Study of the Impact of the University on Sustainability in Far West Texas

Anand Raj; Peter Golding; Diane Elisa Golding; Scott A. Starks; Luis Rene Contreras Sapien; Suzan Aranda Luna

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Conference: 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access
Location: Virtual On line
Publication Date: June 22, 2020
Start Date: June 22, 2020
End Date: June 26, 2021
Conference Session: A Focus on Sustainability
Tagged Division: Environmental Engineering
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 9
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--35251
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/35251
Download Count: 320

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Paper Authors

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Anand Raj University of Texas at El Paso orcid.org/0000-0002-5864-7152

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Anand Raj is a Doctoral student in the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at The University of Texas at El Paso. His doctoral studies focus on sustainability in higher education. His interest lies in the three pillars of sustainability which include social, environmental, and economic aspects. He has a master's degree in business with industry experience. His future plan is to use his business experience to promote sustainability which is important in today's world.

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Peter Golding University of Texas at El Paso

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Director, Center for Research in Engineering & Technology Education (CREaTE) and Professor in the Department of Engineering and Leadership at UTEP.

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Diane Elisa Golding University of Texas at El Paso

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Diane is a passionate educator and proponent for K-12 engineering education and the education of future teachers.She is an assistant professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Diane serves as the director for the UTEP YES! She Can program that support minorities and minorities within minorities in personal and STEM self-efficacy. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UTEP and holds a doctorate from the Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California.

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Scott A. Starks University of Texas at El Paso

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Dr. Starks is a Professor of Engineering Leadership at the University of Texas at El Paso. He received the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Rice University in 1978 and is a registered Professional Engineer.

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Luis Rene Contreras Sapien University of Texas at El Paso

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Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in Ergonomics at Kansas State University in May 1995. M.S. in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in Ergonomics and Statistics at at Kansas State University in 1992. M.S. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Power Systems at The Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico in 1981. B.S. in Industrial & Electrical Engineering in 1979 at the Instituto Tecnológico de Chihuahua in México.

Associate Professor since 2006 in Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering Department at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Undergraduate Program Director from 2010 to 2019. Interim Chair of the Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering at UTEP August 2013 - May 2014. Graduate Program Director from 2005 to 2010. Before joining UTEP he served as President, Dean, & Chair in several Mexican universities. More than 30 years of academic experience in US and Mexico.

Teaching and research interests include Ergonomics, Occupational Safety & Health, Facilities Planning, and Statistics. Taught different engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels in those areas. Published education and research results to refereed journal and conference publications. Senior member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Secured education and research grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Army Research Labs, Society of Manufacturing Engineering Foundation, and others.

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Suzan Aranda Luna University of Texas at El Paso

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Suzan Aranda is a Peruvian student in the Environmental Sciences and Engineering Program at University of Texas at El Paso, who is interestred in Sustainability, Conservation, Environmental Policy and Law, and Engineering Education.

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Abstract

Sustainability is recognized as a key for attaining long-term prosperity within a political, geographic and cultural region. Previously, there were times when economic growth was considered the primary factor for regional development; however, nowadays environmental and social aspects of sustainability are increasingly recognized to be equally important. Advancement of sustainability within a region can be substantively impacted by higher educational institutions, which can play a crucial role in the advancement of a region’s quality of life. In this regard, far West Texas is a unique region located at the interstices of three states and two nations, and the role played by the university in this location is special. During the past century, the university has been influencing and uplifting the lives of the people of the far West Texas region. Historically, the far West Texas region has lagged behind other places in the state of Texas and within the U.S., in terms of the national average (literacy, income, etc.). Through the university’s vision and sustained focus on mission implementation, working with key partners including the city administration and the region’s educational institutions, the education, literacy, and income level of the region is steadily rising with a gradual improvement in the quality of life for the bi-cultural and bi-literate population of this unique and special region. The far West Texas region has a dry climate, so conserving the environment while maintaining economic growth and social mobility is challenging but critical and equally important. Through a number of important measures, reported in this contribution, the university has been instrumental in advancing and driving knowledge growth, while understanding and increasing recognition of the interrelationship between the pillars of sustainability. As a result this has brought about advancement in community and society well-being (fresh-water supply being one key example in an arid environment) and continuously working to support local organizations, community groups, and federal government agencies responsible to protect the environment. The reported study provides important insights into the university’s role in creating more awareness and support for sustainability in this designated region.

Citation
Format

Raj, A., & Golding, P., & Golding, D. E., & Starks, S. A., & Contreras Sapien, L. R., & Aranda Luna, S. (2020, June), Study of the Impact of the University on Sustainability in Far West Texas Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--35251

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Sustainability is recognized as a key for attaining long-term prosperity within a political, geographic and cultural region. Previously, there were times when economic growth was considered the primary factor for regional development; however, nowadays environmental and social aspects of sustainability are increasingly recognized to be equally important. Advancement of sustainability within a region can be substantively impacted by higher educational institutions, which can play a crucial role in the advancement of a region’s quality of life. In this regard, far West Texas is a unique region located at the interstices of three states and two nations, and the role played by the university in this location is special. 
	During the past century, the university has been influencing and uplifting the lives of the people of the far West Texas region. Historically, the far West Texas region has lagged behind other places in the state of Texas and within the U.S., in terms of the national average (literacy, income, etc.). Through the university’s vision and sustained focus on mission implementation, working with key partners including the city administration and the region’s educational institutions, the education, literacy, and income level of the region is steadily rising with a gradual improvement in the quality of life for the bi-cultural and bi-literate population of this unique and special region. The far West Texas region has a dry climate, so conserving the environment while maintaining economic growth and social mobility is challenging but critical and equally important. 
	Through a number of important measures, reported in this contribution, the university has been instrumental in advancing and driving knowledge growth, while understanding and increasing recognition of the interrelationship between the pillars of sustainability. As a result this has brought about advancement in community and society well-being (fresh-water supply being one key example in an arid environment) and continuously working to support local organizations, community groups, and federal government agencies responsible to protect the environment. The reported study provides important insights into the university’s role in creating more awareness and support for sustainability in this designated region.

AU  - Anand Raj
AU  - Peter Golding
AU  - Diane Elisa Golding
AU  - Scott A. Starks
AU  - Luis Rene Contreras Sapien
AU  - Suzan Aranda Luna
CY  - Virtual On line 
DA  - 2020/06/22
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Study of the Impact of the University on Sustainability in Far West Texas
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/35251
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--35251
ER  -