| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Rebecca Jones |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Austin College
AC-10: Support for Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Peter
Schulze Director Center for Environmental Studies |
Does the institution have a program to encourage student sustainability research that meets the criteria for this credit?:
A brief description of the institution’s program(s) to encourage student research in sustainability:
We have interpreted the term "research" broadly for the purposes of this question. All students in our introductory environmental studies course propose college actions or policies to reduce the college's environmental impact. Development of these proposals requires the students to research current campus operations and alternative procedures, policies, technologies, etc. The campus has adopted some three dozen such proposals. The Environmental Studies summer internship program funds students who spend the summer at three outstanding environmental organizations, one of which, The Land Institute, does research in sustainable agriculture, specifically breeding of perennial grains. Our interns spend the summer working on that research.Students employed with summer research stipends work with many fo the faculty listed in the previous question regarding faculty research in sustainability.
The website URL where information about the student research program is available:
Does the institution have a program to encourage faculty sustainability research that meets the criteria for this credit?:
A brief description of the institution’s program(s) to encourage faculty research in sustainability:
The college does not attempt to influence the research topic choices of the faculty, but does provide support for faculty research and has funded and supported with external grant assistance all of the sustainability-related research projects mentioned at the question regarding faculty sustainability research. All faculty are encouraged to apply for our endowed Richardson Fund and external funds to support faculty research. Approximately one tenth of full time faculty do sustainability-related research, as described above.
The website URL where information about the faculty research program is available:
Has the institution formally adopted policies and procedures that give positive recognition to interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research during faculty promotion and/or tenure decisions?:
A brief description or the text of the institution’s policy regarding interdisciplinary research:
The institution does not seek to influence the research topics faculty choose. However, the institution has been very supportive of the development of interdisciplinary programs, notably including the Center for Environmental Studies, even adding faculty to the environmental studies program recently when new faculty lines were exceedingly rare.
The website URL where information about the treatment of interdisciplinary research is available:
Does the institution provide ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning that meets the criteria for this credit?:
A brief description of the institution's library support for sustainability research and learning:
The college library maintains an Environmental Studies subject guide that includes many sources of sustainability information. http://abell.austincollege.edu/Abell/elinfor/environ.html
The website URL where information about the institution's library support for sustainability is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.