| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.06 |
| Liaison | Laura Bain |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2021 |
Furman University
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Laura
Bain Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment David E. Shi Center for Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student sustainability research incentives
Yes
A brief description of the student sustainability research program:
The university's Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities supports a robust student fellows program that funds students to conduct sustainability research and service, as well as other campus and community-based projects. The fellowships are open to all majors and all class years. The institute funds 25 - 30 student fellows a year. These opportunities encourage students to engage sustainability in diverse ways and develop their academic credentials along with their personal character, sense of place and responsibility.
Faculty sustainability research incentives
Yes
A brief description of the faculty sustainability research program:
The Shi Institute supports interdisciplinary sustainability faculty research through an internally supported competitive grants program, extensive networking and workshop opportunities, and research support. The grant criteria require cross-disciplinary faculty involvement as well as student participation.
Recognition of interdisciplinary, transdisciplnary and multi-disciplinary research
Yes
A copy of the promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
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The promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
As outlined in IM policy 109.3 (https://policies.furman.edu//view.php?policy=97), only interdisciplinary minors are allowed and Furman requires at least three departments to participate in the minor. Furman does not allow single discipline minors in recognition of our belief that students should engage in interdisciplinary thinking. All of these interdisciplinary minor programs incorporate courses whose content span traditional disciplinary boundaries. The university supports numerous faculty who hold joint appointments in two departments. Furman’s curricular features of faculty-led travel study courses, required freshman writing and critical thinking seminars, and experiential, two-credit May Experience courses particularly lend themselves to content beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Memos to faculty candidates for tenure and promotion as well as to department chairs submitting faculty evaluations explain that “evaluations of faculty performance are based on teaching effectiveness, professional activity, and institutional service.” In the context of Furman’s academic culture of liberal arts learning and interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration demonstrated above, faculty reviews are undoubtedly enhanced by demonstration of cross-disciplinary work, and particularly cross-disciplinary course development and teaching.
Memos to faculty candidates for tenure and promotion as well as to department chairs submitting faculty evaluations explain that “evaluations of faculty performance are based on teaching effectiveness, professional activity, and institutional service.” In the context of Furman’s academic culture of liberal arts learning and interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration demonstrated above, faculty reviews are undoubtedly enhanced by demonstration of cross-disciplinary work, and particularly cross-disciplinary course development and teaching.
Library support
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research:
The Library provides a sustainability research guide filled with useful databases for sustainability research. The research guides facilitate student research in the field of sustainability.
The Library also has a dedicated Science Librarian whose area of expertise and campus support includes sustainability.
The Library also has a dedicated Science Librarian whose area of expertise and campus support includes sustainability.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://www.furman.edu/shi-institute/sustainability-education/faculty-development/
https://www.furman.edu/shi-institute/sustainability-education/student-fellows/
https://www.furman.edu/shi-institute/sustainability-education/student-fellows/
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.