| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.05 |
| Liaison | Beverley Ayeni |
| Submission Date | Dec. 11, 2020 |
University of Toronto Mississauga
EN-6: Assessing Sustainability Culture
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution conduct an assessment of sustainability culture?:
Yes
Which of the following best describes the cultural assessment? The assessment is administered to::
The entire campus community (students and employees) directly or by representative sample
Which of the following best describes the structure of the cultural assessment? The assessment is administered::
Longitudinally to measure change over time
A brief description of how and when the cultural assessment(s) were developed and/or adopted:
A survey was created and distributed to the UTM community in the summer of 2020. This survey was distributed to staff, faculty, librarians and all students to determine their understanding of sustainability as well as to better understand their feelings towards sustainability on campus. This survey will be repeated again in the summer of 2021 to measure change over time.
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:
Students – grad and undergrad
10) Do you have an interest in taking at least one sustainability-related course during your time at UTM?
a. I already have
b. Yes, I intend to
c. I would like to take a sustainability-related course if there is enough flexibility within my academic program to allow for it
d. No
e. Unsure at this time
Staff, students and faculty
11) Which of the following are important to you (select all that apply)?
a. Waste reduction and diversion programs
b. Renewable energy programs
c. Wellness programs geared towards sustainability
d. Water conservation programs
e. Alternative modes of transportation (cycling, walking, public transit, etc.)
f. Access to locally-grown food
g. Access to organic food
h. Access to vegan or vegetarian food
i. None of the above
j. Other _______
Staff, students, and faculty
12) In your opinion, what is the best way for someone like yourself to learn about sustainability initiatives at UTM (select all that apply)?
a. Email
b. Posters
c. Flyers
d. Mail
e. Word of mouth
f. Social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
g. Sustainability website (https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/sustainability-office)
h. TV screens on campus
i. The Medium newspaper articles
Staff, students and faculty
13) Provide your opinion on the following statement: I am personally responsible for helping to ensure that UTM is a place where individuals can live, learn, and/or work sustainably.
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
Staff, students and faculty
14) Provide your opinion of the following statement: I am confident that there are adequate resources in place at UTM to answer questions I have about sustainability.
a. Strongly Agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
f. Not sure
Staff, students and faculty
15) Provide your opinion of the following statement: I am confident that there are adequate resources in place at UTM to help me act more sustainably.
a. Strongly Agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
f. Not sure
Staff, students and faculty
16) Provide your opinion of the following statement: UTM’s sustainability efforts/initiatives are above average when compared to other post-secondary institutions.
a. Strongly Agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
f. Not sure
Staff, students, faculty
17) Please select the primary way you believe that UTM should become more sustainable.
a. Purchase carbon offsets
b. Invest in more renewable energy
c. Improve recycling and composting programs
d. Offer more sustainability courses
e. Offer more research opportunities in sustainability related fields
f. Other _____________
Staff, students and faculty
18) How many of the following sustainability services/initiatives are you aware of at UTM?
a. Building LEED certifications on campus
b. UTM Nature Trail
c. UTM Repair Café
d. Sustainability Week
e. UTM Sustainability Conference (STTPA)
f. Sustainability Minor for Undergraduates
g. The Principal’s Sustainability Advisory Committee
h. The Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program
i. UTM Bike Share Program
10) Do you have an interest in taking at least one sustainability-related course during your time at UTM?
a. I already have
b. Yes, I intend to
c. I would like to take a sustainability-related course if there is enough flexibility within my academic program to allow for it
d. No
e. Unsure at this time
Staff, students and faculty
11) Which of the following are important to you (select all that apply)?
a. Waste reduction and diversion programs
b. Renewable energy programs
c. Wellness programs geared towards sustainability
d. Water conservation programs
e. Alternative modes of transportation (cycling, walking, public transit, etc.)
f. Access to locally-grown food
g. Access to organic food
h. Access to vegan or vegetarian food
i. None of the above
j. Other _______
Staff, students, and faculty
12) In your opinion, what is the best way for someone like yourself to learn about sustainability initiatives at UTM (select all that apply)?
a. Email
b. Posters
c. Flyers
d. Mail
e. Word of mouth
f. Social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
g. Sustainability website (https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/sustainability-office)
h. TV screens on campus
i. The Medium newspaper articles
Staff, students and faculty
13) Provide your opinion on the following statement: I am personally responsible for helping to ensure that UTM is a place where individuals can live, learn, and/or work sustainably.
