| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.21 |
| Liaison | Lisa Noriega |
| Submission Date | June 29, 2022 |
Yale University
EN-6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 1.00 |
Lisa
Noriega Sustainability Data Analyst Yale 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:
Through a comprehensive literature review and multiple editing rounds by focus groups and experts, we worked to create an accessible, comprehensive, and useful survey. We looked to measure both sustainability knowledge and behavior. By keeping the audience of our survey in mind and thinking about the goals we wish to accomplish with this survey, we were able to balance both our needs and the needs of our survey respondents. The survey normally goes out to faculty and staff, and to a representative sample of undergraduate students. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Sustainability did not distribute the biennial sustainability survey as scheduled in 2020. As a result, the survey was distributed in 2021 instead, and plans are in place to resume normal distribution (biennially, even years) beginning in 2022. Because the survey was not distributed in 2020, we carefully chose to distribute to all undergraduates as opposed to 1st and 3rd years only (as was done in 2018 and will be done beyond 2022), as a broader set of data would allow for better comparison between years. In 2022, when normal distribution resumes, the survey will be administered to the class of 2026 as freshmen, and will be administered again when they are juniors in order to understand how a Yale education influences sustainability literacy. Preliminary research began in January 2017; the survey was created in the Fall of 2017, edited/tested in the Spring of 2018, and first administered in the fall of 2018. The survey was updated and refined for 2021, and the survey will be administered bi-annually going forward (next distribution in October 2022).
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:
See attached sample
A brief description of how representative samples were reached (if applicable) and how the cultural assessment is administered:
The survey uses a stratified random-sample methodology that follows a process developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is administered to a representative sample size of the following populations: first– and third–year Yale College students; Yale staff; and Yale faculty. However, in 2021, due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the stratified random-sample methodology was not used to administer the survey, as the survey could not be distributed in 2020 as scheduled. The Office of Sustainability made the decision to distribute the survey to all Yale College classes (first through fourth years) in 2021 as a broader dataset would allow for better comparison between years. Beyond 2021, the stratified random-sample methodology will be reinstated.
A brief summary of results from the cultural assessment:
There were 1,984 total responses to the survey in 2021 (roughly 300 more than in 2018), and the survey will next be distributed in the fall of 2022, at which point we will compare changes and improvements. Findings from the 2021 survey showed that the majority of the Yale community has a working knowledge of facts related to sustainability, that members of the Yale community would be more inclined to perform sustainability behaviors if they had clearer ways to measure them and see their impact, became more aware of the Yale Sustainability Plan 2025 and the Office of Sustainability since 2018, and has increased awareness of and engagement in proper materials management practices since 2018.
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 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.