Student Survey - Winter 1998

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Survey Text

On 2/5/1998 the following survey was set to 1000 students who had used the computer classrooms since the start of the Winter quarter. 
  As you may know, the campus computer rooms are often over-crowded. To
address this problem Lab Management is conducting a survey to learn more
about how students use the computer rooms.

  Your name was selected by a random sample of all computer room users. 
As a result, your responses to this survey represent many users.  In
order that your views are properly represented, it is important for you
to reply to this survey.

  The survey contains fifteen questions which are listed below.  To answer
the survey, reply to this message and mark your answers to the questions
below by putting an "x" or text, as appropriate, between the square
brackets provided (eg. [x]). Since a program will automatically tally your
responses for later analysis, please keep your responses between the
square brackets provided. There is a space for comments at the end of the
survey.

Thank you for your time and input.

                        Tim Leamy
                        Information Resources
                        tcleamy@ucdavis.edu

*****  Computer Room Survey *****

1. Class Standing: [] Freshman   [] Sophomore   [] Junior    [] Senior
                   [] Masters candidate         [] PhD candidate
                   [] Professional School                       

2. Why do you use the computer classrooms (please mark all that apply)

  [] Don't own a computer
  [] Need to access the network (e.g., Netscape, email, Eudora, Telnet)
  [] Need to print
  [] Need to access class software or information
  [] Campus computers are more convenient than mine
  [] Campus computers work better than mine
  [] Required for class
  [] Class meets in a computer room
  [] Other (please describe): []

3.  How many hours per week do you use the computer rooms?
  [] hours

  How many hours per week would you like to use the computer rooms?
  [] hours

4.  What is the average number of minutes you wait in line for a computer 
in the computer rooms?
  [] minutes

5.  Do you own a computer?
  [] YES
  [] NO   (If NO please skip to question #7.)

6.  If you own a computer please answer the following:  (If you own more
than one computer please respond for the one you use most often.)

  How old is your computer?  [] years

  Type:      [] Desktop     [] Notebook/Powerbook

  If it is a Notebook/Powerbook:
    Does it have a ethernet port?  [] Yes  [] No  [] Don't know
    Does it have a PCMCIA or PC Card slot?  [] Yes   [] No  [] Don't know

  Platform:  [] Macintosh   [] PC/IBM compatible   [] Other
             [] Don't know

  Modem:     [] None            [] 9600 or slower      [] 14.4K
             [] 28.8K or faster [] Don't Know

  CD-ROM:    [] Yes         [] No
             [] Don't know

  Printer:   [] None        [] Dot Matrix          [] Ink Jet
             [] Laser       [] Other
             [] Don't Know

7.  Which of the following will improve overall computer access the most
for you?  Please rank the THREE most important by placing 1, 2 or 3 in the
brackets provided, using 1 for the most important. 

  []  A large (80+ seat) open-access computer room with no classes
  []  More modems for dial-in access
  []  Network ports to allow users with notebooks to plug into the
network.
  []  Off-campus computer lab (perhaps downtown)
  []  For charge printing in the residence halls
  []  Fast network connectivity in apartment complexes.
  []  Other (please describe): []

8.  Which of these items will improve service to you in the computer
rooms?  Please rank the THREE most important by placing 1, 2 or 3 in the
brackets provided, using 1 for the most important.

  []  More computers
  []  More staff
  []  Better trained staff
  []  Newer equipment
  []  Open later hours (after midnight)
  []  More open use time (i.e. no classes in session)
  []  More centrally located computer rooms
  []  Other (please describe): []

9.  Have you used the open-access (no classes) computer room in TB114?  
  [] Yes   [] No

10.  What would be the most appropriate/useful location for a large
open-access (no classes) computer room?  Please rank the THREE best
options by placing 1, 2 or 3 in the brackets provided, using 1 for the
most important. 
  [] Core campus (ie. Olson, Shields Library, Wellman, MU)
  [] West campus (ie. Hutchison, Briggs)
  [] Southwest campus (ie. Silo)
  [] Far Southwest campus (ie. Meyer, Academic Surge)
  [] Off-campus (ie. downtown) 

11.  Please rate the ease of finding a free computer on campus to use.
  [] Easy               [] Sometimes easy
  [] Difficult          [] Extremely difficult

12.  If there were a computer room open past midnight during busy times
(such as the week before finals), how late would you use it? 
  [] Until 2 am.        [] Until 4 am.
  [] Until 6 am.        [] All night
  [] I wouldn't use it past midnight.

13.  Do you know about the "Available Computer Rooms" webpage at
http://lm.ucdavis.edu/rooms/available/?
  [] Yes   [] No
  
14.  Printing demand AND discarded print jobs in the computer rooms are
skyrocketing. Please rate your preference of these possible solutions (1
the best). 
  [] Per page charge for printing.  (For example, each page would cost 10
cents.)
  [] Per page charge for printing after a number of free pages.  (For
example, charge 10 cents a page after the first 250 pages.)
  [] Only allow a certain number of pages printed per quarter.  (For
example, users would be unable to print after 250 pages.) 
  [] Use a student fee to support printing
  [] Stop supporting printing by removing printers from computer rooms.

15.  Do you have any other questions or comments?
  []

Thank you for your time and input.

