Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.35
Liaison Trevor Ledbetter
Submission Date May 2, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Arizona
AC-10: Support for Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Benjamin Champion
N/A
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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:
Undergraduate and Graduate students have ample opportunity to get involved in all types of research including projects that deal with sustainability themes. UA is host to many research centers which provide opportunities for students to work with faculty on research. UA also has several programs that promote students to start individual research projects. A sampling of Undergraduate research programs can be found at http://www.arizona.edu/undergraduate-research-opportunities. For a list of graduate level research opportunities please visit http://www.arizona.edu/graduate-research-opportunities For a list of all the research centers at the University of Arizona please visit http://www.arizona.edu/research-centers

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:
The University of Arizona supports faculty through several programs. Specifically through Confluence: Center for Creative Inquiry,Community Connections Grants, Faculty Seed Grants, and the George H. Davis Fellowship the University of Arizona encourages faculty to pursue innovative research in both field specific and interdisciplinary areas. The Confluence Center funds the social sciences and the arts, the Community Connections Grants fund projects that encourage development of ties in the community, the Faculty Seed grants provide funds to start innovative research that could later be sponsored by outside sources, and the Davis Fellowship helps defray the costs of attending conferences, meetings, etc., at which the researcher would present findings, scholarship or creative activities. The Institute of the Environment continues to provide annual grants to faculty to incentivize environmental and sustainability research; the Institute of the Environment is funded through the university's central Office of Research and Discovery, led by the Senior Vice President for Research and Discovery.

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 University of Arizona's Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) transcend departmental boundaries by facilitating cutting edge teaching and research where traditional disciplines interface. The fusion of ideas, techniques, and expertise from the traditional academic fields provides for the evolution of modern and imaginative methods of research, and the creation of new fields of endeavor. The high value placed on interdisciplinary research and education is one of the ways that The University of Arizona is fostering innovation and creativity among faculty and students. The 14 Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs are an integral part of the Mission Statement of the University of Arizona, and student enthusiasm for the programs is one of their strongest characteristics. Outstanding research and educational facilities attract the best and brightest students. In 2008, GIDPs produced 10% of all Ph.D. degrees at the University of Arizona. Interdisciplinary excellence among faculty is enhanced through GIDPs. Faculty participating in GIDPs develop strong partnerships with academic and research institutes campus-wide, state-wide and nationally. A large number of UA faculty across all colleges are actively involved in GIDPs at the University of Arizona. This strong network of cooperative relationships signifies the intellectual fusion put into practice through The University of Arizona’s Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. GIDP faculty is also significantly successful in obtaining NIH and NSF grants. Membership in GIDP's is formally part of tenure/promotion assessments as can be seen from Dossier Section 9 of the promotion/tenure forms: http://facultyaffairs.arizona.edu/promotion-and-tenure

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 University of Arizona Library provides and maintains research guides for various fields related to sustainability, such as environmental science, business and natural resources. In addition, the UA Libraries have dedicated librarians for topics in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences that can assist researchers and students alike in finding information to aid in research or class projects.

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:
Latest update: February 2016

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.