University of Georgia
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

What is meant by the term “carbon footprint”?  The age of an item found at an archeological site  The carbon left on the ground each time you take a step  The size of the carbon chain in a given quantity of gasoline  The greenhouse gasses released by burning fossil fuels  Don’t know What is the term used for the technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life from cradle to grave (resource extraction through usage and disposal or reuse)?  An energy audit  A cost-benefit analysis  A life-cycle assessment  A thermal system analysis  Don’t know Which of the following is an example of sustainable forest management?  Setting aside forests to be off limits to the public  Never harvesting more than what the forest produces in new growth  Producing lumber for nearby communities to build affordable housing  Putting the local communities in charge of forest resources  Don’t know Which of the following is the most commonly used definition of sustainable development?  Creating a government funded system that ensures universal access to education, healthcare, and social services  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  Building a neighborhood that is both socio-demographically and economically diverse  Don’t know Workers around the world face a variety of social injustices, including low wages, poor working conditions, and lack of access to education. Of the following, what is the best way to help improve conditions for these workers?  Purchase products from companies that do not allow workers to join labor unions  Buy the newest products to keep factories around the world open  Learn about how companies conduct business prior to purchasing their products  Support large corporations because they generally have more money to pay their workers  Don’t know Of the following, which would be considered living in the most environmentally 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 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 What is included when corporations report their triple bottom line?  Three forms of financial reporting  Environmental, social, and financial performance  Offering health, dental, and vision care to employees  Incorporating community, labor, and government representatives on the board of directors  Don’t know

Pre and post assessments (attached above) are administered to Discover Abroad Students. Research has specifically focused on a 4-week education abroad Maymester program to Australia on the topic of Sustaining Human Societies and the Natural Environment.

Pre and post assessments are administered to all students in the Discover Abroad Maymester to Australia and New Zealand by faculty teaching the courses that make up this program.

Results indicate an increase in sustainability literacy among students who take sustainability courses. This result is stronger for students who take experiential sustainability courses while abroad. Although the above published study is from 2014, assessments are on-going and results have been consistent.

Sources: Jaiko Celka, Curriculum Intern, Office of Sustainability Michael Tarrant, Director of Discover Abroad, research for 7+ years deals with this surveying