| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.30 |
| Liaison | Stephen Ellis |
| Submission Date | May 31, 2024 |
Boston University
EN-6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Lisa
Tornatore Sustainability Director BU 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 Sustainability Annual Survey is used partially as a cultural assessment as well as a literacy assessment for BU students, staff, and faculty. The survey was first developed and administered in 2010 and has occurred every year since (with the exception of 2012, 2013, and 2023).
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:
Sample questions related to sustainability culture: 1. "I am aware of Boston University's efforts in reducing our environmental footprint"(agreement scale) 2. "When it comes to how you think and act on sustainability and climate change, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Compared to 2-3 years ago, today I am more likely to . . ." -Consider, economic, social, environmental impacts when making purchasing decisions. -Prioritize working for an employer that demonstrates sustainable business practices ... 3. "If I have an idea or suggestion for a sustainability initiative at BU, I have a sense of who to approach or how to advance the idea."
A brief description of how representative samples were reached (if applicable) and how the cultural assessment is administered:
The sustainability survey is conducted online early in the spring term each year. FY2022's survey was sent out via email in January to all Boston University undergraduate students, graduate students, staff and faculty. Out of the total questions, 33% of questions were related to literacy, 33% of questions were BU-specific, and 33% were behavioral. Students, as well as staff and faculty members who responded to it constitute the representative sample and reflect the general proportions of the BU community as a whole.
A brief summary of results from the cultural assessment:
Since 2010 (with the exception of 2012, 2013, and 2023), BU Sustainability has administered a survey about sustainability-related issues on and beyond the BU campuses. Responses have aligned closely with actual BU demographics and have become increasingly representative of the general population (rather than simply those who are most interested in sustainability-related topics). The FY2022 survey received 1,418 responses: - 88% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they are aware of BU's efforts in reducing its environmental footprint. - 52.4% of respondents have a sense of who to approach when they have an idea or suggestion for a sustainability initiative at BU -Of the respondents who have taken a course at BU, 20% have taken a course that presents sustainability topics
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:
This survey represents FY2022 BU Metrics. A survey was not conducted in FY2023 because we determined that a survey would not help serve our programmatic goals during that time. FY2022 is the most recent data available.
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.