CommunitiesENGAGING
2014
EIntroduction Message 3 The Engaged Campus 4
Highlights
Overview 6 Engagement Data 7
Profiles
Engagement by College 13 Arts, Humanities & Liberal Arts 14 Business 16 Education 18 Engineering & Computer Science 20 Social & Behavioral Sciences 21 Health 22 Math, Sciences & Technology 24
Partners
Our Partners 26
Table ofContents
20
Profiles
Engagement by College 13 Arts, Humanities & Liberal Arts 14 Business 16 Education 18 Engineering & Computer Science 20 Social & Behavioral Sciences 21 Health 22 Math, Sciences & Technology 24
Message
Dear Colleagues & Partners,We are proud to present ENGAGING COMMUNITIES 2014, highlighting the notable work occurring across both UTPA and UTB campuses. The purpose of this annual report is to recognize faculty, staff, and student excellence in community engagement while demonstrating our commitment to sustainable community partnerships. This publication begins with a chronology of key milestones that have advanced the goal of institutionalizing community engagement at each campus. It follows with segments featuring general data, profiles of engagement, and a special recognition of key community partners.
Although the level of activity reported is truly outstanding, interactions with the community clearly stretch much wider than the scope of this report. We acknowledge that the universities contributions to our students and society are much greater than was possible to capture through this exercise.
Over the course of history, UTPA and UTB have charted unique pathways building the formal infrastructure that supports community-based teaching, learning, and research. Collectively, these pathways have become the foundation for an institutional culture and identity that aligns community engagement as a principle element of UTRGVs core mission.
We thank all who have joined in our efforts to improve academic and professional outcomes for our students, to strengthen faculty scholarship, and to enhance the universities capacity for service.
William Fannin, Ph.D. UTB President Ad Interim
Havidn Rodrguez, Ph.D. UTPA President Ad Interim
Our Road to Institutionalizing Engagement
...Intentionally connect faculty, staff, students, and external partners in ways that enhance teaching and research while helping revitalize our community.
...Engage the campus communities through service learning, volunteering, and community- based scholarship in teaching and research, adding new knowledge to our community and to the academy.
...Engage the community at-large in collaborative initiatives that build social capital and encourage civic participation.
...Emphasize community engagement through their activities and their definition of scholarship.
by Creating Campuses that...
200
1
201
0Center for Civic Engagementestablished to connect faculty, sta, students, and external community.
Kids Voting USA-Brownsvillefounded to teach the basics of responsible citizenship in a free society, implemented in K-12 schools.
The University of Texas-Pan American The University of Texas at Brownsville
2013 Outreach & Community
Partnerships established as the centralized coordinating unit for engagement campus-wide.
2011 Task Force assessed and proposed campus-wide
engagement strategies.
2012 e Engaged University strategic plan established community
engagement as a top institutional priority.
200
8 Task Force leads Carnegie Foundation engaged university application process.
Carnegie Foundation classication obtained recognizing institutionalized community engagement, outreach and partnerships.
201
2
e Presidents Honor Roll recognition earned for exceptional community service in higher education.
INTR
OD
UCTIO
N
2015
2014 Policyrecognizing engaged
scholarship in faculty rules and responsibilities adopted by faculty senate.
UTRGV Working Groups establish community engagement as a key component of new university mission. 20
14
Engaging Communities Report
Faculty Fellows appointed to help facilitate implementation of the Engaged University Strategic plan.
Title V Grantobtained to advance experiential learning and faculty development.
collectively features engagement work across the campuses.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
ExecutiveSummary
Overview
Methodology
The Center for Civic Engagement joined the Office of Outreach and Community Partnerships to compile and publish this annual report on engagement. Simultaneously using an innovative system to record 2013-14 engagement activity on both campuses, an exciting picture of widespread and long-standing engagement emerged.
Although the level of activity reported is truly outstanding, interactions with the community clearly stretch much wider than the scope of this report. We acknowledge that the universities contributions to our students and society are much greater than was possible to capture through this exercise - Campus Leadership.
A survey tool was designed with input from a vast number of faculty and staff involved in engagement work. It was first administered at UTPA in 2013 to document community engagement activity for the 2012-13 academic year. Given the current state of transition to UTRGV, the survey was administered simultaneously at UTPA and UTB in September 2014, to obtain data for the 2013-14 academic year from both campuses. Over 490 faculty & Staff responded to the survey.
The data obtained was analyzed in a variety of ways to inform both campuses independently and collectively. The results are presented jointly in the HIGHLIGHTS section of this report, to provide a general overview of activities and to present a snapshot of the great work taking place.
Team
Staff Faculty Advisors
CRISTINA TREJO-VASQUEZ, LMSW ETHEL CANTU, MA
DANIKA BROWN, PHD
Community Engagement Liaison, UTPA Associate VPAA-Student Success, UTB
Associate Professor/Director of UR&SL, UTPA
JOSE GUTIERREZ, PHD
ARMANDO GALVAN-CRUCES
ESTELA MARTINEZ
LINDA MATTHEWS, PHD
Faculty Fellow, UTPA
Data Management Specialist, UTPA
Coordinator, Center for Civic Engagement, UTB
Professor, UTPA
JAVIER KYPUROS, PHD
Associate Dean/Professor, UTPA
JOHN COOK, PHD Associate Professor/Chair, UTB
KARIN LEWIS, PHD Assistant Professor, UTB
Serving The Rio Grande Valley
96%
4%
Yes No
Survey results indicate that the largest concentration of community engagement (ninety-six percent) takes place in the Rio Grande Valley. Only four percent report working outside of the Rio Grande Valley region.
