Sustainability SurveyAssessing Campus Awareness, Literacy,

and Habits Regarding Sustainability Issues

October 2014

Survey Project Description The CSB Office of Sustainability is interested in collecting data to help shape future campus sustainability programs and gauge the opinions of the first year students on Sustainability. This survey measures the current awareness, literacy, and habits of CSB/SJU students once when they are freshmen and again as a senior. The survey was conducted on October 8th – October 31st.

Survey Methods An on-line survey was sent to 985 first year students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

Survey Response Rate207 first year students completed the survey; thus, the survey had a 21.02% response rate.

Limitations The survey is subject to self-selection bias (e.g., respondents with an interest in sustainability were more likely to notice the call for participation). As such, the survey results may not be representative of the entire student population.

Project LeadershipAlex Chocholousek, CSB Sustainability Coordinator; Haleigh Linn, CSB Sustainability Student Intern; Judy Purman, CSB Director of Sustainability; Madi Sundlof CSB Sustainability Program Coordinator• Administered and report written by Alex

Chocholousek CSB Sustainability Coordinator

Key Survey Findings • 81.5% of respondents find it important that CSB/SJU become a leader in sustainability and the environment

• 85.9% of respondents said that CSB/SJU should consider renewable energy sources for its energy needs.

• 73.2% of student respondents said that practicing sustainability will improve their life

• 98.0% of respondents use the Link as their primary of mode of transport between campuses.• 57.3% of respondents learned more about sustainability

while at CSB/SJU.

Sustainability Survey Introduction

• Number of First Year Females

• Number of First Year Males

• Total Number of Responses

• Survey Period

Who Completed the Survey?

12978207 (21.02% of

class) October 8th – October

31st

62%

38%

CSB/SJU Student Freshmen Response Population

Female Male

60%

40%

At Which Campus Do You Spend Your Time

CSB SJU

37%

13%

CSB/SJU First Year Students

CSB Student Responders SJU Students RespondersRest of the First Year Class

Q: How Important is it to understand my overall effect of my choices on…

Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

The environment The economoy Myself, and other people

Q: Sustainability means being economically viable and socially just as well as

environmentally sound.

97.1% of Respondents believe that Sustainability Means More Than Merely Being Environmentally Sound.

1%

99%

SJU First Year Student

2%

98%

CSB First Year Student

1

0

True

False

97%

3%

First Year Students

1

0

True

False

Q: I learned more about sustainability during my time at CSB/SJU

9%

43%

35%

12%1%

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeutralDisagreeStrongly Disagree

Over 50% of first years agree they

have learned more about sustainability

at CSB/SJU

Q: How important is it to you that CSB/SJU be a leader in Sustainability and the Environment?

Not at all important1%

Unimportant3%

Neutral20%

Important42%

Very Important34%

76%of students think is is important or very impotant for CSB/SJU to be a leader in sustain-

ability

Over 80% of Respondents Find it Important that CSB/SJU Consider Using Renewable Energy

1%3%16%

32%

48%

First Year Students

Not at all important Unimportant Neutral Important Very important

1%1% 10%

43%

46%

CSB First Years

1% 9%

14%

41%

34%

SJU First Years

Q: How important is it to you that CSB/SJU consider renewable energy sources for its energy needs?

66% of first years believe practicing sustainability will improve their life.

Q: Practicing sustainability will...

Inconvenience my life5%

Not affect my life29%

Improve my life66%

First years act sustainably because it:(1)is the right thing to do(2)saves money(3)Friends/Peer influence

Q:Which best explains any personal motivation on your part for becoming involved in making sustainable choices?

It's the right thing to do to make the world a better

place62%

Saving money18%

Protecting human health

7%

Friend/peer in-fluence

12%

Not going to make sustainable choices1%

Q: If you know of the Sustainability Office, how did you become aware of it? (Check all that apply)

9%

14%

7%

15%

21%

8%

6%

19%

Newspaper ArticlesWebsiteAttended a meeting or eventSustainability NewsletterPostersSeen Bumper StickerDidn't know it existedOther

Freshman Respond to Awareness to Sustainability Office MADI STOPPED HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Q: How important to you are the following environmental-related issues at CSB/SJU?

