| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.09 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Drake |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
Swarthmore College
EN-6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 1.00 |
Elizabeth
Drake Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution conduct an assessment of sustainability culture?:
Which of the following best describes the cultural assessment? The assessment is administered to::
Which of the following best describes the structure of the cultural assessment? The assessment is administered::
A brief description of how and when the cultural assessment(s) were developed and/or adopted:
The College includes a few sustainability-related questions to campus-wide surveys. In Fall 2022, the College distributed a survey to all faculty, staff, and students on perceptions of the College and its values, including sustainability themes and values.
Additionally, the Office of Sustainability and Fellows working with the Office have conducted several tabling events in the last few years on topics including the To Zero by Thirty Five energy plan and perceptions on the future of a world impacted by climate change.
A copy or sample of the questions related to sustainability culture:
A sample of the questions related to sustainability culture or the website URL where the assessment tool is available:
The Fall 2022 survey included questions following a model that asked: Which values do you most associate with Swarthmore College? Available responses included sustainability and associated values.
The To Zero by Thirty Five questions included WHAT IS A KEY QUESTION YOU HAVE ABOUT 20X35?, WHAT ASPECTS OF TO 20X35 ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT? and WHAT IS ONE THING YOU'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE COLLEGE'S CARBON-FREE ENERGY FUTURE?
The climate change perceptions survey asked 150+ students: “When it comes to the future of humankind, what are you most worried about?” and “When it comes to the future of humankind, what are you most worried about?”
A brief description of how representative samples were reached (if applicable) and how the cultural assessment is administered:
The Fall 2022 survey was sent via email to all faculty, staff, and students.
The other surveys were conducted as tabling events in high-traffic locations on campus, with an emphasis on student input.
A brief summary of results from the cultural assessment:
The results from the Fall 2022 survey are pending, but will be updated here as soon as received.
The To Zero by Thirty Five surveying indicated that students were curious about the mechanics of geoexchange and the cost/benefit analysis of this technology compared to alternatives. Students are excited for reducing the campus' greenhouse gas emissions and living in alignment with sustainability values.
The Worry & Hope survey indicated students are most worried by far about Climate Change, as well as war and polarization. Students are most hopeful for community, innovation, peace, and collaboration.
Website URL where information about the assessment of sustainability culture is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The all-campus study was conducted and summarized by a third party consultant, Truth & Consequences, in 2022 as a part of our ongoing To Zero by Thirty Five energy plan and zero carbon transition.
The all-campus study was conducted and summarized by a third party consultant, Truth & Consequences, in 2022 as a part of our ongoing To Zero by Thirty Five energy plan and zero carbon transition.
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.