Engagement in Colonias
25%Reaching communities in economically distressed areas is of utmost importance to our institutions of higher education. Evidence of local commitment is depicted by one-fourth (twenty-five percent) of the initiatives reporting work with the colonias of the Rio Grande Valley.
Engagement Data
Alamo
Brownsville
Donna
Edinburg
Harlingen
La Joya
Linn
Lyford
McAllen
Mission
Pharr
Port Isabel
Elsa
S. Padre Island
Weslaco
Cities within the Rio Grande Valley where university-community partnerships exist.
20
HIG
HLI
GH
TS
Student Engagement
Yes: No:
89%
Does it engage students?High-impact practices that engage students, faculty, and external partners in experiential learning transform students and communities. Most of the initiatives (eight-nine percent) report the involvement of students in community engagement effforts.
Does the initiative take place on campus?
Almost half of the initiatives (forty-seven percent) take place off campus and in the community.
Yes No
47%53%
How does it engage students?
Engagement Location
3%
6%
7%
9%
37%
38%
Non-paid Internship
Direct Wage Student Employment
Paid Internship
Other
Experiential Student Learning
Student Involvement (extracurricular: non-credit/volunteer)
(curricular/co-curricular)
11%
20
Community Input
Do you measure or assess the impact of engagement with the community?Over one-half (Fifty-three percent) of the respondents report measuring the impact of the engaged work conducted. Yes No
53%
Do you use your assessment for continuous improvement/development of your program?Typ
Of those who report measuring some type of program assessment, most (ninety-three percent) use the results for continuous improvement. Yes No
93%
Assessment
Students Faculty StaInstitutionalCommunity Other
46%What impact of engagement is measured?The impact on community is most commonly measured (forty-six percent), followed by impact on students (thirty-six percent).
Do you obtain community input?An engaged university works in partnership with the community. The majority of the initiatives (sixty-seven percent) report obtaining community input in the planning and implementation of their work.
37%
Feedback Need Assessment Advisory CommitteeOther
4%
34%26% What type of community input do
you obtain?Community needs assessment is the most prevalent method for obtaining input, followed by general feedback and advisory committee participation.
67%33%
No Yes
37%
36%
4%
8%3%
7%
Dear Colleagues & Partners,We are proud to present ENGAGING COMMUNITIES 2014, highlighting the notable work occurring across both UTPA and UTB campuses. The purpose of this annual report is to recognize faculty, staff, and student excellence in community engagement while demonstrating our commitment to sustainable community partnerships. This publication begins with a chronology of key milestones that have advanced the goal of institutionalizing community engagement at each campus. It follows with segments featuring general data, profiles of engagement, and a special recognition of key community partners.
Although the level of activity reported is truly outstanding, interactions with the community clearly stretch much wider than the scope of this report. We acknowledge that the universities contributions to our students and society are much greater than was possible to capture through this exercise.
Over the course of history, UTPA and UTB have charted unique pathways building the formal infrastructure that supports community-based teaching, learning, and research. Collectively, these pathways have become the foundation for an institutional culture and identity that aligns community engagement as a principle element of UTRGVs core mission.
We thank all who have joined in our efforts to improve academic and professional outcomes for our students, to strengthen faculty scholarship, and to enhance the universities capacity for service.
3%
Target, Type & Focus
What type of activity BEST describes the COMMUNITY ENGAGED aspect of the program/initiative
What is the PRIMARY target AUDIENCE?
2%3%
4%4%4%
6%6%
9%10%
11%11%
13%14%
Tutoring/Mentoring ProgramStudent Recruitment
Clinical ServiceYouth Summer Programs
OtherServing on a Board
College Access/ReadinessCertificate Programs
Creative/Cultural ActivityService Learning Course
Engaged ResearchConference/Lecture Series
Consulting/Training
3%
6%
6%
10%
12%
22%
40%
Public Sector/Government
Non-profit Community
Private Sector/Business
Adult Learners
Parents/Teachers
K-12 Students
The Community-at-Large
Funding Source
Fund Raisers
Private Donations
12%
7%
What is the PRIMARY focus of the initiative?Primary Focus of engagement varies greatly. The most common responses (thirty-five percent) report that the primary focus is K-16 Education, followed by Health and Wellness (twenty-six percent).
35%
Please indicate budget funding source(s)? The majority of funding dedicated to engagement activities was provided by external sources (eighty-seven percent). The remaining (thirteen percent) indicate university funds as the source supporting community engagement efforts.
Business/EconomicDevelopmentK-16 Education
Health and Wellness
Culture/Art
Sustainability
Other
15%11%
4%
9%
26%
SponsoredProject/Grant
42%
ProgramIncomeProgramIncome
20%
University Funds
13%
Other6%
The Center for Civic Engagement and The Office of Undergraduate Research & Service Learning assist faculty with the integration of experiential learning by supporting and facilitating service and community-based activities. In 2014, 51 faculty documented their courses as having a service learning component. In those courses, more than 3,666 students completed more than 36,000 service hours as part of their coursework, contributing more than $842K to the local economy.
