Smith College
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

Institution conducts an assessment of the sustainability literacy of its students. The sustainability literacy assessment focuses on knowledge of sustainability topics and may also address values, behaviors and/or beliefs. Assessments that focus exclusively on values, behaviors and/or beliefs are not sufficient to earn points for this credit.

Institution may conduct a follow-up assessment of the same cohort group(s) using the same instrument.

This credit includes graduate as well as undergraduate students.  

This credit applies to all institutions. 

Institutions earn the maximum of 4 points available for this credit by assessing the sustainability literacy of 90 percent or more of the institution’s students (directly or by representative sample) and conducting a follow-up assessment of the same cohort(s) using the same instrument. Incremental points are available based on the percentage of the total student population assessed and whether or not follow-up assessment(s) are conducted. For example, an institution that regularly assesses all incoming students, but does not conduct follow-up assessments using the same instrument would earn 2 points (half of the points available for this credit).

An institution that conducts an assessment using a representative sample earns points based on the total population from which the sample is drawn. For example, an institution that conducts an assessment and follow-up with a sample that is representative of the entire student population would earn the maximum of 4 points available for this credit. Likewise, an institution that that conducts an assessment and follow-up with a sample that is representative of 45 percent of its total student population would earn 2 points (half of the points available for this credit).

An institution that conducts an assessment of an unrepresentative portion of the student population earns points based on the actual number of students assessed. For example, an institution that conducts a mandatory survey and follow-up assessment of all students in a living learning community (4.5 percent of the total student population) would earn 0.2 points (5 percent of the points available for this credit).  

Timeframe

Report the most recent data available. Sustainability literacy assessments administered and/or followed up within the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission are eligible for this credit. Institutions may choose to report data from one, two, or three academic years, as long as both the total number of students and the number of students assessed are measured during the same time period. 

Sampling and Data Standards

Institutions may choose to measure sustainability literacy by administering a survey to a representative sample of the student population being assessed or by surveying the entire student population being assessed (e.g. by making the assessment mandatory).  

In conducting an assessment of an entire class or cohort of students, care should be taken so that participation in the assessment is not skewed toward individuals with an interest in sustainability, e.g. by employing appropriate sampling techniques or making the assessment mandatory.

Institutions may report on a single assessment or on multiple assessments that target different groups (e.g. students taking specific courses). To the extent possible, students should not be double-counted.