| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.35 |
| Liaison | Delicia Nahman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 12, 2023 |
Lafayette College
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Melissa
Adamson Climate Action and Circularity Manager Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution conduct an assessment of the sustainability literacy of its students?:
Which of the following best describes the literacy assessment? The assessment is administered to::
Which of the following best describes the structure of the assessment? The assessment is administered as a::
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:
1 Which of the following countries has now passed the U.S. as the biggest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide?
2 One of the key goals contained in the Paris COP-21 consensus statement, signed in Paris in 2015 by every single leader of every single nation on Earth, is that we should work to prevent the earth from warming beyond 2ᵒC. In that same consensus statement, what must happen to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to stay below a 2ᵒC warming?
3 What is environmental justice?
4 "Arrange the following four activities in order from largest environmental impact to smallest environmental impact:
W. Keeping a cell phone charger plugged into an electrical outlet for 12 hours
X. Producing one McDonald's quarter-pound hamburger
Y. Producing one McDonald's chicken sandwich
Z. Flying in a commercial airplane from Washington D.C. to China"
5 Which of the following is the United Nations’ definition of sustainable development?
6 Ozone forms a protective layer in the earth's upper atmosphere. What does the ozone protect us from?
7 Which sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the US?
8 What is the main reason for fresh water shortages?
9 What is the estimated cost of climate change each year if we do not act?
10 What is the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) "Red List" ?
11 Rachel Carson is a Pennsylvanian who graduated from Chatham University and is the author of the famous book Silent Spring (1962). Her work is famous for
12 If the world’s population lived like an average American, approximately how many Earths would be needed to support humankind?
13 The phrase, "the 6th Extinction" refers to:
14 Many economists argue that electricity prices in the U.S. are too low because:
15 Which of the concepts listed below is described by the following scenario? Warmer temperatures on Earth reduce the surface area of the Earth covered by snow. Then these exposed darker lands and water areas absorb more heat which, in turn, further increases rising temperatures and melts more snow and ice.
16 Which of the following is an expected impact of climate change?
17 “Fast fashion” is defined as inexpensive clothing that is produced quickly in response to trends. Fast fashion is unsustainable because it can lead to:
18 How long can oil spills continue to have a detrimental impact on marine ecosystems?
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
The assessment was developed in the fall of 2022 and winter of 2023 and administered throughout April and May of 2023.
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
The assessment was taken by students in all class years and by students of 28 different majors. The assessment was distributed through campus-wide communication channels and through sustainability channels which reach a wide breadth of students. The survey was also shared at Earthfest which had around 500 attendees.
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s):
The average score was 9 out of 17 scored questions. The most frequently correct questions were on environmental justice, ozone definition, impacts of climate change, and which country pollutes more GHG than the US. The most commonly incorrect question was on the topic of pollution by industry and the cause of freshwater shortages.
Website URL where information about the sustainability literacy assessment 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.