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Stakeholder Perceptions of Campus Sustainability Efforts: Lessons from Vermont

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  • David Conner

    (Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Amanda Falkner

    (Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Nathan Lantieri

    (Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Betsy McGavisk

    (Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Bridgette McShea

    (Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

Abstract

Universities have begun to officially recognize advancing sustainability as an institutional goal. This paper reports on research on students’ awareness, attitudes, and behaviors at the University of Vermont as a means of understanding cultural acceptance of sustainability. We report on the results of a survey administered by an applied research methods class working in partnership with the University’s Office of Sustainability. Survey respondents report strong understanding of sustainability and believe it is important. They perceive the University’s performance as strongest along environmental efforts and weakest along economic lines. Respondents were most likely to engage in sustainability behaviors, like waste and energy reduction, and least likely to attend campus events regarding sustainability. Responses to open-ended questions suggest skepticism of the University’s commitment to sustainability, seeing it as more of a marketing effort, and express a desire for more concrete initiatives to foster sustainable behaviors and culture on campus. Our implications focus on ways to promote a more holistic and nuanced understanding of sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • David Conner & Amanda Falkner & Nathan Lantieri & Betsy McGavisk & Bridgette McShea, 2018. "Stakeholder Perceptions of Campus Sustainability Efforts: Lessons from Vermont," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:3849-:d:177864
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jimena González-Ramírez & Heyi Cheng & Sierra Arral, 2021. "Funding Campus Sustainability through a Green Fee—Estimating Students’ Willingness to Pay," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Nicola Andreij Rieg & Birgitta Gatersleben & Ian Christie, 2021. "Organizational Change Management for Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Quantitative Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Davina Mann & Janelle Kwon & Shaan Naughton & Sinead Boylan & Jasmine Chan & Karen Charlton & Jane Dancey & Carolyn Dent & Amanda Grech & Victoria Hobbs & Sophie Lamond & Sandra Murray & Melissa Yong , 2021. "Development of the University Food Environment Assessment (Uni-Food) Tool and Process to Benchmark the Healthiness, Equity, and Environmental Sustainability of University Food Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-17, November.

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