Outreach
Service Learning
Student Involvement
1342 The Office of Student Involvement engages students in meaningful actionat 9 major
student involvement
events
VOLUNTEER +HOURS
Summer CAMPS
CE Summer HousingMUSEUpward BoundTX PREP
UCA
STEP
S C
am
ps
Aq
uatic
sUT
CRS
Ca
mp
s
RGV Summer Science InternshipEXXONmobile
W S
occe
r
Futu
re
Leg
end
s SA
MDP GAMES Camp
Sum
me
r Yo
uth
Ac
tivity
C
am
p
NSFSTEPSTISDSTEM Camp
Migrant BRIDGE Camp
K-12 students participate in one of
32 summer programs
3000
K-12
Athletes in the Community
Student athletes participate in
experiences that shape them into
future leaders
300+Hours
at 100+ Community
Events
More than 200 students presented 76 exhibits highlighting community service in partnership with local community organizations.
3,666+ students 36,000
workcourse service hours
$842K+ dollar equivalent in
service learning hours*
Outreach
*The Independent Sector Organization estimates the value of a volunteer hour in the state of Texas as $23.40
12%
24%
32%
32%
The University of Texas at Brownsville
The University of Texas-Pan American
6%
9%
9%
15%
16%
21%
25%
College of Engineering & Computer Science
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
College of Business Administration
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Health Sciences & Human Services
College of Science & Mathematics
College of Education
A small sample of engaged teaching and scholarship emerging from the UTPA and UTB campuses is featured in The Profiles of Engagement section. Almost eighty percent of the data collected for this report was provided by the Division of Academic Affairs, indicative of a clear commitment to the core values of an engaged institution. Colleges at both campuses are designing exceptional opportunities for university-community partnerships that involve learning, careful reflection, and sustained impact for both the campus community and the community at large.
Engagement by College
PRO
FILE
S
*The Independent Sector Organization estimates the value of a volunteer hour in the state of Texas as $23.40
Arts, Humanities, and Liberal Arts
CHAPS: Native American Peoples of South Texas Project
A multidisciplinary team of professors from Physics & Geology, History & Philosophy, and Sociology & Anthropology, are working with local area K-12 teachers to utilize regional traits, customs, and natural resources to teach students lessons in history, physics, geology, and biology. Participating schools receive ongoing technical assistance to enhance the learning experience. An undergraduate student partnered with faculty to co-author a chapter in the book that became part of the traveling trunk, a tool for teachers to use in the classroom. Faculty scholarly work related to this initiative has been published in the Journal of Texas Archeology and History and in Lithic Technology.
Russell Kent SkowronekHistory & Philosophy, UTPA
Animal Shelter ProjectsLouis Falk, Communications, UTB
Art StudiosCarlos Gomez, Art, UTB
Association for Medical SpanishAnne Marie Stachura, Modern Languages & Literature, UTPA
BFA Spring PixolutionLeila Hernandez, Art, UTPA
Bilingual Story HourAmy Weimer, Psychology, UTPA
Bullying AwarenessJohn Cook, Communications, UTB
Coalition Against Violence &ExploitationHistory & Philosophy, UTB
Charles & Dorothy ClarkGallery Exhibits, Art, UTPA
Career & Faith Speaking SeriesMarcela Hebbard, English, UTPA
CHAPS: RGV Civil War TrailChristopher Miller, History & Philosophy, UTPA
Dance PerformancesMusic & Dance, UTPA
Dicult Dialogs John Cook, Communications, UTB
Fall Gallery ReadingLiterary Arts Journal, English, UTPA
FESTIBAMulti-divisional, UTPA
Freedom in the CommunityCory Wimberly, History and Philosophy UTPA
History DayHistory & Philosophy, UTPA
Introduction to EthicsAlexander Stehn, History & Philosophy, UTPA
Knowing MexicoIrving Walter Levinson, History & Philosophy, UTPA
Light It Up BlueJohn Cook, Communications, UTB
Main Stage Theatre Production, Communication, UTPA
Media Campaigns for Non-protsChristopher Carmona, English, UTB
Medical Brigade NicaraguaAnne Marie Stachura, Languages & Literature, UTPA
Arts, Humanities, and Liberal Arts
Brownsville B-SMART Orchestra:
The B- SMART (String Musician Artist Retention and Training) Orchestra is the very FIRST community string orchestra in Brownsville. The goal is to enrich the community through the orchestra string experience. Its mission is accomplished through the community concert series, public rehearsals, educational outreach, internship programs, and much more. Students in Applied Music worked in collaboration with The Brownsville SMART Orchestra and provided string instruction to students, 4th-8th grade.
