Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.64
Liaison Rachael Wein
Submission Date March 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Smith College
AC-10: Support for Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Joanne Benkley
Assistant Director
Center for the Environment
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student Sustainability Research Incentives 

Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability? :
Yes

A brief description of the student research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability (CEEDS) supports students conducting original research in sustainability under the guidance of a faculty advisor by educating students about curricular pathways, sponsoring integrative projects, and student led initiatives.

Faculty Sustainability Research Incentives 

Does the institution have a program to encourage faculty from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability topics?:
Yes

A brief description of the faculty research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
Smith College's Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability provides faculty with resources to encourage research in sustainability. The Center can provide expertise, infrastructure, supplemental course funds, and summer stipends of up to $1,000 to faculty in support of these efforts. In addition, faculty have access to the MacLeish Field Station, which is available year round for research and course activities. The mission of the field station is to foster field-based education and research that promotes environmental study and experiential learning in a forested and agricultural landscape. The Ada and Archibald MacLeish Field Station offers unique opportunities for faculty and students from several disciplines to pursue environmental research, outdoor education, and low-impact recreation.

Recognition of Inter-, Trans- and Multi-Disciplinary Research 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s support for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The Committee on Tenure and Promotion considers collaborative and interdisciplinary research and other projects across different departments for tenure positions.

Library Support

Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The library staff provide ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning in the form of research guides, materials selection policies and practices, curriculum development efforts, and sustainability literacy promotion.

Optional Fields 

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.