| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.33 |
| Liaison | Kristin Larson |
| Submission Date | July 31, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
San Diego State University
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Does the institution conduct an assessment of the sustainability literacy of its students (i.e. an assessment focused on student knowledge of sustainability topics and challenges)?:
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 sample of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment or the website URL where the assessment tool may be found:
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
Literacy assessment was developed by reviewing other campus literacy assessments and collaborating among students, faculty, and staff. A student developed and managed the survey. It was adopted in 2018, combined with the cultural assessment and administered to all students.
This year, the literacy questions include items 4-7, 12-17, 22, 26, totaling more than the minimum 10 questions required.
The literacy assessment was developed by reviewing the questions in the pre-assessment back in March 2018, and engaged in collaborative discussions with the Office of Sustainability. The survey was adopted in February 2020, and is combined with the cultural assessment.
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
We had 1,377 respondents. The assessment was administered by sending an email to all students of SDSU through Strategic Communication and Public Affairs (STRATCOMM), through our social media account, and through posting flyers around campus with a QR code to take the survey.
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s), including a description of any measurable changes over time:
Most students were able to correctly identify renewable energy sources, though the majority were unable to identify geothermal as renewable. Students were able to see the social equity piece of sustainability by recognizing which Native American land the university sits on and how low-income communities will feel the effect of climate change first. Students have a general knowledge of what can be recycled on campus, with some exceptions (many did not know plastic utensils could not be recycled).
Some measurable changes over time include the questions about waste, courses, and principles.
-Waste: 66% of students who took the survey reported that they knew what can/cannot be recycled.
-Courses: In 2018, 26.3% of students were taking/had taken 2+ sustainability related courses at SDSU. This year, the results were 18.6%.
-Core principles: In 2018, students viewed sustainability as the environment (97%), economy (86%), and social equity (70%). This year, the results were environment (98%), economy (87%), and social equity (87%).
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.