorporate the topic of healthy eating habits into our existing educational programs/seminars.
6. Incorporate the topic of healthy eating habits into our summer camp curriculum.
Goal IV:
Promote health and wellness in the community through partnerships with off-campus entities by 2015.
Strategies:
1. Partner with community Parks & Recreation Departments, World Birding Centers, Texas Parks & Wildlife and others to create nature summer camps and/or events.
2. Incorporate programs into summer camps for children that promote healthy lifestyles to include eating and exercising.
3. Continue to collaborate with surrounding communities to develop/encourage
alternative modes of transportation to and from campus.
4. Cooperate with surrounding communities and organizations in efforts to promote health and wellness (health fairs, special events, etc.).

Athletics
Goal I:
Develop a sustainability program for Athletics that will
offer short- and long-term suggestions for improvements
in operations and practices throughout the program
by August 31, 2012.
Strategies:
1. Establish a sustainability slogan for promotional purposes.
For example, “Bleed Orange, Go Green.”
2. Establish a set of green standards for UTPA athletic
events that reflect best practices researched at other institutions.
3. Cultivate revenue opportunities for athletic department
sustainability initiatives such as green programs and
green advertising. This can happen through specific
fundraising, development, and corporate sponsorship.
4. Establish a sustainability link on athletics website: www.
utpabroncs.com.
5. Access ways to improve the environmental performance
of existing buildings by conducting facilities audits
by the department of environmental health and safety
(DEHS).
Goal II:
Increase UTPA community knowledge about sustainability
through athletic events by August 21, 2012. This goal can be measured through execution of specific marketing efforts and educational programs.
Strategies:
• Promote and market “greening” of athletic events.
• Use athletic events to help educate and promote sustainability to students, faculty, staff and the general community.
• Create and foster a “team spirit” to sustainability practices to get students, faculty, staff and alumni excited about being green.
• Implement collaborative efforts with Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student Sports Marketing Academy, including creating sustainability programs with each varsity team.
• Encourage and invite campus environmental groups to set up educational booths during games to highlight other on-campus sustainability efforts.
• Integrate and cooperate with various UTPA departments that affect various programs such as recycling, vendor waste reduction, etc.

From UTRGV 2015 Inaugural Strategic Plan
ii. Goal
Promote a culture of health and well-being for UTRGV and surrounding communities that employs a holistic approach to wellness, health, medical education, training, and research.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Integrate, coordinate, and leverage programs and resources to support activities that enhance health and wellness and increase healthcare delivery to underserved communities.
• Strengthen relationships with academic health programs, health governmental agencies, hospitals, clinics, and biomedical industry.
• Increase research infrastructure and support for opportunities, including for undergraduate and graduate students, related to health, wellness, and medical education.
• Increase access to health and medical education programs at the undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral levels.
• Establish an interdisciplinary collaborative on population health innovation and improvement.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Faculty, staff, and student participation rates in health promotion programs.
• Number of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students enrolled in health and medical degree programs.
• Community-based healthcare partnerships.

From UTRGV 2015 Inaugural Strategic Plan
A. Campus Climate and Professional Development and Growth for Faculty and Staff
ii. Goal
Cultivate a welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing climate for all faculty and staff.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Increase recruitment and retention of excellent and diverse faculty and staff.
• Enhance professional and leadership development opportunities for faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Strengthen initiatives to recognize and reward faculty and staff excellence.
• Foster a supportive and family-friendly climate and work-life balance.
• Engage and empower faculty and staff through shared governance, accountability, and transparency.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Faculty and staff retention rates.
• Number of faculty and staff participating in professional development programs/trainings.
• Initiatives to recognize and reward faculty and staff excellence.

B. Becoming a B3 Institution: Bilingual, Bicultural & Biliterate
ii. Goal
Build UTRGV as a bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate university.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Support the development of coursework and programs that incorporate bilingual, bicultural, and
biliterate (henceforth, “B3”) initiatives.
• Incentivize research, scholarship, creative works, and performance that address B3 initiatives.
• Engage faculty in community-based initiatives, including pre-K to 12, to build B3 programs and elevate
the value and presence of biculturalism, the Spanish language, and bilingualism by nurturing a robust
public discourse.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Percent of courses offered primarily in Spanish or in both Spanish and English.
• B3 programmatic and research/creative-endeavor initiatives at UTRGV.
• B3 programmatic initiatives in pre-K to 12 across the region and the state.

