University of Wisconsin-River Falls
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

Choose the best definition for sustainability: a. Reserving land and resources for preservation so they can never be used b. Development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs c. Reducing your personal carbon footprint and use of Earth’s natural resources d. Reaching a standard of living that allows a person to afford their needs In sustainability we often refer to the “Triple Bottom Line” when defining what makes something sustainable. What are three components of the triple bottom line? a. Land, Labor, Capital b. People, Planet, Profit c. Profit, Profit, Profit d. Income, Expense, Profit Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between social justice and sustainability? a. There is no relationship between social justice and sustainability b. All people deserve access to healthy environments but the burdens of pollution and other forms of environmental risk are shared unequally across lines of race, class, and ethnicity c. Environmental pollution causes social injustice because it was created by corporations but affects people d. Poor people are less likely to care about nature because they have more pressing financial concerns, while wealthy people can more easily afford to purchase organic food and make other sustainable lifestyle choices e. Don’t know/not sure Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between environmental issues and sustainability? a. Environmental issues and sustainability issues are not related b. Environmental issues and sustainability issues are basically the same things c. When humans learn to take better care of nature, sustainability issues will be resolved d. The environment is in a state of crisis because of human-caused problems and this crisis frames the social, economic, and ecological aspects of sustainability e. Don’t know/not sure Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between economic issues and sustainability? a. Economic issues and sustainability issues are not related b. Economic issues and sustainability issues are basically the same thing c. Sustainable economies will allow us to maintain current standards of living without worrying about environmental impacts d. Because economics have been a central component of creating sustainable problems, economics needs to be part of sustainability solutions. e. Don’t know/not sure In your time here at UW-River Falls, in general, have your classes taught or referenced the concepts or three pillars of sustainability – economic, environment, and social? a. This is my first semester at UWRF so this question is not applicable for me yet b. No, sustainability concepts have not been taught in any of my classes c. One or two classes have covered sustainability d. Yes, several of my classes have covered sustainability What federal agency is supposed to oversee environmental regulations? a. Department of Agriculture b. Council on Environmental Quality c. Environmental Protection Agency d. Department of Natural Resources e. Department of Health and Human Resources The United States represents 5% of the world’s population. How much of the world’s resources does the United States consume? a. 50% b. 15% c. 29% d. 5% Approximately 3 billion people, about half the world, live on less than $2/day. If the poor populations of this world were to live, consume, and develop like the Western part of the world in order to gain similar living standards, it is estimated the world would need _______ more planet Earths in order to produce the necessary resources and absorb our high levels of waste. a. 1 b. 5 c. 2 d. 6 The Jesse H. Ames Suites residence hall on campus is LEED gold certified. The UC and Falcon Center were built to LEED standards, but are not certified. What does LEED certification mean? a. The building is fully insured for all natural disasters b. The building is built with fair-trade building supplies and is free of lead and asbestos c. The building was built by certified contractors d. The building maximizes operational efficiency and minimizes the environmental impact Fracking is a process that involves drilling vertically into the Earth’s surface and releasing natural gas through the breaking of shale. The shale is broken by releasing fluid at high pressures into the ground. Chemicals that are released through fracking can have long term exposure effects on human health and include chemicals like benzene, toluene, and methane. What environmental impacts are associated with fracking? a. Methane contaminated groundwater b. Groundwater depletion c. Fracking induced earthquakes d. All of the above Coal is a fossil fuel used to generate electricity. When it is burned it releases dangerous chemicals such as carbon dioxide, sulfer dioxide, and mercury. The mining, cleaning, and transportation of coal generates additional health and environmental hazards. What percentage of electricity in WI comes from this form of energy as of 2016? a. 22 b. 49 c. 62 d. 84 Livestock and their byproducts account for 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. They also consume a large amount of the world’s freshwater. How many gallons of water does it take to produce one pound of beef? a. 512 b. 1002 c. 1847 d. 3582 As the climate warms, we see a general trend in glacial retreat. In Glacier National Park in Montana, the last glacier is estimated to disappear by the year 2030. Studies have shown that glaciers all over the world are thinning at an average loss of 0.31 m/yr. As we lose glacial mass, what greenhouse gas are we most worried about being released? a. Carbon dioxide b. Water vapor c. Methane d. Nitrous oxide e. Ozone What do you believe to be the biggest contributor to global climate change? a. A natural shift in climate b. The release of fossil fuels, particularly carbon dioxide c. Deforestation of forests around the world d. Developing countries e. I do not believe global climate change is happening

This sustainability literacy assessment was created for an Honor's 190 course on campus where sustainability is one of the five core competencies. The survey was fist completed in Fall 2017 as a pilot project in one course. It is anticipated that all sections of the course will complete the assessment at the beginning and end of each semester in 2018. It has also been shared with other faculty who may look to incorporate it into their courses in the future.

Not applicable

Because the assessment has only occurred for a one semester as a pilot project, there are no measurable changes at this time. Expanding the assessment out to more courses will hopefully demonstrate an increased overall sustainability literacy among our students over time.