| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.81 |
| Liaison | Austin Eriksson |
| Submission Date | Nov. 29, 2021 |
California State University, Northridge
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Sarah
Johnson Sustainability Program Analyst Institute for Sustainability |
Does the institution conduct an assessment of the sustainability literacy of its students?:
Which of the following best describes the literacy assessment? The assessment is administered to::
Which of the following best describes the structure of the assessment? The assessment is administered as a::
A copy of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment(s):
A list or sample of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment or the website URL where the assessment tool may be found:
See attached.
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
The Assessment was based on questions posed by the 2021 edition of the Sustainability Literacy Test (Sulitest), the Assessment of Sustainabiltiy Knowledge (ASK), and prior editions of CSUN-specific surveys for AASHE. Initial questions were established and given to a small sample of CSUN students, faculty, and staff. Based on feedback, the questions were expanded to include CSUN-specific sustainability efforts and programs. The final assessment draws from the “Sulitest”, "ASK", and includes questions created and vetted by the Institute for Sustainability at CSUN to reflect current program goals and efforts.
In September 2021, a campus-wide survey was administered based on an initial 2018 survey conducted for the STARS Report. The survey included over twenty concept or demographic questions that were developed to assess sustainability literacy in students, faculty, and staff.
The following core subject matter was covered:
1) Climate Literacy
2) Waste Management
3) Energy Usage
4) Sustainable Practice
5) Sustainable Living
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
N/A
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s):
Summary of Results
When asked about specific sustainability terms or theories a majority of the students were able to respond correctly. When asked to define sustainability, 83% of students responded with the correct answer.
When asked about how they would define a circular economy, 56% of students responded correctly. In trying to understand if students were aware of the difference between climate and weather, 81% responded correctly.
When students were asked what food is most carbon-intensive, 89% answered correctly.
When asked about their understanding of how fossil fuels affect the climate crisis, 89% of the students responded correctly.
These survey questions have been asked in the past and will continue to be asked in the future to measure student sustainability literacy over time. For more information on survey responses to all questions, see attached.
Website URL where information about the sustainability literacy assessment 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.