Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.10
Liaison Kristin Larson
Submission Date Aug. 1, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

San Diego State University
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Geoff Chase
Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Center for Regional Sustainability, Division of Undergraduate Studies
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution developed a definition of sustainability research?:
Yes

A copy of the institution's definition of sustainability research:

Senate Sustainability Committee Definition of Sustainability Research
Adopted on 9/17/10
Sustainability in Research is defined by the following:
a. Sustainability research focuses on a key principle of sustainability; addresses a sustainability challenge; or furthers our understanding of the interconnectedness of societal and environmental challenges. Sustainability research leads toward solutions that support economic prosperity, social well-being and ecological health.
b. Sustainability research addresses ecological integrity, social justice, and/or the interconnections of ecological integrity and social justice with economic prosperity.


Has the institution identified its sustainability research activities and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the inventory:

The SDSU research inventory is based on published faculty research information and the following: 1. the results of a university-wide survey of faculty in fall 2010.
2. Topical research profiles in the SDSU faculty Experts Directory created and maintained by faculty.
3. Faculty affiliated with centers and institutes listed in the General Catalog that have been identified as engaging in sustainability related research and a review of self-reported research often listed on faculty web-pages.
4. Faculty self-reported research interests from the 2010 and 2011Center for Regional Sustainability Faculty Institute .
5. Faculty affiliated with the Sustainability major, Environmental Sciences major, and Sustainable Tourism Program that also list sustainability related research interests in on-line department references.


Does the institution make its sustainability research inventory publicly available online?:
Yes

The website URL where the sustainability research inventory is posted (required if claiming Part 3 of the credit):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

SDSU does not require faculty to report research fields to the Division of Graduate and Research Affairs. Although the Senate Sustainability Committee has attempted to capture faculty research activities through various methods, it is likely that this inventory represents only a fraction of the sustainability related research faculty are engaged in at SDSU due to the low response rate to faculty survey and voluntary nature of reporting.


SDSU does not require faculty to report research fields to the Division of Graduate and Research Affairs. Although the Senate Sustainability Committee has attempted to capture faculty research activities through various methods, it is likely that this inventory represents only a fraction of the sustainability related research faculty are engaged in at SDSU due to the low response rate to faculty survey and voluntary nature of reporting.

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.