| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.57 |
| Liaison | Noah Upchurch |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
Catawba College
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Noah
Upchurch Senior Sustainability Specialist Center for the Environment |
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:
Literacy Assessment Questions:
1. Which of the following is the least carbon-intensive method of transportation?
Driving an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car
Biking
Driving an Electric Vehicle
Airplane Flight
2. Which of the following features is not present on Catawba's Campus?
Car Share Program
Natural Gas Water Heating Systems
Solar Water Heating Systems
Geothermal Wells
3. Which best describes the concept of carbon neutrality for a college?
Eliminating all emissions from motor vehicles
Balancing all emissions produced by the college with emission reduction offsets
Using electricity produced from an off-campus coal-fired power plant
I have never heard of "carbon neutrality"
4. Which of the following solar installations does not exist on Catawba College’s campus?
Solar Water Heating Systems
Solar Electricity Generating Systems
Solar Electric Vehicle Charging Systems
Catawba College does not have solar installations to my knowledge
5. Which resource is used to generate the majority of Catawba College’s electricity?
Nuclear
Coal
Solar
Wind
6. What is a conservation easement?
An agreement an institution makes to slowly reduce food consumption over time
A right-of-way for a bike path
A legal agreement that protects wild areas and restricts activities to maintain a natural state
A legal agreement that allows landowners to harm the natural environment without restriction
7. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?
Water Vapor
Methane
Carbon Dioxide
Helium
8. Which food is the most carbon-intensive?
Fish
Chicken
Beef
Soybeans
9. Which of the following best describes the concept of the “triple bottom line” in sustainability?
An accounting guide that focuses on tripling profits through investment in clean energy
An approach that considers social, environmental, and financial impacts
A measurement of emissions from the three most common greenhouse gasses
A safety standard for hazardous waste
10. For the State of North Carolina, which sector produces the most carbon emissions?
Electricity
Waste Management
Industrial Factories
Transportation
11. Which seasonal thermostat temperature pair is recommended to maximize energy savings?
73° Winter, 65°F Summer
60° Winter, 77°F Summer
68°F Winter, 72°F Summer
12. Since 2000, what has happened to the difference between the wealth of the richest and poorest citizens of the United States?
The difference has increased
The difference has decreased
The difference has remained mostly the same
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
Catawba College Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessment:
Assessment Summary:
Catawba College has developed a new Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessment. Development was a collaborative process between the College's Sustainability Specialists and the Executive Director of the Center for the Environment. Questions for the Literacy Assessment were developed based on generalized content surrounding Sustainable Development Goals 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15. The assessment combines literacy content with specific ties to the College and the State of North Carolina.
The assessment is 23 questions long. Twelve questions comprise the literacy section of the assessment. The literacy section contains questions with right and wrong answer choices. Questions in this section relate to sustainability or a sustainability challenge. Most questions in the literacy section are directly related to the College and our surrounding area. The other eleven questions in the culture section are opinionated, ratings-based questions.
The assessment will be given again on 2/21/2024 to serve as an annual marker for sustainability knowledge and culture.
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
The assessment was first administered to the Catawba College community on 2/21/2023 and remained open until 2/25/2023. The assessment was sent across an all-students and all-employee distribution network. Participants were entered into a $50 gift card giveaway.
Identifying a Representative Sample:
Respondents were first asked to identify themselves as an employee or student at the College. Students completed both the Literacy and Culture sections of the Assessment. 156 students completed the literacy assessment. Student majors were recorded to ensure a representative sample. A summary of student majors is attached, along with summary results from the literacy assessment.
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s):
Please see the attached file.
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.