Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.00
Liaison Jonna Korpi
Submission Date Nov. 4, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Minnesota, Duluth
AC-10: Support for Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Mindy Granley
Sustainability Director
UMD Office of Sustainability
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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:

UMN's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides undergraduates a unique educational experience of collaborating with a faculty mentor on the design and implementation of a project. UROP adds a new dimension to the undergraduate experience and encourages students to conduct research and pursue academic interests outside of their regular courses by employing them to work on special projects. Students receive $1,500 total for their UROP participation. They receive $750 when their application is approved. This money will be put in the student’s account through the scholarship system and will be considered part of the financial aid package. UROP encourages and supports projects related to sustainability.
https://www.d.umn.edu/evcaa/about/urop

UMN Institute on the Environment Mini Grants are offered twice a year (fall/spring) every year since 2011. They are small awards of $3,000 or less, intended to spur new collaborative efforts on environmental topics across the University of Minnesota System. We have funded workshops, speakers, seed funding for larger projects, public engagement events, and dozens of other unique projects.
http://environment.umn.edu/fellows-grants/grants/


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:

Within the University of Minnesota system, there are several programs which provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in sustainability research. One example is the Institute on the Environment. UMD faculty and students are engaged with IonE, we have a branch of IonE at UMD, and we have accessed grants and resources from these programs to pursue sustainability-related research.

More information about IonE and UMD at: https://www.d.umn.edu/ione/
More information on sustainability research grants:
http://environment.umn.edu/fellows-grants/grants/

At UMD, another research incentive are the Chancellor’s Faculty Small Grant Program. The UMD Chancellor provides grants to tenured/tenure-track faculty and term faculty appointed at least 35% time for two semesters in support of teaching, research, or service. Grants are awarded twice a year, fall and spring.


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:

Interdisciplinary work, public engagement, international activities and
initiatives, attention to questions of diversity, technology transfer, and other
special kinds of professional activity by the candidate should be considered
when applicable. The awarding of indefinite tenure presupposes that the
candidate's record shows strong promise of his or her achieving promotion to
professor. The promotion and tenure process (particularly the "7-12" statement) specifically acknowledges the importance of interdisciplinary work.


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:

An "Environment and Sustainability" Library Guide was created by UMD Library Staff Pam Enrici, and is maintained at https://libguides.d.umn.edu/?b=s


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:
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