Santa Clara University
AC-10: Support for Research

The Global Social Benefit Fellowship provides a comprehensive program of mentored, field-based study and action research within the GSBI® worldwide network of social entrepreneurs for Santa Clara University juniors. The Fellowship combines a fully funded summer field experience in the developing world with two quarters of academically rigorous research. It is a program of practical social justice, in the Jesuit educational tradition. The program is a richly rewarding yet demanding experience, one that requires a time-intensive, 9-month commitment. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the social enterprise movement. Each Fellow receives a support package to cover all international travel, in-country expenses, and research costs, plus a modest summer stipend. http://globalsocialbenefit.institute/education.html#fellowship 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 at several other institutions of higher education. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more/environmental-ethics/environmental-ethics-fellowship/

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. https://www.scu.edu/provost/research/faculty-funding-opportunities/sustainability-research-initiative-grant/

According to the Santa Clara University Faculty Handbook, promotion decisions are based on three criteria: teaching, scholarly/artistic accomplishments, and service to the University, profession, and community. When evaluating the contributions from scholarly or artistic works, judgement from others in the field and those outside of the University is weighed heavily in promotion decisions. 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. https://www.scu.edu/provost/research/faculty-funding-opportunities/ 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 Library maintains a selection of sustainability research guides that have a variety of themes and subjects. These include resources on energy, water, ecology, agriculture, green business & economics, the built environment, and other general sustainability topics. http://libguides.scu.edu/c.php?g=175644&p=1157734