| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.74 |
| Liaison | Catherine Lockhart |
| Submission Date | Sept. 23, 2019 |
Lawrence University
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Kelsey
McCormick Sustainability Coordinator President's Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution conduct an assessment of the sustainability literacy of its students?:
Yes
Which of the following best describes the literacy assessment? The assessment is administered to::
The entire (or predominate) student body, directly or by representative sample
Which of the following best describes the structure of the assessment? The assessment is administered as a::
Standalone evaluation without a follow-up assessment of the same cohort or representative samples
A copy of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment(s):
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A list or sample of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment or the website URL where the assessment tool may be found:
1. Choose the best definition for "sustainable living": (Choose all that apply)
a. Reserving land and resources for preservation so they can never be used
b. A lifestyle that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
c. Reducing your personal carbon footprint and use of the Earth's natural resources
d. Reaching for a standard of living that allows a person to afford their needs
2. The Warch Campus Center is LEED certified at a gold level. What does this certification mean? (Choose all that apply)
a. The building is fully insured for all natural disasters.
b. The building is built with fair¬trade building supplies and is free of lead and asbestos.
c. The building was built by certified contractors.
d. The building maximizes operational efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
3. Which of the following items are recyclable on Lawrence’s campus (select all that apply)
a. Paper Coffee Cup without lid
b. Pizza Box
c. Cardboard box
d. Paper toweling
e. Plastic bags
f. Glass bottle
4. Which of the following pressures lead to degradation of the Fox River’s ecosystem? (Choose all that apply)
a. Application of fertilizer on lawns
b. Overfishing
c. Use of landfills to dispose of waste
d. Conversion of natural space to human developments (buildings, roads, homes, farms, etc.)
e. Effluent from industries along the Fox River
5. Up to 55% of all trash produced in the US is buried in landfills. What are the possible environmental effects of landfills? (Choose all that apply)
a. Many waste materials contain toxic substances that can leach into the soil and groundwater over time.
b. Landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent that carbon dioxide
c. Waste buried in landfills breaks down at slow rate that remains a problem for future generations.
d. Landfills are often located in minority or low income areas.
6. Which of the following is an example of environmental justice? (Choose all that apply)
a. Urban citizens win a bill to have toxic wastes taken to rural communities
b. Government dams a river, flooding Native American tribal lands, to create hydro-power for large cities.
c. Indigenous communities are involved in setting a quota for the amount of wood that they can take from a protected village.
d. Corporations build factories in developing countries where environmental laws are less strict.
7. One way to be a sustainable consumer is to buy goods (groceries, clothing, toiletries) at: (Choose all that apply)
a. Chain stores such as Target or Walmart
b. Farmers markets and stores that sell locally-produced goods
c. Locally owned stores and restaurants
d. Amazon
a. Reserving land and resources for preservation so they can never be used
b. A lifestyle that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
c. Reducing your personal carbon footprint and use of the Earth's natural resources
d. Reaching for a standard of living that allows a person to afford their needs
2. The Warch Campus Center is LEED certified at a gold level. What does this certification mean? (Choose all that apply)
a. The building is fully insured for all natural disasters.
b. The building is built with fair¬trade building supplies and is free of lead and asbestos.
c. The building was built by certified contractors.
d. The building maximizes operational efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
3. Which of the following items are recyclable on Lawrence’s campus (select all that apply)
a. Paper Coffee Cup without lid
b. Pizza Box
c. Cardboard box
d. Paper toweling
e. Plastic bags
f. Glass bottle
4. Which of the following pressures lead to degradation of the Fox River’s ecosystem? (Choose all that apply)
a. Application of fertilizer on lawns
b. Overfishing
c. Use of landfills to dispose of waste
d. Conversion of natural space to human developments (buildings, roads, homes, farms, etc.)
e. Effluent from industries along the Fox River
5. Up to 55% of all trash produced in the US is buried in landfills. What are the possible environmental effects of landfills? (Choose all that apply)
a. Many waste materials contain toxic substances that can leach into the soil and groundwater over time.
b. Landfills release methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent that carbon dioxide
c. Waste buried in landfills breaks down at slow rate that remains a problem for future generations.
d. Landfills are often located in minority or low income areas.
6. Which of the following is an example of environmental justice? (Choose all that apply)
a. Urban citizens win a bill to have toxic wastes taken to rural communities
b. Government dams a river, flooding Native American tribal lands, to create hydro-power for large cities.
c. Indigenous communities are involved in setting a quota for the amount of wood that they can take from a protected village.
d. Corporations build factories in developing countries where environmental laws are less strict.
7. One way to be a sustainable consumer is to buy goods (groceries, clothing, toiletries) at: (Choose all that apply)
a. Chain stores such as Target or Walmart
b. Farmers markets and stores that sell locally-produced goods
c. Locally owned stores and restaurants
d. Amazon
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
Lawrence's first combined sustainability culture and knowledge survey was distributed in April of 2018. A university sustainability committee was created in fall of 2017 and there was a desire to track changed behavior, perceptions and knowledge due to efforts of the committee. The committee agreed a bi-annual survey would be a useful tool. Survey questions were developed by the Sustainability Steering Committee and the survey was distributed to the student body and all staff by the Office of Research Administration using Qualtrics.
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
The survey was sent to the entire student body and all staff with a university email address. The survey was administered via Qualtrics. All participants were given a unique survey code so that each person could only take the survey one time.
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s):
This was the first time administering a sustainability survey, there is no other data to compare it to for reference. A summary of the results are as follows: 46% of participants were students, 54% was faculty and staff. 55% of participants "Agreed" that Lawrence University promotes a culture of sustainability. 66% accurately selected the definition of sustainability. 93% accurately defined why the Campus Center is a LEED Gold building. 91% were able to accurately identify an act of environmental justice.
Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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