Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.45
Liaison Ryan Ihrke
Submission Date Oct. 17, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Green Mountain College
AC-9: Academic Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 12.00 / 12.00 Aaron Witham
Director of Sustainability
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of the institution’s faculty and/or staff engaged in sustainability research:
24

Total number of the institution’s faculty and/or staff engaged in research:
49

Number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that include at least one faculty or staff member that conducts sustainability research:
3

The total number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that conduct research:
3

A copy of the sustainability research inventory that includes the names and department affiliations of faculty and staff engaged in sustainability research:
Names and department affiliations of faculty and staff engaged in sustainability research:

List of faculty with the academic programs in which they are primarily affiliated:

*Ackerman-Leist, Philip: Sustainable Agriculture/Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Brown, Lucas: Environmental Studies/REED in the ESM division
*Christensen, Laird: English/Environmental Studies in the HEArts division
*Coe, Natalie: Biology in the SOL division
*Coker, Teresa: Environmental Education in ESM division
*Dube, Ben (Staff): Cerridwen Farm in the ESM division
*Edwards, Sam: Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Fesmire, Steven: Environmental Studies/Philosophy in the ESM division
*Graves, James: Biology/Environmental Studies
*Hancock, Paul: Business and Economics in the ESM division
*Harding, James: Natural Resources Management in the ESM division
*Jackson, Vance: Psychology in the SOL division
*Keith, Heather: Philosophy in the ESM division
*Landesman, Bill: Biology in the SOL division
*Letendre, Steven: Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Mayberry, Matt: Business and Economics in the ESM division
*Mittlefehldt, Sarah: Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Mulder, Kenneth: Sustainable Agriculture/Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Park, Jacob: Business and Economics in the ESM division
*Sutheimer, Susan: Chemistry in the SOL division
*Throop, William: Philosophy/Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Tison, Eleanor: Anthropology/Sustainable Agriculture in the ESM division
*Van Hoesen, John: Geology/Environmental Studies in the ESM division
*Witham, Aaron (Staff): Sustainability Office


A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the research inventory:

The provost and sustainability director met and surveyed the original list from the last STARS report, highlighting anybody whom they weren't sure was involved in sustainability research in FY 2013. Given our small campus, the research of most faculty is well known. Then, the sustainability director contacted the individuals in question, asking them if they had done sustainability research and requesting descriptions of papers, presentations, or projects to back up the claim. Additionally, the sustainability director emailed a survey to all faculty requesting citations for sustainability-related presentations or publications.


A brief description of notable accomplishments during the previous three years by faculty and/or staff engaged in sustainability research:

This list of accomplishments is not comprehensive. It is only a sample of the research faculty and staff are engaged in.

Books & Book Chapters:

Ackerman-Leist, P. (2012). Rebuilding the Foodshed: Remapping Our Expectations for the Food We Share. Chelsea Green Press.

Keith, H. (2012). “Natural Caring: A Pragmatist Ecofeminist Approach to Ethics in the More-Than-Human World.” In Hammington, M. & Bardwell-Jones, C. (Eds) Contemporary Feminist Pragmatism. Routledge.

Mauhs-Pugh, T. & Brooks, M. (2013). "Seeking 'Productive, Caring, and Fulfilling Lives' Through the Environmental Liberal Arts at Green Mountain College." In J.L. DeVitis (Ed.) The College Curriculum: A Reader. Peter Lang Publishing.

Mittlefehldt, S. (2013). Tangled Roots: The Appalachian Trail and American Environmental Politics. University of Washington Press.

Sutheimer, S. & Pyles, J. (2011). "Integrating Sustainability and Service Learning into the Science Curriculum.” In T. McDonald (Ed.) Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Multidisciplinary Perspectives Through Service Learning.

Throop, W. (2013). "From Environmental Advocates to Sustainability Entrepreneurs: Rethinking a Sustainability-Focused General Education Program." In P.F. Barlett, G.W. Chase (Eds.) Sustainability in Higher Education: Stories and Strategies for Transformation. MIT Press.

