University of Dayton
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

Of the following, which would be considered living in the most sustainable way?
Recycling all recyclable packaging
Reducing consumption of all products
Buying products labeled "eco" or "green"
Buying the newest products available
Don't know

What is the most common cause of pollution in streams, rivers, the Great Lakes, and oceans?
Dumping of garbage and runoff from landfills
Trash washed into the oceans from beaches
Waste dumped by factories
Surface water running off yards, city streets, paved lots, and farm fields
Don't know

The entree with the highest carbon footprint is a:
Lamb chop
Serving of chicken wings
Veggie burger
Salmon fillet
Don't know

Fragmentation and destruction of habitats threatens the survival of thousands of plant and animal species worldwide. The most significant driver in the loss of species and ecosystems around the world is:
Over-hunting / over-harvesting
Conversion of natural space into human developments (farms, cities, etc.) Acid rain
Breeding of animals in zoos
Don't know

Which of the following is the most commonly used definition of sustainable development?
Creating a government welfare system that ensures universal access to education, health care, and social services.
Building a neighborhood that is both socio-demographically and economically diverse. Setting aside resources for preservation, never to be used.
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Don’t know

Food insecurity is:
The condition of being hungry
A neighborhood-level lack of access to any type of food
A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food
Lacking the skills to cook nutritious food
Don't know

Over the past 3 decades, what has happened to the difference between the wealth of the richest and poorest Americans?
The difference has increased
The difference has stayed about the same
The difference has decreased
Don’t know

Environmental Justice refers to:
The regulatory appeal system that is used by the US EPA
Prosecuting companies that pollute
Ensuring that environmental damages are not suffered disproportionately by disadvantaged communities
Making sure that non-human species are systematically accounted for
Don't know

Which of the following is the most commonly used definition of economic sustainability?
Maximizing the share price of a company's stock
Long term profitability
When costs equal revenue
Continually expanding market share
Don't know

Which of the following statements about the relationship between environmental issues and socioeconomic issues is true?
Poorer people are disproportionately impacted by climate change because they are more likely to live in areas threatened by water scarcity, vector-borne disease, and potential damage from storms and floods.
Wealthier people are disproportionately impacted by climate change because they are more likely to own properties and businesses that can be negatively influenced by water scarcity, vector-borne disease, and potential damage from storms and floods.
People of all socioeconomic classes are equally impacted by climate change, but for different reasons.
Environmental issues and socioeconomic issues are unrelated.
Don't know

University of Dayton (UD) Master of Public Administration students enrolled in MPA 510 (Quantitative Methods in Public Administration) during the Fall 2021 semester developed and administered the Sustainability Culture and Literacy Survey. Students, in collaboration with their faculty advisor, the Sustainability Planning and Evaluation Manager, and various campus stakeholders, created the survey instrument by reviewing both previous UD sustainability surveys and other instruments created by peer institutions. The team retained various measures to maintain consistency with past assessments, while also replicating items included in various highly-respected surveys conducted on other campuses.

The assessment was administered through Qualtrics and sent by email to all University of Dayton (UD) faculty, staff, and students in November 2021. The survey was open for members of the UD community to complete from November 1st through November 15th. An initial invitation was sent to all campus members, as well as one reminder email to students only and another reminder to all campus members. The culture and literacy assessments were combined into a single survey. The total number of responses was 723 (campus wide margin of error is +/- 4%). 357 students (49.4% of respondents) responded to the survey. Of these, 78.2% are undergraduate students (compared with 71.8% of all UD students) and 21.8% are graduate students (compared with 28.2% of all UD students). 366 employees (50.7% of respondents) responded to the survey. Of these, 72.4% are staff (compared with 66.1% of all UD employees) and 27.6% are faculty members (compared with 33.9% of all UD employees). These values were determined to be a representative sample of the campus population.

Results will be fully analyzed and compiled into a report during spring 2022. Preliminary results show that less than two-thirds (63.5%) of first-year undergraduate students correctly identified the definition of sustainable development and three-quarters (76.0%) correctly defined food insecurity. Upper-class undergraduate students could better define these concepts – three-quarters (75.2%) could define sustainable development and over three-quarters (77.6%) could define food insecurity.

A combined literacy and culture assessment was administered in 2018, 2020, and 2021, allowing for longitudinal analysis and pre- and post-assessment. All assessments were delivered to the entire student body. Analysis indicates that respondents were a representative sample of student years and schools.