Missouri State University
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

Corporate social responsibility implies a commitment to triple bottom line reporting includes: Many economists argue that electricity prices in the U.S. are too low because… Of the following, which would be considered living in the most environmentally sustainable way? The most significant driver in the loss of species and ecosystems around the world What is meant by the term “carbon footprint”? What is the most common cause of pollution of streams and rivers? Which of the following is the best example of environmental justice? Which of the following is the most commonly used definition of sustainable development? Which of the following statements about greenhouse gases is FALSE? Which of the following statements about water is true?

The Academics Subcommittee of the Sustainability Advisory Committee compiled a list of over 50 questions that other institutions submitted to STARS for AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment. The Subcommittee, made up of students, faculty, staff and community members, narrowed the list of questions down to the top 10 questions they felt most effectively gauged sustainability literacy, including its environmental, social and economic components.

The assessment was included as part of the University Exit Exam, which is open for the duration of each term for students who have fulfilled 102 credit hours (>85% of respondents are graduating seniors) and is a graduation requirement. This means that all students graduating in the Fall 2016, Spring 2017, and Summer 2017 terms completed the Exit Exam, including the sustainability literacy assessment, though some students fail to answer all questions. As that number is consistently <5%, and considering the large sample size, this is not considered an obstacle to data analysis/interpretation. The existence of the University Exit Exam allows for a very large student sample to be included, and it is used as a platform for acquiring data (such as the sustainability literacy assessment, library use, and the advising process) relevant to the university’s mission and goals that can be shared throughout the university community. It provides a large data pool and eliminates the need for extensive extrapolation from a small sample size that, while restricted to students with many credit hours, otherwise captures a broad cross-section of students.

Some of the most notable findings from this survey include the following: -85% of graduates were able to define carbon footprint. -Over 80% of graduates were able to identify the 3 pillars of sustainability. -Over 75% of graduates were able to define sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."