Martha PlaceresMusic, UTB
Medical Spanish Film SeriesHistory & Philosophy, UTPA
Mexican American StudiesHistory & Philosophy, UTPA
Multimedia StorytellingRegine Pellicer, English, UTPA
Music ConcertsDance & Music, UTPA
News Media RelationsSheraf Rehman, Communications, UTB
Pan American Collaboration for Ethics History & Philosophy, UTPA
Pltica & Writing Workshops English, UTPA
Political Forum: Candidates & IssuesJohn Cook, Communications, UTB
Reading Rock StarsSteven Schneider, English, UTPA
Rio Grande Valley Civil War TrailChristopher Miller, History, UTPA
Shakespeare Brownsville Literacy Mimosa Stephenson, English, UTB
STUDIO ProductionsCommunications, UTPA
The Master of Fine Arts ExhibitionArt, UTPA
The Plays the Thing:Reading ShakespeareBrian J. Warren & Jennifer Saxton, UTPA
Theatre for Young Audiences Communications, UTPA
Symphony Orchestra ConcertsMusic & Dance, UTPA
Visiting Artists SeriesArt, UTPA
Vocal Technique WorkshopsDavid Sadlier, Music & Dance UTPA
Voter Registration & EducationMark Kaswan & Ruth Ragland, Government, UTB
VSO Luncheon: Public RadioAndrs Amado, Music & Dance ,UTPA
World Toilet DayKaron Jahn, Communications, UTB
World Water DayKaron Jahn, Communications, UTB
Writers Live at UTBChristopher Carmona, English, UTB
Writing for Environmental IssuesPamela Herring, English, UTB
Business
James BoudreauEconomics & Finance, UTPA
BEDESJorge Vidal, Economics& Finance, UTPA
Better Business BureauEthics Award ConsultationReto Felix & Mohammadali Zolfagharian, Marketing, UTPA
Border Briefs Publication, Center for Border Economic StudiesSalvador Contreras,Economics & Finance, UTPA
Brand Strategy CourseSharon Schembri,Marketing, UTPA
Business & Society CourseMaria Leonard,Management, UTPA
Business Appreciation Breakfast Honoring Business LeadersSchool of Business, UTB
Educational Representative Texas State Society of CPAsJohn Darcy, Accounting& Business Law, UTPA
Entrepreneurship & Commercialization CenterEconomic Development and Community Service, UTB
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Border Colonias StudyMarie T. Mora,Economics & Finance, UTPA
Financial Literacy ChallengeTerrance Martin,Economics & Finance, UTPA
UTPA students won first place in the Up to Us national contest to raise awareness about the national debt, sponsored by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative. According to the contest organizers, the UTPA team stood out from the very beginning, as their initial proposal emphasized getting the message out not just to their campus community, but also to the local community at large. The crowing accomplishment was a play called The Debt Ultimatum, which they created with the help of several UTPA theater majors.
UP to US
Predatory Lending Workshops
Students in Business Law prepared and presented in Spanish three Predatory Lending Workshops for the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville. The workshops educated the public about the risks and costs of using many of the easy but expensive sources for obtaining cash.
FIRE SymposiumSteven Lovell,Economics & Finance, UTPA
Inequality for All: Film Screeningand Panel DiscussionLinda M Matthews,Management, UTPA KnifeGlider Marketing PlanXiaojing Sheng,Marketing, UTPA
Management Consulting ProjectMarvin Lovett, Marketing and Management, UTB
Marketing Promotional Projectfor Local BusinessesTimothy Butler,Marketing and Management, UTB
Marketing Service PackageCharles Lackey,Marketing and Management, UTB
Marketing Strategy CourseSharon Schembri,Marketing, UTPA
New Venture Creation WorkshopPablo Rhi-Perez, Management, Marketing and International Business, UTB
Striving Towards Educational Pathways: IDEAs Summer Learning Opportunity CampsJohn Sargent and Maria Leonard,Management, UTPA
VITA Tax Preparation ProgramLinda G. Acevedo,Accounting & Business Law, UTPA
Winter Texan ResearchPenny Simpson,Marketing, UTPA
Mark BlakemoreBusiness Law, UTB
Education
Joy EsquierdoCurriculum and Instruction, UTPA
Accessibility EvaluationsMary Curtis, Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UTB
After School Tutorialsin Cameron ParkJaime Garcia, Educational Psychology & Leadership; Leslie Jones, Teaching, Learning, and Innovation; Karin Lewis, Educational Psychology & Leadership;; Brendan OConnor, Teaching, Learning, and Innovation; Vejoya Viren, Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, UTB
Autism Summer CampJohn Lowdermilk, Educational Psychology, UTPA
Bilingual Story HourAmy Weimer, Psychology , UTPA
Center for Bilingual Studies, Francisco Guajardo, Educational Leadership, UTPA
Center for Rural Strategies, Francisco Guajardo, Educational Leadership, UTPA
Child and Adolescent Therapy Practicum CourseNancy P. Razo,Educational Psychology, UTPA
Childrens Educational Workshops at Housing Authority, UTBJaime Garcia, Educational Psychology & Leadership; Leslie Jones, Teaching, Learning, and Innovation; Karin Lewis, Educational Psychology & Leadership; Brendan OConnor, Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, UTB
College of EducationTeacher of the YearJulie Pecina, EducationalPsychology, UTPA
Early Care EarlyChildhood ConferenceJulie Pecina, EducationalPsychology, UTPA
Early Care EarlyEducation ConferenceHilda Medrano, Curriculum & Instruction, UTPA
Family Recreational GameDay for Individuals withVisual ImpairmentsZasha Romero, Health &Kinesiology; Julie Pecina,Educational Psychology, UTPA
Since 2013, the Center for Bilingual Studies (CBS) at UTPA and the Bilingual/ESL Department of McAllen ISD partnered to effectively implement dual language enrichment education in the elementary schools. Faculty affiliated with CBS worked with the administrative staff and elementary teachers at McAllen ISD to build a mentorship structure that provided support to expand the dual language enrichment program and build local capacity. McAllen ISD projects that by 2015-2016, all elementary schools in the district will implement dual language instruction.
