Sustainability | Sustainability First Results Of Student Survey

The results for the West Michigan Student 'University' s Office of Sustainability's first sustainability survey of students, which was revealed in a forum held in room 1220 of WMU's Chemistry Building Tuesday night.
The forum was hosted by Matthew Hollander, Office of Sustainability's Sustainability Project Coordinator, and walls Zach Smith, a senior planning on majoring in environmental studies and urban regional."The survey gives us enough information for us to work on, and this forum gives us a chance to talk and discuss its results," said Hollander.

Founded in October 2010 and located in Faunce Hall, the mission of the Office of Sustainability, according to the website of the office 's, that is to "guide and assist the community of Western Michigan University in fulfilling its commitments sustainability and growth ", and build" diverse and flourishing community of learning around sustainability. "

Hollander said the forum was an opportunity for WMU students to become familiar with the Office of Sustainability better."This allows us to be transparent to the university community," said Hollander. "The goal is to provide as much information as possible about our plans and projects."

Hollander said 500 students responded to the survey. Some of the findings include:
*38.8 percent of students who want a direct role in determining programs, projects, and initiatives to achieve the most effective in making WMU's campus more sustainable.
*33.2 per cent of the students give a basic explanation of the Office of Sustainability, but could not go into detail about projects, programs, or initiatives.
*68.1 percent of the students are aware that they pay $ 8.00 fee Sustainability this semester as well as their teaching.
*39.5 percent of the students' undecided on whether they are satisfied with how this is managed and Sustainability Fee to wear.
*69.6 percent of students who feel that their concerns about how the fee is being spent Sustainability adequately heard and responded to.

Smith said he felt the survey responses were positive and supportive."Personally, I hope the survey will open understanding of the fee, in case some people do not understand what the fee."Fee is sustainability, which began in the fall 2010, with a fee of $ 8 to pay WMU students their tuition per semester to fund campus sustainability efforts.
"The sense of coming forward to support future projects," said Smith.Hollander said they expected to respond better to have their next survey sustainability, where the forum will take place midway through the 2012 spring semester.

Alexander Houser, first-year doctoral student, felt that the survey showed some features of WMU's student.
"I thought it portrayed generally be divided into two groups: people who are interested, and those who are bored," said Houser. "It is my understanding that some students on sustainability, but wants someone else to do.""But I am glad they are doing the survey, because this type of forum to demonstrate that they meet their obligations," said Houser.