University of the District of Columbia
ER-18: Sustainability Research Incentives

The University’s nascent Initiative for Equity, Civic Engagement and Community Leadership focuses on social justice and equity, encompassing public service, community/civic engagement, and research/scholarship. The initiative aspires to demonstrate strategies and solutions that revitalize disadvantaged urban communities and their residents, and ensure that economic and social prosperity are equitably distributed across US communities. Its vision is for UDC to become the national leader on these issues. In summer 2011, the Initiative for Equity, Civic Engagement and Community Leadership provided fellowships for 12 students to pursue unpaid public service-oriented internships. The 12 UDC students selected represent a number of undergraduate and graduate disciplines and served government and non-profit organizations in positions related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

The Seed Grant Program at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is intended to cultivate promising individual or collaborative research and creative scholarship by providing start-up funds for projects of the highest merit and potential. The program encourages innovation and advances the University's educational and research mission by seeding new and cross-disciplinary small projects and strategic initiatives. A major goal is to engage increasing numbers of faculty and students in scholarly work that advances the University's vision and strategic goals and has the potential to attract funding from external sources. Evaluation criteria include both interdisciplinarity and alignment with UDC mission, vision, and strategic goal. Several strategic goals at UDC revolve around environmental, social, and economic sustainability, providing both the opportunity and the incentive for faculty to propose projects focused on or related to sustainability in its many forms.