The results of a sustainability survey assessing attitudes and behaviors of Elon University students, faculty and staff, guide the design of future goals for the Office of Sustainability.
In the past, the survey has had a 10% response rate. The office, which is in the process of calculating its reach, hopes to exceed the rate this year. The responses are used to help determine progress in participation and awareness regarding sustainability. They also shape sustainability programming while promoting sustainable behavior at Elon.
The Office of Sustainability oversees and coordinates sustainability programs and initiatives with different departments around campus, from increasing energy conservation efforts with Physical Plant to encouraging sustainable living through Residence Life.
In collaboration with the Environmental Advisory Council — a council of faculty, students and staff who work with the administration and make recommendations to Elon President Connie Book on new sustainability initiatives — the Office of Sustainability hopes to raise awareness on campus about environmental issues and ways to participate more actively in community efforts towards sustainability and conservation.
Elaine Durr, director of sustainability, believes “the positive impact of our collective community actions can be quite significant.” She said she is dedicated to providing opportunities and events such as Sustainability Week, volunteer programs and the Sustainability Pledge which allow students to work toward a collective sustainable goal.
Senior Taylor McFadden, a student representative for the EAC, hopes the survey response rate will improve from previous years, predicting that the results will show Elon as a community with a “good understanding of sustainability and the behaviors that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle.”
McFadden commented on a survey question regarding a “green fee” which would be included as a part of students’ tuition and would go toward sustainability efforts on campus. She hopes that “most students will show their support for this fee,” which can help move Elon closer to carbon neutrality.
Junior Matthew Mitten, a student representative for the EAC, takes a hopeful attitude regarding the survey, stating that “students’ awareness about sustainability has gone up over the past couple of years.” He said that even by simply sending out an email regarding sustainability, students’ levels of awareness will continue to rise.
“There are always cool things that Elon has going on,” Mitten said. “The struggle is getting people to learn about them.”
Mitten said he does not describe Elon students as the most “environmentally conscious” people and hopes that students’ relatively “privileged” backgrounds won’t inhibit them from thinking consciously about sustainability and Elon’s efforts.
He said he hopes these types of students take action by filling out the survey and participating in on-campus sustainability events. He said he expects a lot of students to “frankly not care” about sustainability but hopes that can be changed. He said he believes the time to start solving dire issues such as climate change is now.
“Reuse bags if you can; buy foods that source sustainably; accept the facts of climate change as a thing that’s happening. Don’t ignore it or tell people that it’s not true since most science points to the fact that it is,” Mitten said.
The survey was closed on Oct. 8, and the summary of the results will be shared with the public in the spring.