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Is There a Culture of Sustainability at Santa Clara University? A Quantitative Measure

Is There a Culture of Sustainability at Santa Clara University? A Quantitative Measure Liza Dadiomov Environmental Ethics Fellow 2009-2010 AASHE 2010 Conference. What is a culture of sustainability?. Culture: A set of shared values, beliefs, goals and practices.

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Is There a Culture of Sustainability at Santa Clara University? A Quantitative Measure

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  1. Is There a Culture of Sustainability at Santa Clara University? A Quantitative Measure Liza Dadiomov Environmental Ethics Fellow 2009-2010 AASHE 2010 Conference

  2. What is a culture of sustainability? • Culture: A set of shared values, beliefs, goals and practices. • Sustainability: Meeting the environmental, economic and social needs of the present without compromising those needs of the future. • Culture of sustainability: A community that exhibits a widespread understanding of sustainability as well as an intentional commitment to support it.

  3. “As a Jesuit and Catholic University,we have the responsibility to provide leadership in developing a more sustainable way of living. By embracing sustainability, the University furthers its mission to act as a voice of reason, conscience, and service to society.” - SCU Website

  4. Why Culture? • Insight into campus mentality, motivation, and values • Helpful tool for the development of sustainability programs

  5. Background Research • Interviews with undergraduate students (Mooney, 2008) • Survey of undergraduate students (Asmar, 2009)

  6. The Survey • 511 participants: • 73 faculty members (response rate of 7.4%) • 125 staff members (response rate of 13%) • 247 graduate students (response rate of 5.2%) Survey composed of 7 questions about: • Definition of sustainability • Behavior • Motivation • Self-esteem • Relevance to professional life

  7. Which is most relevant to sustainability? Environmental (M=6.22), Economic (M=5.70), Social (M=5.23). F (2, 1008) = 181.86, p< .001

  8. How are people motivated to be sustainable?

  9. Misperception of Effectiveness of Behaviors (Bonini and Oppenheim 2008)

  10. What are people already doing? Personal (M=3.96), Civic (M=3.01), Transportation (M=2.83), Diet (M=2.45). F (3, 1302) = 385.81, p<.001.

  11. Other notable results • Negative effect of the use of the word “environmentalist” • Sustainability moderately relevant to professional life

  12. So, is there a culture of sustainability at SCU? No, because: • No widespread understanding of the concept • No intentional commitment to the behaviors most important for sustainability Sustainability remains a sub-culture at SCU rather than a widespread culture.

  13. Recommendations • All three dimensions of sustainability should be emphasized equally. • The word “sustainability” should be used rather than “environmentalism.” • Reward/incentive systems should be avoided and instead programs should appeal to the identity of the individual and the community. • The impact of eating habits on the environment should continue to be promoted through dining services as well as the urban garden. • Santa Clarans, charge!

  14. Recommendations • All three dimensions of sustainability should be emphasized equally. • The word “sustainability” should be used rather than “environmentalism.” • Reward/incentive systems should be avoided and instead programs should appeal to the identity of the individual and the community. • The impact of eating habits on the environment should continue to be promoted through dining services as well as the urban garden. • Santa Clarans, charge!

  15. Recommendations • All three dimensions of sustainability should be emphasized equally. • The word “sustainability” should be used rather than “environmentalism.” • Reward/incentive systems should be avoided and instead programs should appeal to the identity of the individual and the community. • The impact of eating habits on the environment should continue to be promoted through dining services as well as the urban garden. • Santa Clarans, charge!

  16. Recommendations • All three dimensions of sustainability should be emphasized equally. • The word “sustainability” should be used rather than “environmentalism.” • Reward/incentive systems should be avoided and instead programs should appeal to the identity of the individual and the community. • The impact of eating habits on the environment should continue to be promoted through dining services as well as the urban garden. • Santa Clarans, charge!

  17. Recommendations • All three dimensions of sustainability should be emphasized equally. • The word “sustainability” should be used rather than “environmentalism.” • Reward/incentive systems should be avoided and instead programs should appeal to the identity of the individual and the community. • The impact of eating habits on the environment should continue to be promoted through dining services as well as the urban garden. • Santa Clarans, charge!

  18. Recommendations • All three dimensions of sustainability should be emphasized equally. • The word “sustainability” should be used rather than “environmentalism.” • Reward/incentive systems should be avoided and instead programs should appeal to the identity of the individual and the community. • The impact of eating habits on the environment should continue to be promoted through dining services as well as the urban garden. • Santa Clarans, charge!

  19. Acknowledgments • Markkula Center for Applied Ethics • David DeCosse • Lindsey Cromwell-Kalkbrenner • Amara Brook • Sean Watts • Michelle Bezanson • Eleanor Willemsen

  20. Questions?

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