Northern Arizona University
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Dayna
McKay Data Analyst 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:
Sustainability culture questions 1-20, followed by sustainability literacy assessment (21-30).
A brief description of how the literacy assessment was developed and/or when it was adopted:
In the summer of 2023, the Office of Sustainability recognized the need for a long-term sustainability literacy and culture assessment here at NAU. This inaugural survey is administered to a representative sample of students every fiscal year in the fall.
The questions are designed to provide insight that allows the Office of Sustainability to design effective programs, identify key next steps toward carbon neutrality, and better target our outreach efforts to the students at NAU.
Capstone Student Sustainability Survey:
In the spring of 2023, a group of capstone students conducted a sustainability literacy and culture assessment. The students designed a comprehensive survey on conceptual understanding, social responsibility, and cultural attitudes towards sustainability. They reviewed and refined the questions to minimize biases and errors.
Through their dedication to obtaining accurate data, the capstone team analyzed survey results to inform future sustainability initiatives. This Capstone became a valuable tool for understanding sustainability literacy and cultural perspectives.
The implementation of this survey demonstrated the students' commitment to social and environmental progress. Their continuous improvements and focus on increasing response rates aimed to create a meaningful survey while fostering broader student engagement.
A brief description of how a representative sample was reached (if applicable) and how the assessment(s) were administered :
NAU survey committee members review and approve all survey requests before providing student emails for survey distribution. The application process includes a field where you are to indicate your desired survey population. The sustainability literacy and culture assessment was approved for representative distribution and is distributed to 6,000 students, scattered evenly across grade levels.
A brief summary of results from the literacy assessment(s):
Here are some key findings and insights from the survey results:
Median Grade: The median grade for sustainability literacy among students is 77.43%. This represents the middle value in the distribution of responses.
Mean Grade: On average, students scored approximately 77.80% on the sustainability survey.
Range: The range of scores, from the lowest to the highest, spans 47.10%. This indicates a considerable variation in sustainability literacy among respondents.
Response Rate: The survey initially had a low response rate, which will prompt adjustments in subsequent years.
Targeted Communication Strategies: To further optimize the survey's effectiveness, the Office of Sustainability plans to employ targeted communication strategies in the future, ensuring that students understand the purpose and benefits of participating.
Overall, the Sustainability Survey serves as a valuable tool for NAU's sustainability efforts. It not only provides a snapshot of current sustainability literacy but also offers opportunities for ongoing improvement in programs, outreach, and the university's journey toward carbon neutrality.
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.