First years think the most important environmental related issues at CSB/SJU are:(1) recycling(2) waste reduction

1. Recycling

94%

important

2. Reducing the amount of Waste Gen-erated

90.5%

important

Followed by:(3) It affects my health(4) Reduce energy consumption 4. Reduce Energy Consumption

89%

important

3. It Affects My Health

89%

important

Q: How important to you are the following environmental-related issues at CSB/SJU?

Followed by:(5)Water Conservation (6) Alternative Transportation

Q: How important to you are the following environmental-related issues at CSB/SJU?

5.Water Conservation

79%important

6. Alternative Transportation

74%important

Followed by:(7)Use of fertilizers and pesticides

Q: How important to you are the following environmental-related issues at CSB/SJU?

7. Use of fertilizers and pesticides

81%important

Close to 20% of First Years define Sustainability as ‘Being Green’

How Long Something Lasts

Balance of Environmental, Soci-etal and Economic Considerations

Ability to Sustain Life on Earth

Conservation/Recycling

Environment/Natural Resources

Being Green

Not Harming Future Generations

Don't Know

12%

13%

0%

11%

16%

17%

Q: What comes to mind when you hear the term “sustainability?” (Check all that apply)

19%

12%

$028%

$10 44%

$25 19%

$50+9.5%73%

of first years would be willing to pay a fee to

make campus more sus-tainable.

Q I would be willing to pay a fee of … to make campus more sustainable.

Comparison of CSB and SJU students over the years and their willingness to pay a fee

Q: I would be willing to pay a fee of … to make campus more sustainable

First Year Student willingness to pay a ‘sustainability fee’ with their tuition

SJU First Year Students0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

2010201120122013

Perc

ent o

f SJU

Stu

dent

s tha

t wou

ld P

ay

CSB First Year Students50%

52%

54%

56%

58%

60%

62%

64%

66%

2010201120122013

Perc

ent o

f CSB

Stu

dent

s tha

t wou

ld P

ay

First years most often: (1)recycle (2)turn off lights(3)Make healthy food choices 54%

34%

6%

6%

1. I recycle plastic, aluminum, paper and cardboard when possible.

AlwaysUsuallySometimesRarelyNever

89% Always/Usually

75% Always/Usually

Q: How often do you do the following things?

57%

36%6%

2%

2. I turn off lights and electronics when not in use

Always Usually Sometimes Rarely Never

92%Always/Usually

32%

43%

23%2%

3. I make healthy food choices when possible.

Always Usually Sometimes Rarely Never

Less Often First Years:(4) Bring a reusable Bag(5) Buy local/second-hand goods

Q: How often do you do the following things?

6%

19%

25%

26%

25%

4. I bring a reusable bag when shopping.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

25%Always/Usually

4%

26%

51%

15%4%

5. I buy locally-produced or second-hand goods.

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

28%Always/Usually

Q: How much of a problem will global climate change be...

96.2% of the first years who answered the survey said that when energy is conserved,

fewer greenhouse gas emissions are released

into the atmosphere.

Q: When I conserve energy, I contribute fewer greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

66% of first year student respondents said that global climate change will be a problem for future generations

no prob-lem

minor problem

major problem

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

… in your lifetimefor future generations?

First years think CSB/SJU should become more sustainable by:

(1) investing in alternative energy(2) investing in efficiency(3) Decreasing our waste stream

investing in alternative energy

changing behaviors and habits

investing in low carbon transporation

decreasing our waste stream

expanding the recycling program

investing in efficiency

investing in green building

71.70%

60.40%

69.80%

62.30%

67.90%

77.40%

62.30%

First Year CSB/SJU Students Response (%)

Q: CSB/SJU should become more sustainable by: (Check all that apply)