Amherst College
EN-5: Civic Engagement

5.1 Percentage of students that participate in civic engagement programs

An institution earns 4 points when it has evidence that 50 percent or more of its students participate annually in community service and/or other civic engagement programs sponsored by the institution. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on the most recent annual data available from within the previous three years.
Participation may be evidenced by enrolling in a service learning program, attending a community service event or activity, or an equivalent action. Neither the passive consumption of information nor awareness of civic engagement opportunities qualifies. Programs and activities sponsored by entities of which the institution is part (e.g., government or university system) may be included as long as the institution actively participates in them.

An institution may take one of three approaches in pursuing this indicator:

1. Survey or assessment results. Report the results of an institution-wide survey or sustainability culture assessment that includes one or more items on student participation in the institution’s civic engagement activities. To avail of this option, the survey or assessment results must be indicative of the entire population of students, as ensured through representative sampling or by making the assessment mandatory.
2. Direct tracking of participation. Report on the participation figures collected for the community service activity that has the highest participation rate (e.g., program enrollment or event attendance). The figures for two or more activities may be aggregated if the potential for double-counting (counting the same individual more than once because they participate in more than one activity) is minimal (e.g., if there are separate activities for undergraduate and graduate students).
3. Conservative estimate based on mixed/limited data sources. Report on the most credible sources of data that are available, taking steps to minimize double-counting. For example, an institution may use the single best data source for undergraduate students (e.g., enrollment in a service learning program) and the single best data source for graduate students (e.g., attendance at a community service event) and/or adjust figures downward to account for the anticipated extent to which individuals may be counted more than once.

When using limited data sources, do not report a higher percentage range than is credibly supported by the data. Similarly, survey or assessment results may not be extrapolated to a larger population in the absence of representative sampling. For example, the results of a survey of 100 graduate students enrolled in a specific program may only be used to establish the participation status of those individuals; they may not be used to report on the entire population of graduate students.

5.2 Employee community service program

An institution earns 1 point when it A) has one or more programs designed to support employee community service and B) supports employee volunteering during regular work hours, for example by offering paid time off for volunteering or by sponsoring an organized service event for which employees are compensated. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on the current status of the institution’s employee community service programs.
Programs sponsored by entities of which the institution is part (e.g., government or university system) qualify as long as the institution actively participates in them. Charitable donations such as workplace giving programs do not qualify.

5.3 Support for public policies to advance sustainability

An institution earns 3 points when A) one or more individuals affiliated with the institution have helped develop public policies that address sustainability challenges during the previous three years and B) the institution has advocated for public policies to advance sustainability during the previous three years. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on policy development and advocacy efforts from within the previous three years.
To qualify, policy advocacy may occur at any level (e.g., municipal, local/regional, national, or international), but must be conducted by individuals in their official roles as representatives of the institution. For example, an individual, office, or governing body making a public statement on behalf of the institution in support of legislation would qualify, whereas an individual acting in a personal capacity would not. Advocacy efforts that are made exclusively to advance the institution's interests or projects do not qualify. For example, advocating for government funding for campus sustainability may be counted, however lobbying for the institution to receive funds that have already been appropriated may not.

Applicable to all institutions.