Bates College
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

2016 Student Sustainability Survey 1. Which of the following statements best describes your level of interest in sustainability? a. I have a passion for sustainability b. I have considerable interest in sustainability c. I think it’s important but am pretty neutral about sustainability d. I have little or no interest in sustainability 2. Did you participate in any environmental clubs/events/campaigns/actions in high school? □ Yes (If yes, please specify) ______________________________________________________________________ □ No 3. How do you recycle at home? a. I comingle cardboard, plastics, paper, metal and glass in one bin b. I separate paper and plastic c. I don't recycle d. Other(please specify) __________________________________________________________________________ 4. Do you shut off your computer at night? □ yes □ no 5. Do you think environmental degradation is a problem you can affect with your daily actions? □ Yes, I strongly agree □ Yes, I agree somewhat □ I’m not sure □ I disagree □ I strongly disagree 6. Which of the following statements best describes the term “sustainability?” e. Protection of the environment f. Living sparse and eating vegetarian g. Equal attention to economic well-being, strong community connections, and a healthy environment h. Understanding your impact on the environment 7. What best explains your personal motivation to become involved in sustainability-related behaviors? (Rank all that apply) a. Personal concern and beliefs b. Information I have gotten from news sources c. Saving money d. Friend/peer influence (over) 8. On a scale of 1-7, how important is it for you to reduce your personal energy use? (Circle the desired number) (Less Important) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (Most Important) 9. What do you think is the most effective way students at Bates can reduce their energy use? (Rank by order of importance) a. Short showers (4 minutes or less) b. Turning off computers and laptops every evening c. Turning off lights d. Keeping windows closed during the winter 10. What resources would you find most beneficial to help you learn more about sustainability or environmental issues? (Circle all that apply) a. Email communication b. Courses on environment/sustainability topics c. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc.) d. On-campus signs and flyers e. Training workshops (e.g. how to build a worm bin) f. Co-curricular programs 11. How much time would you be willing to spend on projects to make your campus house/dorm a more sustainable place? □ 0 hours □ 1-2 hours per week □ 2-4 hours per week □ 4 or more hours per week 12. Which opportunities would you be most likely to participate in? Yes No Maybe a. ‘Trashion’ Show □ □ □ b. EcoService Day □ □ □ c. Paid EcoRep position □ □ □ d. Periodic EnviroLunches □ □ □ e. Off campus activism □ □ □ 13. Over the next year how often do you anticipate getting around campus/Lewiston/Auburn via the following? Never Rarely Sometimes Always/Most of the time Driving………………………………. □ □ □ □ Walking…………………………….. □ □ □ □ Biking………………………………… □ □ □ □ Skateboard……………………….. □ □ □ □ Public transport/shuttles…... □ □ □ □ Carpooling with friends….... □ □ □ □ 14. What current problems are sustainability initiatives trying to address today? Please check all that apply: i) Climate Change ii) Habitat Degradation iii) Access to clean drinking water iv) Waste Management 15. Space heating is the largest sector of fossil fuel use for buildings in the Northeast. Please define the concept of a thermal envelope, and what role it has in energy efficiency in this sector. 16. What percentage of potable water is actually consumed by people? 17. What percentage energy reduction could one expect from switching from incandescent bulbs to LEDs? 18. What is the difference between recycling and down-cycling? 19. What is physically happening to food that is being composted? 20. What is the approximate lifespan of a solar panel? 21. How do the life cycle costs of an electric car compare to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine? Thank you for completing our survey!

The literacy assessment tool was created by the sustainability office's EcoReps as an amendment to their sustainability workshops for the Junior Advisers and Resident Coordinator staff. They were administered at the beginning and end of these workshops to test for knowledge retention and to help inform the content delivered.

The EcoReps gave this survey to the dorm Junior Advisers and Resident Coordinators at the college. This group is a subset of the total student body, numbering about 50 students. The literacy assessment was administered both before and after sustainability enrichment workshops put on by the EcoReps for this group.

Students tended to do well on the Bates-specific and engagement questions, but did more poorly on the global questions on sustainability. Overall, there was a 45% increase in scores from prior to post- workshop.