McAllen ISD Dual Language Initiative
Community Play Day: Early Childhood Education
Education
Friendship Dance forExceptional StudentsZasha Romero, Health &Kinesiology, UTPA
Health and KinesiologyFriendship DanceJulie Pecina, EducationalPsychology, UTPA
Llano Grande CenterFrancisco Guajardo,Educational Leadership, UTPA
Mission Possible - Taichi forHispanics SeniorsLin Wang, Health & Kinesiology, UTPA
Oce of Field Experiences Enhanced Partnerships with La Joya ISDAlcione Ostorga, Curriculum & Instruction, UTPA
Professional DevelopmentLecture SeriesJanine Schall, Curriculum& Instruction; Julie Pecina,Educational Psychology, UTPA
Project PSJAFrancisco Guajardo, Educational Leadership, UTPA
Read 3 Family Literacy Classesfor Parents & PreschoolersCarmen Garcia-Caceres, Language, Literacy & Inter-cultural Studies, UTB
Sharyland High StudentScience Research ClubTim Sears, Mathematics, UTPA
Special Ocelots Summer CampMary Curtis, Educational, Psychology, and Leadership, UTB
STEM Lecture SeriesAlex Filippenko & Julie Pecina, UTPA
Teacher of the Year CeremonyVelma Menchaca, Educational Leadership, UTPA
Team MARIO Fun FridaysJulie Pecina, EducationalPsychology, UTPA
The Hidalgo CountyChild Welfare BoardMaria R. Gonzales, UTPA
Torneo de OrtograaJose Agustin Ruiz-Escalante, Curriculum & Instruction, UTPA
Students in The Environment and Early Childhood course planned, implemented and evaluated a Community Play Day at Gladys Porter Zoo in collaboration with parents and five community partners. The focus was on fostering bilingual emergent literacy in alternative learning spaces involving parents and community.
Georgianna DuarteTeaching, Learning and Innovation, UTB
Jorge VidalCivil Engineering, UTPA
Center of Excellencein STEM EducationCristina Villalobos, Mathematics, UTPA
Middle School SummerRobotics CampWilliam Berg, Engineering and Computational Science, UTB
MOST History VisitmakerWendy Lawrence Fowler, UTPA
North American Advanced Manufacturing Research & Education Initiative (NAAMREI), UTPA
Railway Summer Camp(3rd Thru 8th Grade)Center for Railway Safety, UTPA
Research Experiences for TeachersCenter for Railway Safety, UTPA
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)Center for Railway Safety, UTPA
Texas ManufacturingAssistance CenterHenry Oh, UTPA
UTPA Solar Facilities ToursJaime Ramos, UTPA
Engineering & Computer SciencesComputer-Aided Design for Texas HHSC Regional Facilities
Jorge VidalCivil Engineering, UTPA
STEMS goal is to promote Science and Engineering education to students from South Texas. The event aims to increase high school students interest in Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics through activities where they can learn new concepts, broaden their horizons, and have fun at the same time.
STEMS Competition
Javier GarciaChemistry & Environmental Sciences, UTB
A group of advanced Civil Engineering Graphics students, under the direction of a faculty member, assisted the Texas Health and Human Services Commission by drafting and entering most of their regional facilities into CAD. The HHSC extended students a chance to intern with them to further develop their facilities database, building students work portfolio, improving their resumes, and increasing the chances for better professional opportunities.
After School Tutorials &Homeless Shelter AssistanceManuel Medrano, History, UTB
Bilingual Story HourAmy Weimer, UTPA
Court Monitoring with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)Mario Davila, Criminal Justice, UTB
Cultural Signicance ofDia de los MuertosLeslie Meyer, Sociology, UTB
Historical Museums ProjectsJames Mills, History, UTB
Identifying Increased Risk of Diabetes in RGV Children onAtypical Anti-psychotic DrugsFred Ernst, UTPA
Municipal Court CommunityService ProjectMario Davila, Criminal Justice, UTB
Native American Peoplesof South TexasRussell K. Skowronek, UTPA
One Day in the LowerRio Grande ValleyLynn Vincentnathan, UTPA
Pharr Smart Policing InitiativeS. George Vincentnathan, UTPA
Point in Time Homeless CensusSherry McCullough,Behavioral Sciences, UTB
RGV Contamination ProjectLynn Vincentnathan, UTPA
Rio Grande Valley Civil War TrailChristopher Miller, UTPA
Solutions to County Budget DecitEspiridion Borrego, UTPA
Stress Reduction WorkshopGrant Benham, UTPA
The Pulse of the ValleyJessica Lavariega-Monforti, Political Science, UTPA
Social & Behavioral Sciences
In an effort to inform residents about a hazardous contaminated plume found under approximately 33 acres of McAllen, a team of UTPA students and faculty from the Departments of Anthropology & Criminal Justice and Environmental Crime & Justice reached out to the community. They conducted ethnographic interviews, held community gatherings, canvased affected neighborhoods and organized forums on campus to increase awareness.
Lynn VincentnathanSociology & Anthropology, UTPA
Students in General Psychology receive training in disaster relief with the American Red Cross, and are then able to serve as disaster relief volunteers locally and nationally.
