Furman University
AC-5: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Laura
Bain Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment David E. Shi Center for Sustainability |
5.1 Sustainability literacy assessment design and administration
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of of the instruments/tools used to assess sustainability literacy:
The next section will gauge your current knowledge of sustainability. It’s ok if you do not know all of the answers. Please do not use outside information to respond to these questions.
Which of the following is NOT one of the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals?
No poverty Gender equality Space exploration Climate action Quality education
Life cycle analysis is:
The amount of environmental impact that the average person creates within their lifetime
A measure of the resources needed to sustain a person’s lifestyle
An assessment of the total environmental impact of a product from the time the raw materials are gathered to their ultimate disposal
A comparative analysis of an individual’s carbon footprint based on one’s quality of life
Which one of the following is NOT typically considered one of the three components of sustainability?
Society Democracy Environment Economy
The Earth’s current population is estimated at:
3.4 billion 5.2 billion 8.0 billion 9.6 billion 12.1 billion
Which of the following foods is associated with the highest greenhouse gas footprint?
Chicken Fish Beef Pork
What is the name of the primary federal agency that oversees environmental regulation in the United States?
Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA)
Department of Health, Environment, and Safety (the DHES) National Natural Conservation Agency (the NNCA)
Federal Pollution Control Agency (the FPCA)
The term for the benefits that nature provides such as clean water, clean air, productive soils, and pollination of plants is:
Ecosystem services Environmental Economics Ecological Footprint Resilience
Environmental Conservation
Which of the following is the most commonly used definition of sustainable development?
Setting aside resources for preservation, never to be used
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Building a neighborhood that is socio-demographically and economically diverse
Creating a government welfare system that ensures universal access to education, healthcare, and social services
What are believed to be the key factors that influence human impact on the Earth? (choose all that apply)
The number of people on the planet
The amount of materials used per person The use of technology
The enforcement of governmental regulations
Certain substances in the atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, influence the Earth’s temperature and climate. These substances are commonly referred to as:
Ozone
Solar gases Ultraviolet Light Radiation Greenhouse gases
Who is Furman’s primary energy provider?
Duke Energy
Santee Cooper
South Carolina Electric and Gas Tennessee Valley Authority
We generate the majority of our energy on campus
The largest source of Furman's carbon footprint is:
Faculty, Staff, and Student Commuting Study Abroad Travel
Purchased Electricity
Natural Gas for Heating
Campus Paper Use
Which of the following currently CAN be recycled on campus? (choose all that apply)
Paper
Glass
Plastics #1 and #2
Plastics #3 – #7
Cardboard
Aluminum Cans
Batteries and Electronic Waste
The 743 kilowatt solar installation across from the main gate, called the “Solar Farm,” reduces Furman’s electricity bill by about ______, on average.
0%
5 –10 % 15 – 20% 25 – 30% 45 – 50%
Description of the institution’s recent sustainability literacy assessment findings and any notable trends:
STUDENTS:
The average literacy score for students overall = 70%
The average literacy score of freshmen = 67%
The average literacy score of seniors = 73%
The average literacy score of Sustainability Science majors = 84%
The average literacy score of Non-Sustainability Science majors = 69%
EMPLOYEES:
The average literacy score for employees overall: 74%
The average literacy score for employees with 0-5 years of employment: 72%
The average literacy score for employees with 6-10 years of employment: 77%
The average literacy score for employees with 11+ years of employment: 78%
INDICATORS OF EDUCATIONAL NEEDS:
The literacy survey questions were designed to help identify areas of sustainability education needs across the student body and employees. In this year's survey, we noted that:
Most respondents are not clear on what can and can't be recycled on campus.
Most respondents are not sure what emission source is the largest part of Furman's carbon footprint.
Most respondents overestimate the amount of energy that our solar farm provides.
Were academic staff engaged in sustainability education at the institution involved in developing and/or adopting the methodologies used to assess sustainability literacy?:
Description of the process through which academic staff were involved in developing and/or adopting the methodologies used to assess sustainability literacy:
The assessment was developed by conducting a review of other school’s sustainability literacy surveys, identifying the most common similarities, compiling the most appropriate questions that covered a comprehensive array of literacy topics, and obtaining feedback from selected staff and faculty members to ensure a broad base of questions were chosen. These questions were included in a survey also designed to obtain feedback on individual’s perceptions and behaviors related to specific sustainability topics. The Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment at the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities collaborated with the Assistant Director of Institutional Assessment and Research and a highly-qualified research staff member to develop the survey instrument and sampling methodology. The current version of the survey was adopted in 2017 and modified slightly in 2021 and 2024.
Are the literacy assessments designed and administered in such a way that the results can be used to evaluate the success of the institution’s sustainability education initiatives?:
Description of how the design and administration of the sustainability literacy assessments supports the evaluation of the success of the institution’s sustainability education initiatives:
Consistency in survey questions and a stratified random sample allowed for longitudinal assessment. We also know demographics such as class year and length of employment to assess changes in the same population over time.
The average sustainability literacy score of Freshmen in 2020 was 63%. The average score of Seniors in 2024 (representing the same group of students) was 73% indicating an increase in the sustainability literacy of students.
The average sustainability literacy score of employees with 0-5 years of service in 2017 was 69%. The average score of employees with 6-10 years of service in 2024 (representing the same group of employees) was 77% indicating an increase in the sustainability literacy of employees.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
5.2 Percentage of students assessed for sustainability literacy
Description of the process used to measure or estimate the percentage of students assessed for sustainability literacy:
The Shi Institute worked with the Office of Institutional Assessment to distribute the survey to a stratified random sample representing all students, faculty, and staff. The 2024 survey was sent to 1207 people.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.