| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.61 |
| Liaison | Alan Brew |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Northland College
AC-10: Support for Research
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
Does the institution have an ongoing program to encourage students in multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability? :
A brief description of the student research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
Northland College supports student research through individual grants obtained by faculty members, through the "Parsonage Fund" (providing between $40,000-$50,000 each year), and through its six sustainability centers. While all venues support and encourage research in sustainability, the six sustainability centers specifically focus on sustainability. Student outcomes include research into sustainable community development, transportation, food systems, social capital, diversity and inclusion, renewable energy, water pollution, and others (see URL below for current projects). During the past year, the Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation provided 29 student research positions into sustainability, the Center for Rural Communities provided 140-150 student sustainability research positions, the Hulings Rice Food Center provided 8 positions, the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute provided 39 positions, and the other centers also included student research focusing specifically on sustainability. Many of the projects led to students publishing academic papers as first authors. Please see the attached "Centers Research Outcomes".
Does the institution have a program to encourage faculty from multiple disciplines or academic programs to conduct research in sustainability topics?:
A brief description of the faculty research program, including the incentives provided and any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
Northland College operates six Sustainability Centers (Burke Center, Center for Rural Communities, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Indigenous Cultures Center, Hulings Rice Food Center, Forest Lodge). These centers provide funding and resources for faculty and student research focusing on sustainability. The Centers not only stimulate a vibrant research program at the College, but also collaborates with local agencies, including: the Department of Natural Resources, the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Apostle Island National Park, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, University of Wisconsin Extension, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Cable Natural History Museum, local farmers, and other community members. Please see attached document for details on research outcomes.
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?:
A brief description of the institution’s support for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The College supports interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research through its six Sustainability Centers and through the diverse relationships forged by the Centers with various agencies and individuals. Initiatives in sustainable agriculture, sustainable economic development, diversity and inclusion, social justice, gun violence, renewable energy, and so forth are active research programs that reach across multiple facets of sustainability.
Does the institution have ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning?:
A brief description of the institution’s library support for sustainability research, including any positive outcomes during the previous three years:
The library regularly solicits recommendations from the faculty for research-supportive materials and dedicates many of its resources to topics dealing with sustainability. The library's collection-development policy articulates support for the curricular offerings of the College and--because roughly a quarter of Northland's curriculum focuses on sustainability--the library plays an active role in facilitating and strengthening faculty research in sustainability.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.