Red Cross Hurricane Action Team (HAT)
William DavisBehavioral Sciences, UTB
RGV Contamination Project
Health Sciences & Human Services
Over 1,000 community members from Peitas, a colonia located nearly 20 miles west of UTPA, filled the hallways of Dr. Javier Saenz Middle School for the 12th annual health fair. UTPA nursing students provided flu shots, glucose screenings, pharmaceutical aid, height and weight checks, eye exams, all at no cost to the people who attended the fair. A six week planning and implementation process involved students choosing a community and assessing its health care needs. The community needs assessment included a windshield survey along with home visits. We have stats that we collect, so thats how we build the community health fair, based on their needs, not based on what I think, said UTPA faculty and health fair coordinator, We observe, they tell us, we combine and we build it.
Nancy NadeauNursing, UTPA
7th Annual"Welcome Back Parents Fair" Shirley A. Wells, UTPA
Aordable Healthcare Act Presentation with Migrant Health Promotion AdvocatesBryan Smith, UTPA
Backpack AwarenessShirley A. Wells, UTPA
COHSHS Preceptors ReceptionBryan Smith, UTPA
Community CNE ConferenceNancy Nadeau, UTPA
Community HealthInformation SeriesLydia Aguilera, UTPA
Community Health WorkshopsAva Miller, Nursing;Sally Roach, Nursing, UTB
Complementary Pathsto Mind-Body-SpiritNancy Nadeau, Nursing, UTPA
Community Health Education and Promotion (CHEP) Bi-Monthly Outings at Local Flea MarketsShawn Saladin, UTPA
Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) InitiativeLilia A. Fuentes, UTPA
Diabetes RegistryDoreen Garza, BorderHealth Oce, UTPA
Educational Web ModulesHealth DisparitiesScholars Program, UTB
BSN Community Health Fair 2014: Planting The Seeds of Health
Students in the Human Genetics & Medical Genomics course compiled and distributed diabetes information pamphlets for area neighborhoods at a Wellness event held in Brownsville. Students discussed diabetes risk factors, prevention through diet and lifestyle modifications, and familial risk with the community members.
Family Genome & Diabetes Project
Saraswathy NairBiomedical Sciences, UTB
HESTEC Community Film Screening - "Diabetesville, USA: Lessons from the Front-lines of the Diabetes Epidemic"John Ronnau, UTPA
Humanitarian NeedSupply DeliveriesJohn Ronnau, UTPA
Inter-professional Education and Practice Grand Rounds SessionAudrey Jones, UTPA
MBRS RISE Research DaysBiomedical Sciences andHealth Professions, UTB
MORE Health @ UTPACommunity DayCollege of Health Sciences andHuman Services, UTPA
Operation Lone Star 2014Shawn Saladin, UTPA
Recovery UnlimitedCommunity Services ProjectChuck Reid, UTPA
Region One Boy's at Health Sciences DayBryan Smith, UTPA
Research Update: Nursingworkforce issues and their eecton patient/client healthNancy Nadeau, UTPA
Risk Assessment for Type 2Diabetes in ChildrenDoreen Garza, BorderHealth Oce, UTPA
Sacred Heart Catholic Church - McAllen: Refugee/ImmigrantMobile Health Clinic, UTPA
Vidas Sanas - Las Consequencias de la Obesidad en el Valle Del Rio GrandeDoreen Garza, BorderHealth Oce, UTPA
2014 High School Math ContestDambaru Bhatta, UTPA
American Cancer Society's Relayfor Life of the Upper-ValleyMission & Advocacy CommitteeTim Sears, UTPA
Arecibo Remote CommandCenter (AARC) ProgramFredrick Jenet, Physics andAstronomy, UTB
Astronomy in the ParkPhysics and Astronomy, UTB
Better PostersZen Faulkes, UTPA
Boy Scouts of America RGV CampAmanda Hernandez, UTPA
Brownsville Pilot CurbsideRecycling ProjectJude Benavides, Chemistry andEnvironmental Sciences, UTB
Center for Gravitational WaveAstronomy Science FestivalPhysics and Astronomy, UTB
College Prep Mathematics CourseVirgil U. Pierce, UTPA
Curricular development,Experiential Learning, Networking,and Access to Agroecology (CENA)Alexis Racelis, UTPA
Experimental Algebra& Geometry Lab Aaron T. Wilson, UTPA
Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley andLower Laguna MadreRobert J. Edwards, UTPA
Floating Classroom onthe M/V KarmaRichard Kline, Biological Sciences, UTB
GEL Middle GradesScience ProgramZen Faulkes, UTPA
HESTEC Community DayUTeach Outreach EventTim Sears, UTPA
HHMI Teacher Training InitiativeJohn Trant and Joanne Rampersad, UTPA
Howard Hughes Medical InstituteHigh School Summer InternshipJohn Trant and JoanneRampersad, UTPA
Intel International Science &Engineering Fair Advisory CouncilTim Sears, UTPA
Mathematical OlympiadsCompetition for Middle and High School StudentsMathematics, UTB
Science & Mathematics
Alex RacelisAgroecology, UTPA
The first phase of construction for UTPA's campus garden and greenhouse was completed during the summer of 2014. The research and teaching components have already begun with the Agroecology Lab and Dr. Racelis' Agroecology class. The garden includes the 7,500 sq ft of land fully equipped with irrigation, access to the toolshed, and a shade house, all adjacent to UTPA's state-of-the-art greenhouse equipped with a waterwall, sprinklers, and fans ensuring optimum temperature.
