Amherst College
EN-4: Sustainability Culture Assessment

4.1 Sustainability culture assessment design and administration

An institution earns 1 point when it A) has conducted an assessment of its sustainability culture during the previous three years and B) the assessment is designed and administered in such a way that the results can be used to measure change over time (e.g., as a longitudinal or annual/biennial assessment). Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on assessments conducted during the previous three years.

To qualify, an assessment must address attitudes, beliefs, or values; awareness of and/or participation in the institution’s sustainability initiatives; and/or other behaviors or practices that support sustainability. An assessment that covers a single sustainability topic (e.g., a transportation survey) does not qualify in the absence of a more comprehensive assessment. Likewise, assessments that exclusively address student sustainability literacy (i.e., student understanding of sustainability and/or the knowledge and skills required to address sustainability challenges) are excluded. A single assessment that addresses sustainability literacy and culture qualifies if a substantive portion (e.g., one-third) of the assessment focuses on culture. 

4.2 Percentage of students assessed for sustainability culture

An institution earns 1 point when at least 75 percent of its students are assessed for sustainability culture, either directly or by representative sample. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report the most recent data available. An institution that has not conducted a sustainability culture assessment during the previous three years may not claim points for this indicator.

A student is considered to be assessed when assessed directly (e.g., as part of a course or program or a mandatory assessment) or by representative sample (e.g., of the student’s entering and/or graduating cohort). An institution that has opted to assess an unrepresentative segment of the population may only claim points for those individuals that participated.

4.3 Percentage of employees assessed for sustainability culture

An institution earns 1 point when at least 75 percent of its employees are assessed for sustainability culture, either directly or by representative sample. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report the most recent data available. An institution that has not conducted a sustainability culture assessment during the previous three years may not claim points for this indicator.

An employee is considered to be assessed when assessed directly (e.g., as part of a program or a mandatory survey) or by representative sample. An institution that has opted to assess an unrepresentative segment of the population may only claim points for those individuals that participated.

Applicable to all institutions.