Lab Management is constantly trying to refine and improve the campus
computer rooms.  We would like your input to determine what changes you
feel would improve our services.

  Your name was selected by a random sample of all computer room users. 
As a result, your responses to this survey represent many users.  Please
reply to this survey so that your views will be properly represented. 

  The survey contains 11 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
 
omputer Room Survey *****

1. Why do you use the computer rooms (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
  [] Need to access to special hardware (scanners, video editors, etc.)
  [] Campus computers are more convenient than mine
  [] Campus computers work better than mine
  [] Required for class
  [] Class meets in a computer room
  [] To access Registrar services (RSVP, Degree Navigator, etc)
  [] Other (please describe): []

2.  Do you own a computer?
  [] YES
  [] NO   (If NO please skip to question #4.)

3.  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.)

  Type:      [] Desktop     [] Laptop

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

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

  Does it have a Zip drive: [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know

  If you are waiting for a computer in a lab, and one of the other type is
available (ie.  You own a PC but a Mac is available) would you:
    [] Use the available computer
    [] Wait until the type you own is available

4.  Does the department of your major (or field of study) have computer
labs available for your use?
 [] Yes
 [] No      (If NO please skip to question #6.)
 [] Don't know  (If Don't know please skip to question #6.)
 [] Not Applicable (I've yet to declare a major. - skip to question #6.)

5.  Which do you use more?
  [] Department computer labs
  [] Campus computer rooms
  Why? [   ] 

6.  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 quick or print-only stations
  []  More open use time (i.e. no classes in session)
  []  More centrally located computer rooms
  []  Other (please describe): []

7.  Please rate the ease of finding an available computer on campus to
use.
  [] Easy               
  [] Sometimes easy
  [] Moderately difficult
  [] Difficult          
  [] Extremely difficult

8.  If a computer room was open 24 hours a day, would you use past
midnight?
  [] Yes                [] No 
How late would you be willing to go and use the computer room.
  [] Midnight           [] 1:00 AM
  [] 2:00 AM            [] 3:00 AM
  [] 4:00 AM            [] 5:00 AM
  [] 6:00 AM            [] All night

9.  There has been a large increase in the amount of printing in the
computer rooms.  Lab Management would like to reduce this printing to a
more reasonable level.  Please rate your preference of these possible
solutions (1 the best, 5 the worst).
  [] 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.

10.  In order to reduce the pages printed, we are considering implementing
duplexed printing (which is printing on both sides of a piece of paper).
Would duplex printing cause a problem for your print outs?
  [] Yes   [] No

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

Thank you for your time and input.

Of those who own a computer:
Percentages are of those who own a computer, not total respondents.

 

Type
Desktop	239	80.5%
Notebook	49	16.5%

Platform
IBM compatible	262	88.2%
Macintosh	23	7.7%
Other	4	2.4%
Don't Know	0	0%


 

Printer
Ink Jet	200	67.3%
None	51	17.2%
Laser	31	10.4%
Other	7	2.4%
Don't know	3	1.0%
Dot Matrix	2	0.7%


 

Zip drive
Yes	51	17.2%
No	205	69.0%
Don't Know	31	10.4%

Would they use a computer of a different type or wait
Use the available computer	215	72.4%
Wait until the type you own is available	81	27.3%

The percentage of students who own a computer is 85.3%.   This is up from 69% in Winter 1997, 74% in Winter 1998, and 78.0% in Spring 1999.
Macintosh ownership among students has dropped to 7.7%, from a high of 22.2% in Winter 1997.
Laptop ownership remained steady at 16.5% (was 17% for past two surveys).
Ink Jets are the most popular printers, which 67.3% of compuer owners having one.
Zip drive ownership remained low at 17.2%, so they cannot be seen as a floppy replacement.

The top reasons why students use the computer rooms are access to printers (72.1%), access to the network  (56.0%), and access to class software (47.7%).  These same three items were the top reasons for the last three student 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).
 

	Non-owners (47)	Computer Owners (297)
Access to printers	78.7%	71.4%
Access the network	80.9%	52.2%
Access to class software	59.6%	46.1%
Required for class	19.1%	23.2%
Class meets in computer room	17.0%	20.9%
Access Registrar services	18.5%	27.2%
Specialized hardware	19.1%	19.5%

For the fourth year the most desired improvements for the computer rooms voiced by the students are more computers and more open use time. A new category "More quick or printing stations" came in a strong third.
More centrally located computer rooms, open later hours, and newer equipment grouped in a lower tier of support, while the other improvements received  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.

As in past surveys, the students felt that a per-page printing charge after a number of free pages was the best solution.

• Lab Management Faculty Survey (Fall 1999)
• Lab Management Faculty Survey (Spring 1999)
• Lab Management Student Survey (Spring 1999)
• Lab Management Student Survey (Fall 1998)
• Lab Management Faculty Survey (Winter 1998)
• Lab Management Student Survey (Winter 1998)
• Lab Management Student Survey (Winter 1997)
• ASUCD Student Computer Survey (Winter 1997)

Comments: tcleamy@ucdavis.edu URL: http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/student_s99/ Last reviewed: Thu, 18-Jul-2002 Last updated: June 3, 1999