UTPA Community Garden
Betsy PriceCenter for Teaching
& Learning, UTB
Science & Mathematics
Mole Day High SchoolChemistry CompetitionArnulfo Mar, Chemistry andEnvironmental Sciences, UTB
Monday Night PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy, UTB
Oceanarium at Gladys Porter ZooDavid Hicks, Biological Sciences, UTB
Online Homework for High SchoolMathematics in South TexasVirgil U. Peirce, UTPA
Physics CircusPhysics and Astronomy, UTB
Presentation at the Conference forthe Advancement of ScienceTeaching, Houston, TXTim Sears, UTPA
Real ScientistsZen Faulkes, UTPA
Resaca Dredging andRestoration ProgramJude Benavides, Chemistry andEnvironmental Sciences, UTB
Restoration Ecology at BahiaGrande, Resaca de la Palma, andLaguna AtascosaAlejandro Fierro Cabo, Biological Sciences, UTB
Rio Grande Valley RegionalScience and Engineering FairJavier Garcia, South TexasEngineering Math and Science, UTB
Sharyland High School StudentScience Research ClubTim Sears, UTPA
STEM training for Texas RegionalCollaborative Teachers, forMathematics Teachers,Virgil U. Pierce, UTPA
Story Telling of aSedimentary Rock ActivityRuben A. Mazariegos, UTPA
Subtropical Organic AgricultureResearch Partnership Alexis Racelis, UTPA
Texas Association of FutureEducators' ConferenceTim Sears, UTPA
Tree Campus USAAlexis Racelis, UTPA
UTeach Recruitmentat UTPA BroncFestTim Sears, UTPA
UTPA Mobile LaboratoryScience Education ModulesJohn Trant and Joanne Rampersad, UTPA
World Birding Center PresentationZen Faulkes, UTPA
Students in Physical Science for Educators participated in Super Science Saturday by providing interactive educational activities for visitors of the Children's Museum of Brownsville.
Super Science Saturday
Betsy PriceCenter for Teaching
& Learning, UTB
Projecto Juan Diego
Proyecto Azteca
PSJA ISD
Public Schools-Migrant Counselors
Region One
Resaca de la Palma
RGV Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
RGV School Districts and private schools
RGV Tourism Coop
RGVD Association Board
RGV-Focus
Rio Grande Valley Council of Boy Scouts
Rio Grande Valley Public Radio 88 FM
Rio Grande Valley Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Rio South Texas Economic Council
Roma Economic Development Corporation
Rotary Club of Historic Browns-ville
Sabal Palms Sanctuary
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Salvation Army
San Benito ISD
Science Teachers Association of Texas
Sea Turtle Inc
Singleterry Elementary School
Society for Science and the Public
Sonoma Housing
South Padre Island Birding and
Nature Center
South Padre Island EDC
South Texas Behavioral Health Center
South Texas College
South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Organization
South Texas Literacy Coalition
State Farm Insurance
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration SAHMSA
Teaching and Mentoring Communities (TMC)
Team MARIO
Team McAllen Cycling
TerraPreta Farms
Texas A&M Agrilife Extentsion
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Texas A&M University - College Station
Texas Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impair-ments (TAPVI)
Texas Association of Future Educators
Texas Book Festival
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas Department of Emergency Management
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Forest Service
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
Texas Parks
Texas Regional Technology Fund
Texas Southmost College
Texas State Society of CPAs
Texas-Mexico Border CoalitionThe Brownsville Herald
The Children's Museum of Brownsville
The Hidalgo County Health Department
The Museum of South Texas History
The National Center for Appropriate Technology
The RGV Catholic Ministries
The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
The Up to Us Competition
Tropical Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization
United Way
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Valley Baptist Hospital
Valley Nature Center
Valley Symphony Orchestra
Valley Telephone Cooperative
Veteran's Administration
Walgreens
Walmart
Wells Fargo
Weslaco ISD
Winter Texan Times
Workforce Solutions
World Birding Center
Yahweh Farms
Abdulkarim Erabti
American Cancer Society
ARISE
BBVA Compass
BETA high school
Better Business Bureau
Boys and Girls Club of Edinburg
Brownsville Children's Museum
Brownsville Community Improve-ment Corporation
Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Brownsville Historical Association
Brownsville ISD
Brownsville Kiddie Health Center
Brownsville Literacy Center
Brownsville Mitte Cultural District
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
Brownsville Parks and Recreation
Brownsville Public Utilities
Cameron County Mental Health Task Force
Camille Players, Inc.
