| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.33 |
| Liaison | Enid Cardinal |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2022 |
Rochester Institute of Technology
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
Neha
Sood Assistant Director for Campus Sustainability RIT Sustainability |
Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct sustainability research?:
A brief description of the student sustainability research program:
The complex problems and opportunities facing humanity in the 21st century require a blend of science, technology, and engineering with a solid grounding in the liberal arts. Understanding social, cultural, psychological, and other important factors are key when developing effective and long-lasting solutions. As one of fewer than 75 schools in the world participating in the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges Scholars Program, RIT students and faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Kate Gleason College of Engineering work together to improve life on the planet for all people by addressing 14 grand challenges.
There are also sustainability focused graduate research assistantships in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Health and Safety Management and Environmental Science programs.
Does the institution have a program to encourage academic staff from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct sustainability research?:
A brief description of the faculty sustainability research program:
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 copy of the promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
The promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
Excerpts from RIT's research vision:
Second, RIT aspires to be an international leader in key, strategic, focused research areas that require contributions from multiple disciplines.
Finally, RIT aspires, through the research, innovation, scholarship and creative work of both our faculty and students, to have true impact on our society culminating in improving the welfare of human life.
Excerpt from RIT’s Policies on Tenure:
Preamble: The RIT tenure policy is designed to encourage and reward excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service and to promote the atmosphere of critical inquiry and creative expression that is vital to the academic and cultural life of the university. Woven into all RIT practices is a commitment to fostering an open, respectful, supportive, accessible, and inclusive community. Tenure is earned by demonstrated achievements and ongoing pursuit of advancements in teaching, scholarship, and service, guided by concern for students' and colleagues' personal worth and advancement.
Criteria for granting tenure: The view that teaching is the foremost activity of the RIT faculty is deeply rooted in the university's traditions and teaching continues to be a hallmark of RIT. RIT is a research university, and scholarship is a significant component of the expectations of tenure-track and tenured faculty. Service is also central to the academic endeavor.
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research:
Linette Koren is the Engineering, Technology, and Sustainability librarian. She actively maintains a website with helpful links, book and journal recommendations, and databases.
Info guides can be found here: https://infoguides.rit.edu/ (select engineering, technology, and sustainability)
Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainability research 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.