University of Missouri
EN-6: Assessing Sustainability Culture

Student Life Surveys are administered to the entire student community to assess their experience on campus. Sustainability-related questions are included in the survey. The MU Energy Strategies Survey was administered to a sample of 4000 students to assess their knowledge about energy and sustainability at MU. To better understand MU campus climate, the senior administration at MU recognized the need for a comprehensive tool that would provide campus climate metrics for the experiences and perceptions of its students, faculty, and staff. During the fall 2016 semester, MU conducted a comprehensive survey of all students, faculty, and staff to develop a better understanding of learning, living and working environment on campus.

Questions from Student Life Survey (administered to entire student body) 1. How concerned are you about environmental issues? 2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: - Environmental sustainability is one of the most important challenges of our time. 3. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: - My experiences at MU have provided me with a good understanding of what environmental sustainability means. 4. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - The amount of energy it will use compared to similar items 5. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - Whether the product was made out of recycled material 6. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - How far the item has traveled 7. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - The labor conditions under which the product was made 8. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - How the product will be disposed of after it is no longer useful 9. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - Whether the product was made out of recycled material 10. When buying a product, how often do you choose items based on the following factors? - How far the item has traveled Questions from Energy Strategies Student Advisory Group (ESSAG) survey administered to sample of 4000 student6s 1. Where does the University of Missouri's energy come from? 2. Select from a list of eight possible energy sources “the ones that you think Mizzou currently uses to power our campus." 3. Mizzou’s energy usage was recently compared with other similarly-sized schools nation-wide. When compared to other peer institutions, how much relative energy do you think MIzzou uses? 4. Are you aware the MU has a Climate Action Plan to drive the overall goal of reaching carbon neutrality? 5. How concerned are you about global warming/climate change? 6. How important is it to have MU use renewable energy on campus? 7. To what extent does MU prioritize renewable energy? 8. How proud are you of the University’s commitment to using renewable energy? 9. MU has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions until it becomes carbon neutral. How much they support this goal? 10. What renewable energy sources would you support for MU? Sample Questions from Campus Climate Survey administered to entire MU community 1. Overall, how comfortable are you with the climate at MU? 2. Faculty/Staff Only: Overall, how comfortable are you with the climate in your primary work area at MU? 3. Students/Faculty Only: Overall, how comfortable are you with the climate in your classes at MU? 4. Have you ever seriously considered leaving MU? 5. Students only: When did you seriously consider leaving MU? 6. Students only: Why did you seriously consider leaving MU? 7. Faculty/Staff Only: Why did you seriously consider leaving MU? 8. We are interested in knowing more about your experiences. If you would like to elaborate on why you seriously considered leaving, please do here. 9. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements at MU. (9 response choices provided) 10: Within the past year, have you experienced any exclusionary (e.g. shunned, ignored), intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct (e.g. bullied, harasses) that has interfered with your ability to work, learn, or live at MU? https://diversity.missouri.edu/climate/2016/2016-MU-CCS-Full.pdf

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Key findings: 1. High levels of comfort with the climate at the University of Missouri 2. Faculty respondents: Positive attitudes about faculty work 3. Staff respondents: Positive attitudes about staff work