| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.78 |
| Liaison | Amber Saxton |
| Submission Date | Sept. 9, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
George Mason University
AC-10: Support for Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Andrew
Wingfield Fellow for Sustainable Studies New Century College |
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:
The Patriot Green Fund (PGF) launched in 2011 and administered by George Mason University's Office of Sustainability, provides dedicated funds annually to support students' sustainability research. PGF annually offers $20,000 for student-driven sustainability research projects and $80,000 for student-driven, sustainability-related infrastructure improvement projects, many of which can be described as action research. The Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) has provided faculty in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ESS) major with funds to incorporate sustainability research into the ESS curriculum so that all students in the major engage directly in sustainability research. Student residents of the Sustainability Living Learning Community take a year-long course in which project teams take on campus greening projects all of which have a research component.
See the URLs below for a list of funded PGF projects.
http://green.gmu.edu/pgf/2012projects.html
http://green.gmu.edu/pgf/2013projects.html
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 Patriot Green Fund encourages faculty research in sustainability since faculty advisors are required for all students performing research. This is designed in part to encourage faculty to engage students in their own sustainability research.
Dr. Changwoo Ahn received PGF funds to support student research and learning in his Wetlands Mesocosm: http://green.gmu.edu/pgf/mesocosm.html
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:
George Mason approved a new Strategic Plan in December of 2013. The plan calls for Mason to "strategically focus on multidisciplinary domains of great societal and economic consequence where we can make a difference," and, specifically, to develop 5 new multidisciplinary research institutes in the next 10 years (see Goal 11, p. 25 of Strategic Plan document accessed from link below). One of these, Institute for a Sustainable Earth, was launched in May 2014 and will foster interdisciplinary research in the areas of Climate, Environment, and Sustainability. Prior to this, interdisciplinary research has long been part of Mason's academic culture, if not the subject of an explicit policy. Many of Mason's existing research centers are interdisciplinary as reflected in the names listed here: http://research.gmu.edu/centers
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:
Mason's library provides a resource librarian for New Century College and the Environmental Science and Policy department, which jointly offer the Environmental and Sustainability Studies BA. This librarian has created an online infoguide to support sustainability research carried out by students in this major: http://infoguides.gmu.edu/content.php?pid=21504&search_terms=nclc+210
The website URL where information about the institution's library support for sustainability is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Information is for FY14
Information is for FY14
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.