| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.22 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Slippery Rock University
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Paul
Scanlon Special Assistant to the President President's Office/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:
SRU's Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) supports sustainable student projects and research. Incentives include student internships and several $1,000 fellowship grants provided annually by a local business.
The SEA also receives grants from other nonprofit organizations to support projects involving sustainability research, such as the current aquaponics demonstration and research project. This project involved the design and construction of an aquaponics system located at the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research ("RAMC"). Graduate assistants and student workers also conduct independent research into topics such as best practices in forest management and nature trail design and management.
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:
The faculty co-directors of the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education & Research each received 1/4 time release as an incentive to develop and manage the Center's programs, which include both sustainable education and research topics. In 2020, a full-time operations manager took over this program and works directly with faculty members to expand the education and research programs.
Positive outcome in 2017 and 2022 include "World Cafe" brainstorming sessions to identify educational and research priorities and programs for the future of the Macoskey Center; individuals invited included the general public, alumni, faculty, staff and students.
Another positive outcome is the collaboration on the Aquaponics demonstration and research project among the School of Business's Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator interns and the Parks & Recreation Department's graduate assistants/student workers at the Macoskey Center.
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:
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research:
SRU's Bailey Library supports research across many disciplines, including sustainability, by providing a Center for Student Research, resources for different subject areas, interlibrary loans, scientific/research databases, as well as tutorials and citation format information.
The "LibGuide" at the library allows free and open access to database material at http://sru.libguides.com/, including specific sections on "sustainability and the environment", "Rachel Carson and Silent Spring", "Geography, Geology, & the Environment", and "Parks, Recreation and Environmental Education".
Positive outcomes include increased awareness of, easier access to, sustainable research resources (including environmental films available for free use) and the preservation of historic organic gardening and permaculture encyclopedias that have been archived at the library. See the "Robert A. Macoskey Center Collection" on the website URL below.
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.