| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.14 |
| Liaison | Lindsey Kalkbrenner |
| Submission Date | May 3, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Santa Clara University
AC-10: Support for Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Amy
Shachter Associate Provost for Research and Faculty Affairs Office of Research Initiatives |
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 Environmental Ethics Fellowship, a program of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, explores the ethical dimensions of sustainability. The Fellowship in Environmental Ethics has been awarded annually to an outstanding Santa Clara University undergraduate to support a project that examines the ethical implications of an environmental topic.
Past projects include developing a Carbon Footprint Calculator for college students to measure their impact, specific to their campus. The students also wrote instructions for other campuses to develop their own calculators. The tool has been replicated in at least one other campus.
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 Sustainability Research Initiative aims to establish a vibrant, productive, collaborative research community with projects related to justice and sustainability. The Initiative includes research grants (up to $90,000 each year for three years), professional development grants for faculty and staff (up to $5,000 each year for three years), and a research retreat each year. The Initiative is funded by the President's Office.
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:
While faculty are expected to contribute to their home disciplines, they are also encouraged to engage in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. Such research is recognized in evaluation and promotion decisions.
The University’s internal grants programs also support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. The Office of Research Initiatives is currently coordinating three interdisciplinary research initiatives: the Sustainability Research Initiative, the Advanced Biosciences Initiative, and the Critical Gender Studies Initiative.
The University has also established three Centers of Distinction (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics; Center for Science, Technology, and Society; and Ignatian Center for Applied Ethics) which actively support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research through their own research programs.
The University’s 2001 Strategic Plan propounded six Fundamental Values, including the value of "Integrated Learning," which it described in part this way: "While valuing the integrity of established disciplines, we endeavor to integrate different forms of knowledge..." The 2001 Strategic Plan presented three Strategic Initiatives. The first goal under the initiative called "Building a Community of Scholars" was: "Stimulate and support cross-disciplinary inquiry."
Although the University’s 2011 Strategic Plan is not as explicit as the 2001 plan in referring to interdisciplinary research, the fact that interdisciplinarity is part of the ethos of the University is clear from the plan’s five strategic priorities: Excellence in Jesuit Education, Engagement with Silicon Valley, Global Understanding and Engagement, Justice and Sustainability, and Academic Community. Among the metrics the 2011 plan identifies are: "Number of presentations, publications, grants, awards, and professional leadership positions related to justice and sustainability," "Number of research collaborations on justice and sustainability among Santa Clara’s faculty, between faculty members and students, and between faculty members and external organizations," and "Increase in tenure-stream faculty positions for teaching scholars with expertise in integrating sustainability and justice."
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:
The Library maintains a selection of Research Guides in a variety of topics categorized by course and/or theme. Themes include Global Warming Resources, Sustainability Videos, Sustainability, Green/Sustainable Building, Sustainable Energy
The website URL where information about the institution's library support for sustainability is available:
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.