University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Dr. Luis Alcocer of UTRGV International Programs and Partnerships is leading COIL Virtual Exchange pilot program. Jon Rubin, internationally recognized COIL expert, trained three teams integrated by UTRGV and International Faculty in COIL: Dr. Maysam Pournik of COECS worked with Dr. Magin Ferrer from Universidad Católica de Santa Fe, Argentina; professor Marcela Hebbard of the College of Liberal Arts worked with Dr. Adriana Guerrero from Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, and professor Maria Leonard from the Robert C. Vackar COBE worked with Dr. Catalina Martinez and Dr. Adriana Rueda from Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Colombia.

*Dr. Maysam Pournik- Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Law/ Derecho Ambiental
This course is designed to Introduce students to sustainable natural gas supply and demand, gas trade and infrastructure, policy, regulation, safety, and environmental issues. Engineering and sustainable infrastructure aspects of processing storage, and pipelines. Aligned with the UTRGV Strategic Plan, this course integrates sustainability into the curriculum introducing 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN for a better word with focus on SDG-12 Responsible Consumption and Production as it relates to sustainability activities in natural gas production and usage.

*Dr. Marcela Hebbard- Rhetoric and Composition Earth Sciences/Ciencias de la Tierra.
This course is designed to teach students how to initiate inquiry, engage in meaningful research, and produce effective researched arguments. To do this, students will get experience with primary and secondary research methods, engage in a variety of writing projects, and create at least one major research project. This course integrates Sustainable Development Goals. The World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability as (1987): "… meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It is my goal that you explore through research and composition a particular issue within sustainability that connects with your major, workplace, or community.

*Maria Leonard-Business and Sustainability.
Historically, business models which focus only on the financial bottom-line have had a harmful impact in our environment and communities, and have fostered a negative perception of the role of business in society. Through this course, the student will learn that applying concepts of Sustainability and the Triple Bottom-Line to business practices create a positive environment in which any firm can thrive.
Stakeholder management involves the firm’s responsibilities towards the diverse entities that have an interest, a claim, or a right over the firm (stakeholders). These stakeholders include shareholders, employees, consumers, environment, government, and community as a whole. In this course, we will review how a firm’s long-term survival depends on how sustainable those relationships are.
This course will demonstrate that through the application of corporate social responsibility concepts and ESG, business leaders can balance their fiduciary obligations to their shareholders and their moral obligations towards the firm’s stakeholders. We will also demonstrate that incorporating ethical values into business decision-making models have a beneficial impact on the firm’s stakeholders. And finally, this course will guide the student to consider the impact of external factors such as cultural trends, governmental regulations, and legal rulings on business activities.

*Dr. Teresa Feria Arroyo-Advance Global Change Ecology/Decisions for a Sustainable Behavior.
This course will cover different aspects of global change, conservation and sustainability by emphasizing topics such as habitat alteration, species extinctions, spread of diseases, invasive species, global warming, and the impact of these factors on our planet.This course integrates Sustainable Development Goals. Details of this will be reviewed during the course.

Site: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2020/08/17-utrgv-faculty-honored-with-prestigious-ut-regents-outstanding-teaching-awards.htm

See attached 4 Syllabus to reference the immersive experience described.