| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.22 |
| Liaison | Jessica Russell |
| Submission Date | Oct. 17, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Mount Royal University
AC-10: Support for Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Donald
Jantz Research Finance Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement |
Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability? :
A brief description of the student research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
MRU hosts Research and Scholarship days every year with the main goal of the event being to celebrate undergraduate student research at Mount Royal University, stimulate discussion between different disciplines, and encourage collaboration and camaraderie between professors and students. Students present research posters and have the opportunity to present them to the Mount Royal community. The posters are judged and awards are given as incentives to the top presentations.
Examples of student projects regarding sustainability include: geothermal energy and the comparison between New Zealand and Canada, the life cycle of Christmas trees (artificial versus real), and ocean plastic pollution impacts and recommendations.
Positive outcomes include student participation increases in Research and Scholarship Days. Student's also get to highlight their own research interests and suggest further research projects as well as reflect on their experiences.
Does the institution have a program to encourage faculty from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability topics?:
A brief description of the faculty research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES) provides funding for faculty who engage in sustainability research. The IES accepts applications in the Fall and Winter semesters for grants ranging from $5000-$20000. Faculty from any department can apply for funding through these research grants.
The IES also hosts talks for faculty to disseminate their research to the Mount Royal community.
Recent faculty projects include: wetlands research (impacts and assessment of oil and gas operations and remediation), research on freshwater fish and their stomach contents, native bumble bees, and best practices in sustainability reporting.
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?:
A brief description of the institution’s support for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
Scholarship is one of the key categories assessed in tenure and promotion decisions. Scholarship encompasses research, creative and artistic work. This reflects the diversity of the academic pursuits of faculty and of their contributions to knowledge. Scholarship may be based within or across disciplines and it includes: discovery, integration, application, and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
MRU's library provides subject specific research guides, librarians, and training on a variety of disciplines (in the social, economic and ecological realm) covering sustainability topics.
The library also provides course support in the form of course reserves, teaching students how to research and creating subject guides.
Positive outcomes from this include preparation for undergraduate research training for students, assisting students with research assignments, and higher student engagement and use within the library.
More information can be found on the university library website.
http://www.mtroyal.ca/Library/index.htm
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.