Western Kentucky University
AC-9: Research and Scholarship

See attached file. A brief description of the MAIN research area for the researcher is included, but that is how the researcher is identified in the WKU Office of Research and Creative Activities. Each researcher has conducted research in the past year which ALSO has a sustainability component, either from a social equity OR ecological perspective. This list was verified by both the Office of Research and Creative Activities, as well as the Office of Sustainability. The Office of Research and Creative Activities also referred to grant proposal titles and descriptions to identify researchers. In any instance would the researchers sustainability-related activities could not be verified, the researcher was contacted directly for clarification. In some instances, research cannot be further described because of its exploratory or priority nature at this particular point in time.

The Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) worked with each college’s Research and Creative Activities Council (RCAC) member to collect data from each department within their college. A brief description of the MAIN research area for the researcher is included, as that is how the researcher is identified in the WKU Office of Research and Creative Activities and by their College Council. The description is not inclusive of the wide variety of research areas a researcher main focus their research. Each researcher has conducted research in the past year which ALSO has a sustainability component, either from a social equity OR ecological perspective. In some instances, research cannot be further described because of its exploratory or priority nature at this particular point in time.

ORCA compiled all reported data into the attached inventory of the institution’s sustainability research. This method resulted in self-reporting of sustainability research by each college, following the AASHE definition and guidance for sustainability research. Additionally, ORCA evaluated lists of awardees from its Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement grant program and Research and Creative Activities Program that engage in sustainability research. This list was verified by both the Office of Research and Creative Activities, as well as the Office of Sustainability. In any instance would the researchers sustainability-related activities could not be verified, the researcher was contacted directly for clarification.