| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.99 |
| Liaison | Mary-Lee Townsend |
| Submission Date | Oct. 20, 2021 |
Western University
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Jessica
Cordes Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution conduct an assessment of the sustainability literacy of its students?:
Yes
Which of the following best describes the literacy assessment? The assessment is administered to::
The entire (or predominate) student body, directly or by representative sample
Which of the following best describes the structure of the assessment? The assessment is administered as a::
Standalone evaluation without a follow-up assessment of the same cohort or representative samples
A copy of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment(s):
A list or sample of the questions included in the sustainability literacy assessment or the website URL where the assessment tool may be found:
4. Which of the following are definitions of sustainable development?
a. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
b. Improving quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems
c. The simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social equity
d. The process of building equitable, productive, and participatory structures to increase the economic empowerment of communities and their surrounding regions
5. What is the name of the international climate change agreement that was signed by over 50 countries worldwide in 2016?
a. The Paris Agreement
b. The Kyoto Protocol
c. The Montreal Protocol
d. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
6. Which of these are the three pillars of sustainability?
a. Society, Politics, Economy
b. Environment, Economy, Politics
c. Society, Environment, Economy
7. What is the most significant driver of species loss and ecosystem degradation around the world?
a. Over-hunting and over-harvesting
b. Acid rain
c. Destruction of natural spaces into by human activities
d. Natural disasters caused by climate change
8. Which most accurately describes a “living wage” in a given location?
a. The minimum wage to support one’s preferred lifestyle
b. The hourly wage that, at a minimum, supports a standard of living above the poverty line
c. The minimum wage a person can be paid
d. The hourly wage based on one’s credentials
9. Which of the following are effective means of using energy in a sustainable way? Select all that apply.
a. Buying efficient equipment and appliances
b. Choosing products or services that use and support clean energy
c. Minimizing wasted energy by turning off lights or unplugging unused appliances
d. Buying LED lights to replace old bulbs and keeping them on constantly
e. Keeping your windows open in the summer while the air conditioning is on
a. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
b. Improving quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems
c. The simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social equity
d. The process of building equitable, productive, and participatory structures to increase the economic empowerment of communities and their surrounding regions
5. What is the name of the international climate change agreement that was signed by over 50 countries worldwide in 2016?
a. The Paris Agreement
b. The Kyoto Protocol
c. The Montreal Protocol
d. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
6. Which of these are the three pillars of sustainability?
a. Society, Politics, Economy
b. Environment, Economy, Politics
c. Society, Environment, Economy
7. What is the most significant driver of species loss and ecosystem degradation around the world?
a. Over-hunting and over-harvesting
b. Acid rain
c. Destruction of natural spaces into by human activities
d. Natural disasters caused by climate change
8. Which most accurately describes a “living wage” in a given location?
a. The minimum wage to support one’s preferred lifestyle
b. The hourly wage that, at a minimum, supports a standard of living above the poverty line
c. The minimum wage a person can be paid
d. The hourly wage based on one’s credentials
9. Which of the following are effective means of using energy in a sustainable way? Select all that apply.
a. Buying efficient equipment and appliances
b. Choosing products or services that use and support clean energy
c. Minimizing wasted energy by turning off lights or unplugging unused appliances
d. Buying LED lights to replace old bulbs and keeping them on constantly
e. Keeping your windows open in the summer while the air conditioning is on
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
The sustainability literacy survey was first implemented in the 2013-2014 academic year (culture) with a subsequent assessment performed in the 2016-2017 academic year (sustainability knowledge). The assessment was developed by the Manager, Sustainability in collaboration with members of the President’s Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainability (PACES).
It was reintroduced in 2020 as ""The Sustainability Pulse Survey"", with plans to make it an annual event so as to capture the same cohorts of students and measure change. The questions were also altered to include room for feedback from participants on campus programs. Literacy assessment questions were expanded to include questions from other successful STARS institutions, like University of Calgary.
It was reintroduced in 2020 as ""The Sustainability Pulse Survey"", with plans to make it an annual event so as to capture the same cohorts of students and measure change. The questions were also altered to include room for feedback from participants on campus programs. Literacy assessment questions were expanded to include questions from other successful STARS institutions, like University of Calgary.
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
The survey was sent to the entire campus commmunity at Western (mass emails to every graduate and undergraduate student, and every staff and faculty member); over 3,400 responses were received. The survey was administered through Western University’s survey system, Qualtrics and was open for a month.
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s):
Based on the results, it is clear that Western University must enhance communications about important sustainability achievements, frameworks and tools that are being used internally and externally.
The campus community performed well on the literacy assessment questions compared to previous years, including increased awareness of the Paris Agreement, living wage, and the pillars of sustainability. Respondents accurately identified definitions of sustainability and effective means of using energy sustainably.
In general, the results will help us identify the types of messages we need to share in order to elevate the level of sustainability literacy within our university community.
The campus community performed well on the literacy assessment questions compared to previous years, including increased awareness of the Paris Agreement, living wage, and the pillars of sustainability. Respondents accurately identified definitions of sustainability and effective means of using energy sustainably.
In general, the results will help us identify the types of messages we need to share in order to elevate the level of sustainability literacy within our university community.
Optional Fields
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.