Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.78
Liaison Jessica Bowen
Submission Date March 4, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Aquinas College
AC-10: Support for Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 4.00 Jessica Eimer Bowen
Director of Sustainability
Center for Sustainability
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Student Sustainability Research Incentives 

Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability? :
No

A brief description of the student research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
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Faculty Sustainability Research Incentives 

Does the institution have a program to encourage faculty from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability topics?:
Yes

A brief description of the faculty research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
Yes, The “Economicology Leadership Fund,” is a source of funding at the discretion of the president to facilitate innovative research and program development. Priority of funding is given to the implementation of proposals advancing research and innovation in Economicology, defined by Peter Wege as the aspiration to “create a balance of livability between our ecology and the economy” (Economicology II, 17). Recommendations are vetted electronically by the Campus Sustainability Steering Committee, including representatives from the faculty and staff sustainability committees of the respective assemblies. The Dean of Science and Sustainability and chair of the Faculty Development committee also participate in the selection process. The committee reviews submissions on a bi-monthly basis. The program was launched in December 2014. Examples: 1. Geography Professor Mary Clinthorne, Ph.D. worked with her Geospatial Technologies students to research the conversion of Aquinas' existing "Nature App" (electronic tree mapping app for the college) to an ArcGIS Story Map during the school year 2017-2018 and summer 2018. 2. Geography Professor James Rasmussen and History Professor Chad Gunnoe researched the possibilities for a Study Abroad course in Iceland with a Sustainability theme.

Recognition of Inter-, Trans- and Multi-Disciplinary Research 

Has the institution published written policies and procedures that give positive recognition to interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research during faculty promotion and/or tenure decisions?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s support for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
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Library Support

Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
Yes, The library provides access to the Sustainability Resource Center database, which covers all aspects of sustainability, has been purchasing books on sustainable business for over ten years, and has created a research guide focused on sustainable business. Librarians also created an inter-disciplinary Economicology collection in 2016, showcasing books, videos, and other media related to the topic.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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