Do Green Campuses Create Green Citizens?: Understanding the Impacts of a Sustainable College Campus on Alumni Behaviors

Giannini, Lydia

Do Green Campuses Create Green Citizens?: Understanding the Impacts of a Sustainable College Campus on Alumni Behaviors

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/56683

Author(s)

Giannini, Lydia

Date Issued

March 24, 2023

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are taking action to become more sustainable and to fund sustainable innovation. Despite being viewed as vessels for creating more sustainable citizens, little is known about the success of HEIs in influencing sustainable behaviors in their alumni (Venkataraman, 2009; Yang et al., 2021; Lozano et al., 2013). The objective of this study is to determine if attending Allegheny College, a sustainable college, has positively impacted the sustainability behaviors of alumni. A literature review on the role of environmental education in changing preferences demonstrates the importance of having sustainable higher education institutions (HEIs) in order to influence alumni to develop sustainable behaviors. The results of this study found that attending a sustainable college increased the overall sustainability of alumni after graduating. The study found that environmental education, sustainability initiatives, and peer influences were key influences in developing sustainable attitudes and behaviors in alumni. Sustainable colleges play an important role in developing sustainable citizens and finding ways to effectively utilize their influence over students will be key in developing sustainable societies equipped for the future.

Major

Economics

Environmental Science

Honors

Business and Economics, 2023

Environmental Science and Sustainability, 2023

First Reader(s)

Choate, Beth