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
Staff, students and faculty
14) Provide your opinion of the following statement: I am confident that there are adequate resources in place at UTM to answer questions I have about sustainability.
a. Strongly Agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
f. Not sure
Staff, students and faculty
15) Provide your opinion of the following statement: I am confident that there are adequate resources in place at UTM to help me act more sustainably.
a. Strongly Agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
f. Not sure
Staff, students and faculty
16) Provide your opinion of the following statement: UTM’s sustainability efforts/initiatives are above average when compared to other post-secondary institutions.
a. Strongly Agree
b. Agree
c. Neutral
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
f. Not sure
Staff, students, faculty
17) Please select the primary way you believe that UTM should become more sustainable.
a. Purchase carbon offsets
b. Invest in more renewable energy
c. Improve recycling and composting programs
d. Offer more sustainability courses
e. Offer more research opportunities in sustainability related fields
f. Other _____________
Staff, students and faculty
18) How many of the following sustainability services/initiatives are you aware of at UTM?
a. Building LEED certifications on campus
b. UTM Nature Trail
c. UTM Repair Café
d. Sustainability Week
e. UTM Sustainability Conference (STTPA)
f. Sustainability Minor for Undergraduates
g. The Principal’s Sustainability Advisory Committee
h. The Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program
i. UTM Bike Share Program
A brief description of how representative samples were reached (if applicable) and how the cultural assessment is administered:
The assessment was administered in the form of a survey and distributed via email to all staff, faculty, students and librarians.
A brief summary of results from the cultural assessment:
Key Findings:
1. Total Respondents: 1201
- 69.03% of respondents are undergraduate students
- 7.66% of respondents are graduate students
- 23.31% of respondents are staff and faculty
2. Respondents are from a wide range of different programs.
3. Only 1.71% of Respondents are entering their first year at the university.
4. Only 4.81%of Respondents are going to live on campus
- 50.23% of Respondents live off-campus with the distance between 4-20km
- 33.22% of Respondents live off-campus more than 20km
5. Over three-quarters of the respondents have an adequate understanding of the concept of sustainability but only 35.33% of respondents are aware of the sustainability website for the sustainability office at UTM.
6. More than half of the respondents indicated they have already taken or intend to take sustainability-related courses if there is enough flexibility within their academic program to allow for it.
7. We see a quite even distributed interest in the different sustainability-related issues that are listed in the survey. Including waste reduction and diversion programs, renewable energy programs, wellness programs geared towards sustainability, water conservation programs, alternative modes of transportation (cycling, walking, public), access to locally-grown food organic, or vegan/vegetarian food.
8. The three major primary areas that most respondents think UTM should become more sustainable, including waste management, investment in renewable energy, and education on sustainability.
9. About 60% of respondents learn about sustainability initiatives on campus by email, social media, and TV screens on campus.
10. The top 3 sustainability initiatives the respondents aware of are UTM Nature Trail, Sustainability Week, and the UTM bike share program.
11. 767 respondents stated that they think sustainability should be a priority on our campus and have given elaborate answers to why it should be the priority.
1. Total Respondents: 1201
- 69.03% of respondents are undergraduate students
- 7.66% of respondents are graduate students
- 23.31% of respondents are staff and faculty
2. Respondents are from a wide range of different programs.
3. Only 1.71% of Respondents are entering their first year at the university.
4. Only 4.81%of Respondents are going to live on campus
- 50.23% of Respondents live off-campus with the distance between 4-20km
- 33.22% of Respondents live off-campus more than 20km
5. Over three-quarters of the respondents have an adequate understanding of the concept of sustainability but only 35.33% of respondents are aware of the sustainability website for the sustainability office at UTM.
6. More than half of the respondents indicated they have already taken or intend to take sustainability-related courses if there is enough flexibility within their academic program to allow for it.
7. We see a quite even distributed interest in the different sustainability-related issues that are listed in the survey. Including waste reduction and diversion programs, renewable energy programs, wellness programs geared towards sustainability, water conservation programs, alternative modes of transportation (cycling, walking, public), access to locally-grown food organic, or vegan/vegetarian food.
8. The three major primary areas that most respondents think UTM should become more sustainable, including waste management, investment in renewable energy, and education on sustainability.
9. About 60% of respondents learn about sustainability initiatives on campus by email, social media, and TV screens on campus.
10. The top 3 sustainability initiatives the respondents aware of are UTM Nature Trail, Sustainability Week, and the UTM bike share program.
11. 767 respondents stated that they think sustainability should be a priority on our campus and have given elaborate answers to why it should be the priority.
Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.