Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.65
Liaison Melissa Cadwell
Submission Date June 15, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Syracuse University
AC-10: Support for Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Rachel May
Retired -Coordinator of Sustainability Education
Sustainability Management
"---" 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:
As part of its annual Panasci Business Plan competition, SU awards the Fetner Prize in Sustainable Enterprise -- $5000 to the team of students which submits the best sustainable business plan. To win, the plan must include not just business (operational, financial, etc.) elements but also substantive information about impacts on the environment, society, etc. Business students team of with students from various disciplines to design and develop the businesses they propose. The Campus as Lab for Sustainability program offers grants to students for research projects. A current project involves a study of the history of the divestment movement on campus. Funds are available each year for projects that address energy use or carbon emissions, directly or indirectly, or that advance awareness about climate disruption and sustainability on campus.

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:
Our CALS program is available to faculty who wish to pursue sustainaibility research projects. Funds are available each year for projects that address energy use or carbon emissions, directly or indirectly, or that advance awareness about climate disruption and sustainability on campus.

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:
Syracuse University recognizes that the role of academia is not static and that methodologies, topics of interest, and boundaries within and between disciplines change over time. The University will continue to support scholars in all of these traditions, including faculty who choose to participate in publicly engaged scholarship. Publicly engaged scholarship may involve partnerships of University knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, creative activity, and public knowledge; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address and help solve critical social problems; and contribute to the public good.

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:
Librarians create learning and research guides, aggressively acquire books in sustainabiilty fields, and occasionally co-sponsor events related to sustainability, particularly interdisciplinary events and book events. http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/sustainability

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
On faculty promotion and interdisciplinary work: http://provost.syr.edu/faculty-support/faculty-manual/2-34-areas-of-expected-faculty-achievement-teaching-research-and-service/

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.