There is also broad strength in the areas of environmental science and policy, centered within several administrative units, including the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Medicine, and in the cross-college Environmental Program. Further, the University has recently applied for designation as a Sea Grant institution, offering the possibility of enhanced federal funding in lake-related research. The University has an admirable record in integrating scholarship and service. The Colleges of Education and Social Services and of Agriculture and Life Sciences are the homes of many, but by no means all, of these efforts. These two colleges provide a related, and very valuable, service in integrating scholarship into the community setting, and a wide range of scholarly programs have direct benefits to local, state, national, and international communities.
Undergraduate research is an important area of strength.
Formal programs for supporting the faculty-mentored research efforts of undergraduates have been implemented. Vermont EPSCoR has succeeded admirably in its goal of fostering the development of research programs within the state to the point where they become competitive in the national funding arena. Strong University research and scholarship programs have additional benefits outside of the research arena. In addition, the indirect cost reimbursements from sponsored research programs directly enhance the academic infrastructure on campus. Barriers to Success Many UVM faculty are frustrated with the lack of time and funding for research and scholarship, and feel the need for development of an academic climate more supportive of scholarship.