Camille Playhouse
Campus Suicide Prevention Program
Capital One Bank
Casa Hogar M.A.M.I. (Ministerio de Amor y Misericordia)
Center for Rural Strategies
Children and Family Protective Services
Children's Museum of Brownsville
City of Edinburg
City of McAllen
City of Pharr
County Election Commission
Department of Commerce
Donna ISD
Dustin Sekula Memorial Library
Easter Seals
Edcouch-Elsa ISD
Edinburg ISD
El Hueso de Fraile
Fiesta Marathon Inc
Food Bank
Friendship of Women
Gladys Porter Zoo
Harlingen Museum
Healthy Communities Brownsville
Hidalgo County
Hilltop Gardens
Historic Brownsville Museum
Holy Family Church
IDEA public schools ISD
Ignite Public Schools
Intel Foundation
Internal Revenue Service
International Museum of Art and Science
Jacksonville City School System
La Feria ISD
La Joya ISD
LakeShore, Scholastic School District
Llano Grande Center
Lyford Elementary School
Maquiladora Association of Matamoros
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
McAllen Cross Roads Senior Center
McAllen Express Transit MET
McAllen ISD
Migrant Health Promotion
Miradas de Esperanza
Mission Buttery Center
Mission Regional Hospitial
Moody Clinic
Mr. Samuel Shipp
Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Port Isabel
National Center for Appropriate Technology
National Hispanic Professional Organization
National Parks Service Palo Alto Battleeld
National Science Foundation
New Mexico State University
One Day in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Palm Valley Church
Palo Alto National Battleeld
Pharr Police Department
Pharr Public Works
Pharr-San Juan Independent School District
Pi Omicron Chapter Sigma Theta Tau
Plantation Produce, Mission TX
Port Isabel EDC
Our Partners
Projecto Juan Diego
Proyecto Azteca
PSJA ISD
Public Schools-Migrant Counselors
Region One
Resaca de la Palma
RGV Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
RGV School Districts and private schools
RGV Tourism Coop
RGVD Association Board
RGV-Focus
Rio Grande Valley Council of Boy Scouts
Rio Grande Valley Public Radio 88 FM
Rio Grande Valley Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Rio South Texas Economic Council
Roma Economic Development Corporation
Rotary Club of Historic Browns-ville
Sabal Palms Sanctuary
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Salvation Army
San Benito ISD
Science Teachers Association of Texas
Sea Turtle Inc
Singleterry Elementary School
Society for Science and the Public
Sonoma Housing
South Padre Island Birding and
Nature Center
South Padre Island EDC
South Texas Behavioral Health Center
South Texas College
South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Organization
South Texas Literacy Coalition
State Farm Insurance
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration SAHMSA
Teaching and Mentoring Communities (TMC)
Team MARIO
Team McAllen Cycling
TerraPreta Farms
Texas A&M Agrilife Extentsion
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Texas A&M University - College Station
Texas Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impair-ments (TAPVI)
Texas Association of Future Educators
Texas Book Festival
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas Department of Emergency Management
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Forest Service
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
Texas Parks
Texas Regional Technology Fund
Texas Southmost College
Texas State Society of CPAs
Texas-Mexico Border CoalitionThe Brownsville Herald
The Children's Museum of Brownsville
The Hidalgo County Health Department
The Museum of South Texas History
The National Center for Appropriate Technology
The RGV Catholic Ministries
The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
The Up to Us Competition
Tropical Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization
United Way
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Valley Baptist Hospital
Valley Nature Center
Valley Symphony Orchestra
Valley Telephone Cooperative
Veteran's Administration
Walgreens
Walmart
Wells Fargo
Weslaco ISD
Winter Texan Times
Workforce Solutions
World Birding Center
Yahweh Farms
Abdulkarim Erabti
American Cancer Society
ARISE
BBVA Compass
BETA high school
Better Business Bureau
Boys and Girls Club of Edinburg
Brownsville Children's Museum
Brownsville Community Improve-ment Corporation
Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Brownsville Historical Association
Brownsville ISD
Brownsville Kiddie Health Center
Brownsville Literacy Center
Brownsville Mitte Cultural District
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
Brownsville Parks and Recreation
Brownsville Public Utilities
Cameron County Mental Health Task Force
Camille Players, Inc.
Camille Playhouse
Campus Suicide Prevention Program
Capital One Bank
Casa Hogar M.A.M.I. (Ministerio de Amor y Misericordia)
Center for Rural Strategies
Children and Family Protective Services
Children's Museum of Brownsville
City of Edinburg
City of McAllen
City of Pharr
County Election Commission
Department of Commerce
Donna ISD
Dustin Sekula Memorial Library
Easter Seals
Edcouch-Elsa ISD
Edinburg ISD
El Hueso de Fraile
Fiesta Marathon Inc
Food Bank
Friendship of Women
Gladys Porter Zoo
Harlingen Museum
Healthy Communities Brownsville
Hidalgo County
Hilltop Gardens
Historic Brownsville Museum
Holy Family Church
IDEA public schools ISD
Ignite Public Schools
Intel Foundation
Internal Revenue Service
International Museum of Art and Science
Jacksonville City School System
La Feria ISD
La Joya ISD
LakeShore, Scholastic School District
Llano Grande Center
Lyford Elementary School
Maquiladora Association of Matamoros
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
McAllen Cross Roads Senior Center
McAllen Express Transit MET
McAllen ISD
Migrant Health Promotion
Miradas de Esperanza
Mission Buttery Center
Mission Regional Hospitial
Moody Clinic
Mr. Samuel Shipp
Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Port Isabel
National Center for Appropriate Technology
National Hispanic Professional Organization
National Parks Service Palo Alto Battleeld
National Science Foundation
New Mexico State University
One Day in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Palm Valley Church
Palo Alto National Battleeld
Pharr Police Department
Pharr Public Works
Pharr-San Juan Independent School District
Pi Omicron Chapter Sigma Theta Tau
Plantation Produce, Mission TX
Port Isabel EDC
Our Partners
PART
NER
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