Survey Results

There were 358 responses. Of those 323 were usable.
 
Total Responses 323
Freshman 28 8.7%
Sophomore 82 25.4%
Junior 62 19.2%
Senior 124 38.4%
Masters Candidate 6 1.9%
Ph.D. Candidate 14 4.3%
Professional School 5 1.6%
Reasons for using computer rooms
Need to access network 200 61.9%
Need to print 188 58.2%
Need to access class software or information 153 47.4%
Required for class 91 28.2%
Campus computers work better than mine 89 27.6%
Campus computers are more convenient than mine 84 26.0%
Don't own a computer 79 24.5%
Class meets in a computer room 55 17.0%
Other 46 14.2%

Average hours used per week: 6.0

Average hours needed per week: 7.4

Average minutes wait to use a computer: 15.9

Own a computer
Yes 238 73.7%
No 78 24.2%

Of those who own a computer:

Most important way to improve overall computer access
Ranking 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Large open-access computer room  163 78 0 645
More modems 50 103 62 418
Fast network access in apartment complexes 63 57 51 354
Off-campus lab 13 38 45 160
Network Access Ports 7 17 57 112
Other 16 10 14 82
For charge printing in residence halls 1 9 16 37
Total is computed by (number of 1st's) x 3 + (number of 2nd's) x 2 + (number of 3rd's).

Most important way to improve computer classrooms
Ranking 1st 2nd 3rd Total
More computers 165 64 40 663
More open use time 88 103 52 522
Open later hours 31 63 56 275
More centrally located computer rooms 10 21 74 146
Newer equipment 17 26 20 123
Better trained staff 6 12 16 58
More staff 1 7 15 32
Other 3 3 6 21
Total is computed by (number of 1st's) x 3 + (number of 2nd's) x 2 + (number of 3rd's).

Used open access lab in TB114
Yes 155 48.0%
No 166 51.4%

Most appropriate location for large open access room
Ranking 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Core campus 210 37 23 727
Southwest campus 30 131 85 437
West Campus 34 68 89 327
Off-campus 12 34 54 158
Far southwest campus 8 12 29 77
Total is computed by (number of 1st's) x 3 + (number of 2nd's) x 2 + (number of 3rd's).

  Ease of finding free computer to use
Easy 32 9.9%
Sometimes easy 145 44.9%
Difficult 114 35.3%
Extremely difficult 22 6.8%

Would use computer room until...
2 am 107 33.1%
4 am 48 14.9%
6 am 5 1.5%
All night 49 15.2%
Not past midnight 103 31.9%

Know about computer availability web page
Yes 36 11.2%
No 279 86.4%

Best solution to address printing issues
Ranking 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Per page charge after free amount 131 48 12 501
Only allow a certain number of pages per quarter 43 78 41 326
Per page charge 11 24 64 145
Student fee 18 24 42 144
Stop supporting printing 0 0 3 3
Total is computed by (number of 1st's) x 3 + (number of 2nd's) x 2 + (number of 3rd's).

Survey Interpretation

The top reasons why students use the computer rooms are access to the network (61.9%), access to printers (58.2%), and access to class software (47.4%). The percentage of students who own a computer is roughly 73.7%, the same as in other surveys. It is interesting to compare the usage profiles of computer owners vs. non-owners. (The "don't own a computer", "campus computers are more convenient than mine", and "campus computers are better than mine" responses were removed since they don't make sense in this comparison.)
 
  Computer Owners (238) Non-owners (78)
Access the network 55.9% 83.3%
Access to printers 52.5% 79.5%
Access to class software 44.1% 57.7%
Required for class 23.1% 42.3%
Class meets in computer room 17.6% 15.4%

Interestingly, the percentages all dropped from the survey done in Winter 1997. It is unclear of the reason for this trend.
  Computer Owners (293) Non-owners (128)
Access the network 67.6% 91.9%
Access to printers 59.0% 88.3%
Access to class software 52.1% 58.1%

Students identified a large open access computer rooms as the most important way to improve their overall access. More modems ranked second and "Fast network access in apartment complexes" ranked third. Students did not seem very interested in "Network Access Ports", perhaps because only 10% of the students own ethernet capable notebooks.

The location of comptuer access seemed to be an important to students. The student prefered locations in core campus for a large open-access comptuer room. In addtion, students liked "Fast network access in apartment complexes". This could mean that students want and need access in locations which are convienent to use.

For the second year the most desired improvements for the computer rooms voiced by the students are more computers and more open use time. Open later hours ranks a distant third and the other improvements received very little support. It appears students are more concerned about access to the computer rooms as opposed to the quality of the service provided in those rooms.

Last year it appeared that upper division classes required more access to class software. However, this year it appears that the trend is no longer obvious.
Class

Percentage needing to access class software(1997)

 Percentage needing access to class software (1998)
Freshman 30.3% 46.4%
Sophomore 50.7% 37.8%
Junior 53.4% 43.5%
Senior 61.8% 56.5%
Masters 25.0% 66.7%
Ph. D. 37.5% 35.7%
Professional School   40.0%

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Comments: tcleamy@ucdavis.edu 
URL: http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/student_w98/ 
Last reviewed: Thu, 18-Jul-2002
Last updated: March 23, 1998