Organization Description and Mission The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is dedicated to teaching and to the creation, interpretation, application, and dissemination of knowledge. UTEP is the only major research university in the country whose students are predominantly Mexican-American. As Hispanics become the largest minority group, the university is winning national recognition for its innovative teaching methods and programs designed to help students succeed. Because of the international and multicultural characteristics of this region, the University provides its students and faculty with distinctive opportunities for learning, teaching, research, artistic endeavors, cultural experiences, and service. UTEP embraces this as its mission: Providing access and excellence in higher education.   The Center for Environmental Resource Management (CERM) provides university-wide leadership and coordination for energy and environmentally-related academic, policy, research, and service activities. CERM was initiated in 1990 and has since grown to be the largest and most diverse research center at UTEP and home to the Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. program. As a university-wide center, CERM strives to integrate all of its activities into the academic mission of the university. Major components of CERM are the environmental research center, energy center, environmental information technology / GIS unit, environmental policy and outreach section, and the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. CERM's support comes from a wide array of federal, State, and private sources.