Date of Award
8-28-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Environmental Sciences, MS
First Advisor
Hans Hacker
Committee Members
Gauri-Shankar Guha; Jerry Farris; William McLean
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2021 S28
Abstract
The preservation of the environment depends on sustainability initiatives. Universities influence policy through their impact on their surrounding communities. Universities should, therefore, place a higher priority on campus sustainability efforts. This study examines how universities’ sustainability initiatives impact local area economy. Using data reported by various governmental agencies, I construct a sustainability index based on university initiatives in energy, green buildings, food waste, permaculture, water use, recycling, sustainability council, and AASHE. I model the impact of universities on the local economy using this index and other institutional characteristics. I define the local area economy as effects on poverty rates, unemployment, health, and environmental quality. The results of the multivariate analysis, an initial exploration of universities’ role in pushing green initiatives forward, reveal a noticeable regional variation in effect on poverty rates. These results warrant further analysis of universities as agents of environmental policy adaptation.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Saucedo, Sara Kathleen, "University Sustainability Initiatives Impact on The Surrounding Areas Economy" (2021). Student Theses and Dissertations. 313.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/313