C. Globalization
ii. Goal
Foster a globally-connected university culture.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Increase global awareness and perspectives on campus.
• Stimulate student learning through the expansion of study abroad opportunities, both programmatically
and geographically.
• Support faculty and student research focused on international issues/themes.
• Infuse global perspectives throughout the curriculum.
• Expand global partnerships that align with UTRGV priorities.
iv. Sample Metrics
• Percent of students participating in study abroad and study-away programs.
• Number of international partnerships.
• Percent of international students among the student body.

D. Sustainability
ii. Goal
Institutionalize sustainability throughout the university and promote sustainability awareness in the community.
iii. Key Initiatives
• Implement sustainability performance measures and continuous improvement on our campuses to align
with best practices.
• Strengthen faculty capacity to infuse sustainability into the curriculum and scholarly initiatives.
• Collaborate with community partners on shared sustainability goals.
• Encourage and support sustainable community–based entrepreneurial initiatives.
• Increase performance with an annual sustainability assessment program in alignment with The
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education – Sustainability Tracking,
Assessment & Rating System (AASHE-STARS).
iv. Sample Metrics
• AASHE-STARS Rating.
• Number of courses and programs focusing on sustainability or sustainable development.
• Number of community-based partnerships incorporating sustainability initiatives.

To transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world through an innovative and accessible educational environment that promotes student success, research, creative works, health and well-being, community engagement, sustainable development, and commercialization of university discoveries.

UTS 169 - Definitions
Sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainability Practices - the physical development and institutional operating practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability Practices - the physical development and institutional operating practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

UTRGV Campus Strategic Plan Draft - It is essential that UTRGV takes a prominent role in creating a sustainable society across the RGV. Through institutionalizing sustainability, UTRGV’s proposed policies, programs, and initiatives will create global citizens and leaders inculcated with environmental stewardship, social justice, and a forward-looking vision that will accelerate the implementation of sustainable solutions at local and community levels. We will also develop and educate residents of the RGV and Texas about the cutting-edge practices in sustainable higher education, research, and healthcare. These initiatives fit broadly with the UT System Quantum Leaps, particularly Student Success.

White House American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge
As of December 10, 318 colleges and universities representing over 4 million students have demonstrated their commitment by joining the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge. Modeled on the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, it complements any previous pledges or commitments institutions might have already. The pledge reads:

“As institutions of higher education, we applaud the progress already made to promote clean energy and climate action as we seek a comprehensive, ambitious agreement at the upcoming United Nations Climate Negotiations in Paris. We recognize the urgent need to act now to avoid irreversible costs to our global community’s economic prosperity and public health and are optimistic that world leaders will reach an agreement to secure a transition to a low carbon future. Today our school pledges to accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy while enhancing sustainable and resilient practices across our campus.”
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/11/american-campuses-act-climate

The University of Texas System is committed to stewardship of the environment and promotion of the principles of energy efficiency and sustainability. In 2009, the UT System developed UTS 169, Sustainability Practices Policy, at the direction of the Board of Regents. This policy directs all UT institutions to develop and adopt sustainable operational and maintenance practices to meet sustainability goals. The highlights of the plan addresses nine primary areas:
Energy and Water Efficiency practices
Alternative Energy Practices
Climate Protection Practices
Sustainable Transportation Practices
Waste and Recycling Management
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Practices
High Performance Buildings
Sustainability Awareness Training, and
Community Outreach
UTS 169 also states that each institution will develop a policy on sustainability in the institution’s master plan and operations and maintenance practices and within budgetary constraints and legal, regulatory, and programmatic requirements.

The UT System policy and its sustainability objectives in various areas (e.g. curriculum, research, campus engagement, public engagement, grounds, etc.) work towards the sustainable development goals of 4.Quality Education; 11.Sustainable Cities and Communities; 17.Partnership for the Goals; 15.Life on Land; 14.Life Below Water; 9.Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; 7.Affordable and Clean Energy; 12.Responsible Consumption and Production; 13.Climate Action; 6.Clean Water and Sanitation; 10.Reduced Inequalities; 5.Gender Equality; and 3.Good Health and Well-Being by:
~Ensuring inclusive and quality education for all and promoting lifelong learning
~Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
~Creating partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society
~Halting and reversing land degradation
~Carefully managing water resources
~Building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation
~Providing access to reliable and sustainable energy for all
~Assuring sustainable consumption and production patterns
~Taking action to combat climate change and its impacts
~Securing access to water and sanitation for all
~Reducing inequality within communities
~Achieving gender equality
~Promoting well-being and ensuring healthy lives

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 10 year Sustainability Campus Action Plan (SCAP) is due for renewal in 2020. The Sustainability Council will begin meeting to review and align a new Sustainability Campus Action Plan 2020-30 with the new University Strategic Plan.