Throop, W. & Fesmire, S. (2013). “Environmental Pragmatism.” In White, K.K. (Ed.) America Goes Green: An Encyclopedia of Eco-Friendly Culture in the United States. ABC-CLIO.

Articles & Reports:

Christensen, L. (2012). “A Tree Falls in the Forest”. Whole Terrain: Reflective Environmental Practice.

Edwards, S. (2012). "Protecting Culture and Marine Ecosystems Under the Law in Micronesia." International Journal of Cultural Property, 19(2), 197-216.

Park, J. (February, 2014). "Education and Career Pathways for Sustainability in an Era of Disruptive Change, Part 1". Sustainability: Journal of Record, 7(1), 21-26.

Farley, J., Burke, M., Flomenhoft, G., Kelly, B., Murray, D.F., Posner, S., Putnam, M., Scanlan, A., Witham, A. (2013). "Monetary and Fiscal Policies for a Finite Planet." Sustainability, 5, 2802-2826.

Letendre, S. et al. (2014). Intelligent Vehicle Charging Benefits Assessment Using EV Project Data. Department of Energy Report. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Letendre, S. , Makhyoun, M., & Taylor, M. (2014). Predicting Solar Power Production: Irradiance Forecasting Models, Applications and Future Prospects. SEPA. Washington, D.C.

Van Hoesen, J.G. and Letendre, S. (2013). "Characterizing the spatiotemporal evolution of building-stock age in Poultney, Vermont: a GIS-based approach to improve thermal efficiency in historical buildings". Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 40, 630-643.

Van Hoesen, J.G., Bunkley, B., Currier, C. (2013). "A GIS-based methodology toward refining the concept of rural food deserts: a case study from Rutland County, Vermont". Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development.

Awards:

Prof. John Van Hoesen (geology and environmental studies) received the 2013 Biggs Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching. The award, presented annually to one person by the Geological Society of America, recognizes innovative and effective teaching of earth science among early career faculty.

The work of Assistant Professor Sarah Mittlefehldt (Environmental Studies) and Associate Professor James Harding (Natural Resources Management) on the Poultney Woodshed Project earned the College the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2013. The award recognizes the research and programmatic efforts behind creating the Poultney Woodshed Project (a community-based supply chain for sourcing the biomass plant’s woodchips locally), building the biomass plant, installing an energy use dashboard, achieving climate neutrality and educating the community about renewable energy.

Presentations:

Ackerman-Leist, P. (2014). What the Devil Do we Eat? Forum. Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

Brown, L. & Magnuson, C. (2013). A Design-Build Block Semester: Student Engagement Through the Creation of a Solar Garage. AASHE Conference. Nashville, TN.

Coker, T. (2012). EE Standards for Pre-Service Education Workshop. North American Association of Environmental Education’s Annual conference. Oakland, CA.

Coker, T. & Walters, M. (2012). Favorite Interactive EE Activities for Pre-Service and In-service Teachers. North American Association of Environmental Education’s Annual conference. Oakland, CA.

Coker, T. & Walters, M. (2013). Sense of Wonder - Nature Journaling. North American Association of Environmental Education’s Annual conference. Baltimore, MD.

Dube, B. & Mulder, K.(2013). Farming Without Oil: Land, Labor, and Energy Demands of Alternative Farm Systems.In Panel: Developing Sustainable Biophysical Systems I. United States Society for Ecological Economics Conference. Burlington, VT.

Edwards, S. (2013). Apologies and the law: Saying I'm sorry in collectivist cultures. Rescuing Relationships: Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation Symposium. Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law.

Edwards, S. (2013). Free speech & the digital right to assemble: The digital revolution and Constitutional law. New York State Political Science Association Annual Conference. Syracuse University.

Graves, J. (2013). Horticulture for conservation and education: a native plant restoration
nursery goes to college. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) in Phoenix, Arizona, May 20-25, 2013.

Graves, J.( 2012). Biodiversity conservation as a sustainability program on the college
campus: How STARS defines sustainability. Oral Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of America, Portland, Oregon, August 8, 2012.

Graves, J. (2012. The Campus Flora Project: conservation biology education for many audiences. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). Columbus, OH.

