Brunswick Community College
ER-13: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

May 2011 Sustainability survey questions: 1. Do you teach sustainability focused courses? Such as courses on the Environment, Social Justice, Economic Equality, Human Health; Resource Management; Environmental Ethics, Economics or Law; Sustainable Tourism Management, Conservation and/or Preservation, Land Use Planning and Development, Biodiversity, Ecosystem Management, etc. If within the past 3 years, please list: 2. How many of the courses you teach discuss sustainability, its social, economic and environmental dimensions? If yes please list: 3. Do you incorporate sustainability into courses that are not sustainability focused? If yes, check all that apply: If yes List. Do you ever discuss sustainability into courses that are not sustainability focused? If yes, check all that apply: • Through service learning or study abroad components • By providing information on co-curricular or community activities • Other (please specify) show responses 4. Do you ever discuss sustainability in your courses? If so, select the numeric percent 0% 10% 25% 50% 75% 100% 5. Does your department offer sustainability-focused immersion experience programs? Such programs, which may take place on or off campus or overseas, give the students the opportunity to witness and learn in-depth about sustainability challenges and solutions? 6. As a faculty member, do you conduct hands-on activities/curriculum on sustainability related topics? 7. Do you believe you have prior knowledge and understanding of sustainability in order to implement this education to students? 8. Would you be willing to integrate sustainability concepts in your courses? 9. Can you offer your definition of sustainability? Example "Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainability is about environmental protection, sustained economic growth and social equity.

Questions where obtained from an example survey provided as a source on the STARS website. This was then presented to the BCC Sustainability Committee, a curriculum subcommittee was established to finalize the survey. The members of the sub-committee were: Claire McLaughlin, Michelle Sabaoun, Dr. Burt Browning, and Marilyn Graham.

A survey monkey was created with the revised questions. Dr. Browning sent out the link to the survey to the college faculty.

We received 22 responses of which 77% said that they did not tech sustainability focused classe, 18% did within the past three years. When asked how many of the courses taught discussed their economic, social and environmental dimesions 32% responded yes The classes that did not have a sustainability focused topic incoporated sustainability through case studies 13%, through readings on sustainability topics/nature 22%, through research 9%, required porjects or assignments 13%, inviting guest speakers 5%, by personal example 63%, and through service learning and/or co-curricular/community activities 9%. Sustainability is discused by 68% of the surveyed. Only 9% answered of participating in a sustainability immersive programs. As a faculty member 22% conducted hands on activities that included sustainability related topics. Of those that believed they had prior knowledge and understanding of sustainability 28% responded yes 46% responded no, but were interested in learning more.

Marilyn Graham, Coordinator of the Green Information and Training Center created and conducted a survey that was sent to faculty regarding Sustainability, but it did not include students. 22 responses were returned.