| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.97 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | Aug. 6, 2020 |
Bentley University
EN-6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution conduct an assessment of sustainability culture?:
Which of the following best describes the cultural assessment? The assessment is administered to::
Which of the following best describes the structure of the cultural assessment? The assessment is administered::
A brief description of how and when the cultural assessment(s) were developed and/or adopted:
The first assessment was administered to the entire campus community directly in 2016. This survey has been administered longitudinally to measure change over time; the most recent survey was distributed to the campus in 2020.
A copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture:
A sample of the questions related to sustainability culture or the website URL where the assessment tool is available:
A selection of demographic questions:
Ex: Please indicate your current role at Bentley University.
Ex: What is your preferred gender identity?
A selection of questions about the knowledge of Bentley University’s sustainable initiatives:
Ex: How much do you know about each of the following sustainability initiatives at Bentley? (The rooftop solar panels on the Bentley Arena, the University achieving a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to a 2008 baseline, the University’s sustainability goal of carb neutrality by 2030, the University’s national ranking for sustainability achievements, etc.)
A selection of questions about attitudes and perceptions related to sustainability at Bentley:
Ex: Indicate the degree to which you agree with or disagree with the following statements. (Through my work I feel empowered to contribute to sustainability at Bentley, my lifestyle has become more sustainable by working or studying at Bentley, I considered sustainability when I chose to study or work at Bentley, etc.)
A selection of questions about the importance of sustainable initiatives on campus:
Ex: How important is it that Bentley do the following? (Reduce climate change impacts through its operations and programs, have a sustainability office that is dedicated to making Bentley more sustainable in every way possible, encourage sustainability, etc.)
A selection of questions about participation in sustainable behavior on Bentley’s campus:
Ex: How often do you engage in the following activities at Bentley? (Recycle, turn off lights or appliances when they are not in use, use a reusable coffee cup, use reusable water bottle and refill stations, attend events organized by the Office of Sustainability or student sustainability groups, etc.)
A selection of questions about the level of interest in a variety of sustainability issues:
Ex: Rate your level of interest in the following sustainability issues. (Climate change, renewable energy, air pollution, habitat destruction, waste minimization, sustainable investing, human rights, food security, racial equity, etc.)
An open-ended question about other sustainability issues that are of interest to the participant.
A brief description of how representative samples were reached (if applicable) and how the cultural assessment is administered:
The survey was emailed to all 6,222 Bentley community members, including students, staff, and faculty. The email was sent by the Institutional Research department on behalf of the Office of Sustainability and included a link to the Qualtrics survey. Three additional emails were sent with a reminder to complete the survey before it was closed on February 21, 2020. Overall, 437 people completed the survey.
A brief summary of results from the cultural assessment:
Summary of results:
The majority of respondents indicated that they knew “Nothing at all” or “Only a little” about Bentley’s Office of Sustainability and a number of sustainability initiatives at Bentley University. A majority of respondents indicated that they believe it’s important to Bentley to adapt to reduce the impact that it has on the environment around it and encourages its community members to learn more and be more sustainable. A majority of respondents indicated that they are “Always” or “Most of the time” practicing a number of sustainable behaviors at while they are at Bentley.
Measurable changes over time: 42% of respondents indicated they know a “Fair amount” or “Great deal of the Office of Sustainability compared to 60% of respondents indicated they “Have heard of” the Office of Sustainability in 2016. 36% of respondents stated they know a “Fair amount” or “Great deal” about the Office’s 70% carbon reduction achievement and 30% of respondents indicated they know a “Fair amount” or “Great deal” about the Office’s 2030 carbon neutrality goal compared to participants in the 2016 survey stating they were “most uncertain” about the Office’s carbon reduction goals and accomplishments. 68% of participants stated they used a reusable mug “Always” or “Most of the time” compared to “Less strong responses” concerning reusable coffee mug usage in 2016. 90% of respondents stated that they had “Attended events organized by the Office of Sustainability or student sustainable groups” while 19% of students stated they had attended an event hosted by the Office of Sustainability in 2016.
Website URL where information about the assessment of sustainability culture 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.