Beyond Operations: Improving the Assessment of Universities' Sustainability Efforts
Faculty Advisor Name
Dr. Christie-Joy Hartman
Department
Department of Integrated Science and Technology
Description
Beyond Operations: Improving the Assessment of Universities’ Sustainability Efforts
Globally, at least two dozen sustainability assessment tools (SATs) have been used by higher education institutions to measure, benchmark, and communicate their efforts to incorporate sustainability. However, SATs are in their infancy, and most focus primarily on campus operations and governance. The assessment of higher education institutions’ core elements, including education, research, and engagement is currently insufficient. Further, many SATS tend to focus on internal performance (e.g., number of sustainability courses offered) rather than impacts on sustainable development (e.g., effect of student participation in environmental restoration). The main goal of this applied research project is to create a robust collection of assessment items that in combination would allow JMU, and perhaps other institutions, to better assess their educational activities’ internal sustainability performance and external impact on sustainable development. The tools that were reviewed and analyzed for this project were identified based on a literature review of papers that compared SATS. Of the 24 tools identified only 10 of the tools were available and written in English. The most current version of each tool was downloaded and reviewed. All indicators and questions (a total of 128) in the domains of education, research, and engagement were compiled. The next step in the research is to work with JMU Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World Committees to identify the most relevant and valid combination of items for JMU.
Allison Poggendorf, Christie-Joy Hartman, and Jeffery Tang
Beyond Operations: Improving the Assessment of Universities' Sustainability Efforts
Beyond Operations: Improving the Assessment of Universities’ Sustainability Efforts
Globally, at least two dozen sustainability assessment tools (SATs) have been used by higher education institutions to measure, benchmark, and communicate their efforts to incorporate sustainability. However, SATs are in their infancy, and most focus primarily on campus operations and governance. The assessment of higher education institutions’ core elements, including education, research, and engagement is currently insufficient. Further, many SATS tend to focus on internal performance (e.g., number of sustainability courses offered) rather than impacts on sustainable development (e.g., effect of student participation in environmental restoration). The main goal of this applied research project is to create a robust collection of assessment items that in combination would allow JMU, and perhaps other institutions, to better assess their educational activities’ internal sustainability performance and external impact on sustainable development. The tools that were reviewed and analyzed for this project were identified based on a literature review of papers that compared SATS. Of the 24 tools identified only 10 of the tools were available and written in English. The most current version of each tool was downloaded and reviewed. All indicators and questions (a total of 128) in the domains of education, research, and engagement were compiled. The next step in the research is to work with JMU Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World Committees to identify the most relevant and valid combination of items for JMU.
Allison Poggendorf, Christie-Joy Hartman, and Jeffery Tang