Graves, J. (2011). Teaching conservation biology in college gardens and natural areas: student Programs that succeed. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). Philadelphia, PA.

Harding, J. (2011). Poultney Woodshed Project. Society of American Foresters National Convention. Honolulu, HI.

Keith, H. (2011). Pragmatist Feminists Gone Wild: Addams, Noddings, and a Relational Approach to Environmental Ethics. Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy. Spokane, WA.

Mayberry, M. & Morgan, J. (2013). A Holistic Approach to Culture Change on Campus: A New Model of Liberal Arts Education. AASHE Conference. Nashville, TN.

Mayberry, M. & Throop, B. (2012). Setting Stretch Goals: Sustainability as the Organizing Principle for a Strategic Plan. AASHE Conference. Los Angeles, CA.

Mittlefehldt, S. (2013). The Path of Public-Private Partnership. Yale Forest Forum. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University.

Mulder,K. (2013). The Nexus of Food and Energy: Realities and Prospects (Can we have our cake and burn it too?). Green Mountain Power’s College Connections Lecture Series. Energy Innovation Center. Rutland, VT.

Mulder, K. (2013). Farming Without Fossil Fuels: Humans, Animals, Systems. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Winter Conference.

Mulder, K. & Dube, B. (2013). Farming Without Fossil Fuels: Humans, Animals, Systems. Midwest Organic Research Symposium.

Parker, S. & Letendre, S. (2013). Addressing Market Failures to Accelerate Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Adoption: Theory & Practice. United States Society for Ecological Economics Conference. Burlington, VT.

Sutheimer, S. (2012). Bridging Green Chemistry, Materials Science and Nanotechnology: Creating a Course on The Chemistry of Energy. The Biennial Conference on Chemical Education.

Sutheimer, S. (2012). Focusing on Water: A Green General Chemistry Lab Curriculum. The Biennial Conference on Chemical Education.

Sutheimer, S. & King, D. (2012). Global Climate Change: Integrative Curriculum Development for General Chemistry. AASHE Conference. Los Angeles, CA.

Tison, E. & Mason, G. (2012). Gleaning & Frash Freezing Excess Produce from Farms. Sustainable Agriculture Education Association.

Van Hoesen, J.G. (2013). Leveraging a GIS & the Emerging GeoWeb: Towards Improving the Communication of Geologic Mapping Endeavors to Community Stakeholders. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v.45(1), p49.

Witham, A. (2013). Energy Planning on Campus: The Role of Universities. Energy Action Series. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.

Witham, A. (2013). Reaching for the STARS and Beyond: Green Mountain College's Attempt to Measure Authentic Sustainability. AASHE Conference. Nashville, TN.

Witham, A. (2012). Poster: “The Power of Partnership: Redefining Closed Loop Recycling. AASHE Conference. Los Angeles, CA.

Witham, A., Posner, S., & Esposito, V. (2013). Encouraging and Modeling Policies & Practices for a Sustainable World: A Case Study of Vermont Colleges and Universities. United States Society for Ecological Economics Conference. Burlington, VT.


The website URL where information about sustainability research is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Performance year for the number of people engaged in research is Fiscal Year 2013. The headcount for faculty and staff engaged in research includes all full-time faculty, both part-time faculty, and two staff members. The headcount does not include adjuncts and does not include most staff members, even though many adjuncts at Green Mountain College are engaged in sustainability research. For example, Adjunct Professor Kathy Doyle regularly presents on her research on conservation planning and inventorying and Adjunct Professor Ken Welch regularly presents on his research in energy efficiency and cold climate heat pumps.


Performance year for the number of people engaged in research is Fiscal Year 2013. The headcount for faculty and staff engaged in research includes all full-time faculty, both part-time faculty, and two staff members. The headcount does not include adjuncts and does not include most staff members, even though many adjuncts at Green Mountain College are engaged in sustainability research. For example, Adjunct Professor Kathy Doyle regularly presents on her research on conservation planning and inventorying and Adjunct Professor Ken Welch regularly presents on his research in energy efficiency and cold climate heat pumps.

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.