While the stated goal of education is to provide knowledge, both general and specialized, it serves the greater purpose of preparing well-rounded citizens of the world; individuals with not just the knowledge and skills to develop theoretical solutions, but the desire and drive to enact tangible, positive change. To that end, sustainability is rapidly being integrated into education, as it is recognized that an understanding of sustainability allows for a multifaceted approach to problem-solving which is necessary for the success of communities.

The word 'sustainability' has been used erroneously as a synonym for “green,” but it has very specific goals that go beyond recycling and tree planting. Sustainable systems can go on indefinitely, as we would hope for our societies, environments, and economies; unfortunately, as we have seen historically, this is not the case. Our current practices deplete non-renewable resources with no apparent plan for the future. Students are set to inherit a batch of problems years in the making and must be aware of the economic, environmental, and social forces that drive human impact so future generations can make more intentional and well-informed decisions. By conducting ourselves in a manner that is positive for the community, and the world as a whole, we attain the goal of sustainability. By providing the community with information, resources, and support to enable sustainable practices, we attain the goal of education.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will continue to uphold its responsibility in this endeavor by promoting the expansion of academic, scholarly, research, and outreach initiatives that educate students regarding the forces integral to the future success of the Rio Grande Valley region. UTRGV has made immeasurable strides to infuse sustainability within its curriculum, community engagement efforts, and day-to-day operations. In doing so, the University must think and communicate across and beyond traditional disciplines, organizations, and cultural boundaries. The Office for Sustainability (OFS) is leading many of these efforts by working with faculty to gain awareness of the quality that sustainability brings into teaching, research, and service while embracing cultural awareness, and connecting sustainable operations with the border academic mission across departments and programs. With this goal in mind, the OFS is excited to collaborate will all of UTRGV’s campuses through The International Center for Sustainability Across the Curriculum (IC-SAC) Program.

In serving the students with professional development opportunities, we leverage the skillsets needed to bring sustainable economic development to our region, the importance of partnerships to advance the 17 goals for sustainable development, and we prepare the next generation of change agents to make a global impact. Our faculty and students represent many countries that have similar demographics, climates, issues, and concerns to the Rio Grande Valley. The solutions, innovations, and business models they develop can easily be modeled and implemented on a global level. We also support faculty from diverse fields and backgrounds to come together, contribute to the cultivation of a trans-disciplinary culture on our campus, and prepare 21st-century citizens and leaders of tomorrow. Through careful inclusion in every course and action, UTRGV can make an impact that will positively change the social, economic, and environmental landscape of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, The Americas, and the The World.

Thank you,

Marianella Q. Franklin
Chief Sustainability Officer