Overall Rating	Silver - expired
Overall Score	57.39
Liaison	Tina Woolston
Submission Date	Nov. 12, 2015
Executive Letter	Download

STARS v2.0

Tufts University
AC-10: Support for Research

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	4.00 / 4.00	Antje Danielson Administrative Director, Tufts Institute of the Environment & Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS) program Tufts Institute of the Environment

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a program to encourage student sustainability research that meets the criteria for this credit?:

Yes

A brief description of the institution’s program(s) to encourage student research in sustainability:

Matriculated students at any of Tufts University's graduate programs and professional schools are eligible to apply for Tufts Institute of the Environment (TIE) fellowships to conduct interdisciplinary environmental research projects. Selected students will be listed on the TIE website, invited to present final reports to the Tufts environmental community, and receive funding toward a research stipend and/or supplies (up to $6000 per graduate fellowship).

For undergraduates and graduates, TIE offers two types of financial awards to offset travel costs:

1.Conference Presentation Travel Grants, supporting transportation costs and conference registration for Tufts students who are making presentations at environmental conferences, meetings, and workshops.

2. Data Collection Travel Grants, supporting transportation costs for Tufts students who are collecting data for academic research that is specifically environmental in focus.

Also, in 2014 TIE launched a new program that supports undergraduate students interested in pursuing environmentally focused research in the natural sciences, social sciences, or humanities. In addition to financial support, students are given mentoring opportunities and a space in our office to work throughout the summer.

Tufts Institute of the Environment runs workshops for graduate students that promote student cohort formation, collaborative sustainability research, and skill development.

Tufts summer scholars program gives research funding to two undergrads in the area of sustainability research every year.

The website URL where information about the student research program is available:

http://environment.tufts.edu/research/

Does the institution have a program to encourage faculty sustainability research that meets the criteria for this credit?:

Yes

A brief description of the institution’s program(s) to encourage faculty research in sustainability:

The Tufts Institute for the Environment (TIE) provides funding for interdisciplinary environmental faculty research.

In addition, the "Tufts Collaborates" and "Tufts Innovates" seed grant programs were designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty from different departments, and many of the projects funded through those grants have focused on sustainability and the environment.

Tufts Institute of the Environment runs annual faculty workshops to encourage the formation of interdisciplinary environmental research networks in certain research areas related to sustainability.

The website URL where information about the faculty research program is available:

http://provost.tufts.edu/teaching-research/seed-grants-for-teaching-and-research/

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?:

Yes

A brief description or the text of the institution’s policy regarding interdisciplinary research:

Promotion-only within an interdisciplinary program is available for tenured associate professors with the following stipulations:

1. The interdisciplinary program for which promotion is being sought must offer a major;
2. Such promotion shall be reviewed by T&P according to the standards of scholarship, teaching, and service used in promotion cases within departments;
3. Individuals promoted under the above conditions shall receive the title "professor" of the appropriate program

The website URL where information about the treatment of interdisciplinary research is available:

http://ase.tufts.edu/faculty/handbook/pdf/chapter4statement11.pdf

Does the institution provide ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning that meets the criteria for this credit?:

Yes

A brief description of the institution's library support for sustainability research and learning:

The Tisch Library at Tufts has a Tisch Sustainability Team, which fosters sustainability projects and environmental research at the library.

In addition, Tisch Library employs a full-time staff librarian, whose area of focus is in supporting sustainability research.

The website URL where information about the institution's library support for sustainability is available:

http://tischsustainabilityteam.wordpress.com/

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The Fletcher School also offers research fellowships in sustainability for graduate students. See: http://fletcher.tufts.edu/CIERP/Education/Internships for more information.

Laura Doane, Program Director of Advising and Scholarships, Office-Dean Undergraduate Education, laura.doane@tufts.edu, (617) 627-5869, is the contact person for the Summer Scholars Program.

Undergraduate research funding: http://sites.tufts.edu/rogue/

Graduate student research:
http://environment.tufts.edu/research/fellowships/previous-annualcohorts/2013-2014-tie-fellows/
http://ase.tufts.edu/igert/waterdiplomacy/education/fellowships.htm

Data source(s) and notes about the submission