Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 72.78
Liaison Troy Goodnough
Submission Date Feb. 10, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Minnesota, Morris
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Troy Goodnough
Sustainability Director
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 sustainability research?:
Yes

A brief description of the student sustainability research program:
UMN Morris provides sustainability research funds via the UMN Institute on the Environment mini-grant program -- providing up to $3,000 for research projects done in collaboration with faculty and staff.

https://environment.umn.edu/fellows-grants/grants/

Faculty sustainability research incentives 

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

A brief description of the faculty sustainability research program:
UMN Morris provides sustainability research funds via the UMN Institute on the Environment mini-grant program -- providing up to $3,000 for research projects done in collaboration with faculty and staff.

https://environment.umn.edu/fellows-grants/grants/

Recognition of interdisciplinary, transdisciplnary 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 copy of the promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
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The promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
Yes, our promotion and tenure "7-12" statement specifically acknowledges the importance of interdisciplinary work. It is a part of every Division's statement.

https://faculty.umn.edu/review-recognition/tenure-review/approved-712-statements

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:
UMN Morris Library Services provides multiple databases (indexes and full text resources) and print materials supporting sustainability research. We also have formal research guides and offer specialized instruction in use of all our resources to Environmental Studies and Environmental Science classes as well as all the other interdisciplinary classes that are taught by the list of faculty below. We also have scholarly articles, books and other resources delivered in an online format, we do. In cooperation with staff and faculty, the library assists with sustainability literacy promotion through reference and instruction services.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for sustainability research is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
UMN Morris has funding to support student sustainability research projects connected to the University of Minnesota-system. This has included research at the Morris Ecostation, research on energy storage options for the Morris campus, and regenerative farming practices.

Morris has the Morris Academic Partnership (MAP) and Morris Administrative Fellowship (MSAF) programs which help fund student sustainability research, creative work, and other administrative work in sustainability with faculty members and staff. The MAP program provides funds for students to work directly with faculty members on research.

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Within the University of Minnesota system, to which Morris is connected, there are several programs which provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in sustainability research. One example is the Institute on the Environment grant program. Morris faculty and students have accessed resources from these programs to pursue sustainability-related research.

http://environment.umn.edu/fellows-grants/ione-educators/

Also, the University's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides stipends. UROP actively encourages and supports projects related to sustainability.

UMN Morris students have been involved in a range of research, creative and artistic efforts to advance sustainability, including work in: renewable energy policy, survey work in the community around sustainability issues, developing biomass gasification technology, studying climate change and tree populations, advancing chemistry for solar PV applications and wind-to-hydrogen techniques, antibacterial resistance, food policy and systems, and more.

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.