Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.45
Liaison Sean MacInnes
Submission Date Feb. 20, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of North Carolina, Greensboro
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Trey McDonald
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution developed a definition of sustainability research?:
Yes

A copy of the institution's definition of sustainability research:

The Academic Subcommittee of the Climate Action Plan team was tasked with establishing a definition of sustainability in academics (curriculum and research). The CAP is currently in draft form and not published, but the team's definition is as follows:

The UNCG Strategic Plan, UNCG Tomorrow, defines sustainability as “the enduring interconnectedness of social equity, the environment, economy, and aesthetics. This interconnectedness provides a foundation from which to discover, implement, and enrich sustainable principles and practice. The intent of sustainability is to instill values that promote justice, invent innovative approaches and solutions to environmental and economic challenges, and invest civility and grace into our communities."
Ensuring that students acquire a basic understanding of the individual elements of sustainability identified above serves as the beginning of sustainability in academics at UNCG. The centrality of the natural environment is essential to the entire idea of sustainability; how the environment shapes, and is shaped by, economic and social factors, is the core of the concept. Because of this distinction, imparting a robust understanding of the natural environment to students is vital to any attempt to infuse sustainability into our academic programs.
Infusing sustainability into academics at UNCG will produce graduating students who:
• Communicate the basics of sustainability;
• Employ and promote sustainable practices during their time at UNCG;
• Apply relevant sustainable practices in their career paths.

Other important aspects of this initiative include conveying current insights and best practices (instruction) and generating new knowledge (research) that explain and enhance the links between the various elements of sustainability. Emphasizing the intentionality of these connections and broadening the scopes in which students think and act are significant outcomes for sustainability in academics. UNCG will provide training and resources to faculty to build the programs needed to achieve these goals.


Has the institution identified its sustainability research activities and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the inventory:

In 2011, a survey was created by interior architecture professor Dr. Anna Marshall-Baker for UNCG faculty to identify
sustainability in their research activities. The university's definition of sustainability in its Strategic Plan was used to guide respondents. According to the UNCG Strategic Plan, sustainability is "the enduring interconnectedness of social equity, the environment, economy, and aesthetics. This interconnectedness provides a foundation from which to discover, implement, and enrich sustainable principles and practice. The intent of sustainability is to instill values that promote justice, invent innovative approaches and solutions to environmental and economic challenges, and invest civility and grace into our communities." The results were reviewed by two faculty members and the sustainability coordinator.


Does the institution make its sustainability research inventory publicly available online?:
Yes

The website URL where the sustainability research inventory is posted (required if claiming Part 3 of the credit):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Note that the research inventory data are from 2011. Once the definition of sustainability in academics (Pt. 1) has been officially adopted via the CAP approval process, the inventory will be updated.


Note that the research inventory data are from 2011. Once the definition of sustainability in academics (Pt. 1) has been officially adopted via the CAP approval process, the inventory will be updated.

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.