Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.13
Liaison John Alejandro
Submission Date March 24, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of San Diego
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 4.00 Michel Boudrias
Associate Professor
Marine and Environmental Studies
"---" 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:
The Office of Undergraduate Research identifies and provides funding to students to support research across a range of topics related to, and focused on sustainability. The NSF REU Fellows are examples of sustainability research in action and success stories for the past two years are available at: http://www.sandiego.edu/ugresearch/profiles/nsf-scholars.php#accordion2

USD also holds an annual undergraduate research conference where sustainable student research is highlighted: http://www.sandiego.edu/ugresearch/conferences/

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:
USD is committed to academic excellence, the expansion of knowledge, and the preparation of compassionate leaders. In line with the mission, vision, and strategic directions of the University, the Office of Undergraduate Research has partnered with the Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action (CASA), the Changemaker Hub (Hub) and the Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CID) to support Community Based Research (CBR) projects. In the 2015/2016 academic year, two types of Community Based Research Development Grants (CBRDGs) will be available to faculty, administration and staff; a yearlong curricular development grant and a yearlong co-curricular development grant. Both are designed to support faculty, administration and staff that are interested in incorporating research and undergraduates into their community relationships.

Awardee information and results are available at: http://www.sandiego.edu/ugresearch/faculty/cbr-dg.php#accordion4

The new position of Director of Care for Our Common Home pathway has also increased opportunities for new research and academic efforts in sustainability and social justice.

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?:
No

A copy of the promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
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The promotion or tenure guidelines or policies:
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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:
The Copley Library serves the entire USD community with books, periodicals, databases, media collections, study spaces, library faculty, and more which includes various publications and means to provide a foundation for sustainability research.

Students and faculty can research over 1096 books/E-journals on sustainability and take advantage of the advanced set of databases. The library also enable student and faculty to find other research material across the well knit San Diego Library community that help source material that might not be currently available at Copley Library.

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:
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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.