Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 81.34
Liaison Robert Stroufe
Submission Date Nov. 26, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Chatham University
AC-10: Support for Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Mary Whitney
University Sustainability Coordinator
Office of 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? :
Yes

A brief description of the student research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The Falk School of Sustainability has developed the Summer Fellowship Program that provides a generous stipend to allow students the opportunity to focus on helping communities and the world with their work and research. Graduate students will be guaranteed up to $5,000 income for their summer placements. These opportunities may be either student acquired or come from one of the Falk School's developed placements with organizations working on various sustainable projects. The Falk Summer Fellowship program is competitive, with priority given to applicants who express a preference in international and/or community development contexts. In addition, students can participate in sustainable research as part of an independent study which counts as college credits and allows the student to work with the faculty and the research project. Graduate students are encouraged to do an independent study with the sustainability office and undergraduate students are encouraged to do their senior independent research project called tutorial on sustainability. The sustainability office actively seeks students to do their tutorial projects on sustainability and the Director of Sustainability sits on undergraduate and graduate thesis boards. The students receive college credit for their projects. We also have internships and assistantships in both the undergraduate and graduate programs for the sustainability office, the Eden Hall Farm, and assisting with Falk School of Sustainability faculty research. These are paid internships and assistantships.

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:
The Falk School of Sustainability has a faculty venture research fund, to support research related to sustainability. This fund provides money for new projects, equipment, etc.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s support for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
With Chatham's historic liberal arts focus and the requirements of our mission initiatives of sustainability, women's issues, and global affairs, much of our research is by necessity interdisciplinary in nature. Our Vice President for Academic Affairs stated, “Interdisciplinary research has been greatly valued at Chatham University, and it is given equal weight as research from a single academic discipline.”

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:
The JKM Library on the Shadyside campus has a library liaison dedicated to sustainability topics across all departments, and provides additional support to the Falk School of Sustainability by offering library technical support, research assistance, content guides, and sustainability-focused journal subscriptions.

Optional Fields 

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