URL: http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/student_s99/
Last reviewed: Thu, 18-Jul-2002
Last updated: June 3, 1999
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 nine 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. 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 [] 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 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. 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): [] 5. Please rate the ease of finding an available computer on campus to use. [] Easy [] Sometimes easy [] Moderately difficult [] Difficult [] Extremely difficult 6. Do you know about the "Available Computer Rooms" webpage at http://lm.ucdavis.edu/rooms/available/? [] Yes [] No 7. 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, 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. 8. 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 9. Do you have any other questions or comments? [] Thank you for your time and input.
| Reasons for using computer rooms | ||
| Need to print | 280 | 70.7% |
| Need to access the network | 237 | 59.8% |
| Need to access class software or information | 214 | 54.0% |
| Campus computers are more convenient than mine | 127 | 32.1% |
| Campus computers work better than mine | 95 | 23.2% |
| Required for class | 92 | 23.2% |
| Specialized hardware | 92 | 23.3% |
| Don't own a computer | 88 | 22.2% |
| Class meets in a computer room | 69 | 17.4% |
| Other | 33 | 8.3% |
| Own a computer | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 309 | 78.0% |
| No | 81 | 20.5% |
Of those who own a computer:
Percentages are of those who own a computer, not total respondents.
| Type | ||
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | 248 | 80.3% |
| Notebook | 53 | 17.2% |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| IBM compatible | 267 | 86.4% |
| Macintosh | 38 | 12.3% |
| Other | 4 | 1.3% |
| Don't Know | 0 | 0% |
| Zip drive | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 57 | 18.4% |
| No | 202 | 65.4% |
| Don't Know | 51 | 16.5% |
| Would they use a computer of a different type or wait | ||
|---|---|---|
| Use the available computer | 226 | 73.1% |
| Wait until the type you own is available | 82 | 26.5% |
| Most important way to improve computer classrooms | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| More computers | 162 | 87 | 44 | 704 |
| More open use time | 90 | 111 | 54 | 546 |
| Open later hours | 39 | 41 | 53 | 252 |
| More centrally located computer rooms | 22 | 41 | 96 | 244 |
| Newer equipment | 13 | 38 | 43 | 158 |
| Better trained staff | 6 | 12 | 17 | 59 |
| More staff | 6 | 10 | 15 | 53 |
| Other | 10 | 4 | 10 | 48 |
| Ease of finding free computer to use | ||
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 47 | 11.9% |
| Sometimes easy | 200 | 50.5% |
| Moderately difficult | 114 | 28.8% |
| Difficult | 27 | 6.8% |
| Extremely difficult | 4 | 1.0% |
| Know about computer availability web page | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 88 | 22.2% |
| No | 304 | 76.8% |
| Best solution to address printing issues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| Per page charge after free amount | 157 | 80 | 29 | 660 |
| Only allow a certain number of pages per quarter | 63 | 117 | 55 | 478 |
| Student fee | 39 | 45 | 93 | 300 |
| Per page charge | 2 | 19 | 83 | 127 |
| Stop supporting printing | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Would duplex printing cause a problem | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 111 | 28.0% |
| No | 274 | 69.2% |
The percentage of students who own a computer is 78.0%.
This is up from 69% in Winter 1997 and 74% in Winter 1998.
The top reasons why students use the computer rooms are access to printers
(70.7%), access to the network (59.8%), and access to class software
(54.0%). These same three items were the top reasons for the last
three student surveys, although network and printing swapped places.
It could be that the improved modem pool has slightly reduced the number
of students who need the computer rooms for network access.
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 (81) | Computer Owners (309) | |
| Access the network |
|
54.4% |
| Access to printers |
|
68.9% |
| Access to class software |
|
51.5% |
| Required for class |
|
21.7% |
| Class meets in computer room |
|
17.8% |
| Specialized hardware |
|
|
For the third year the most desired improvements for the computer rooms voiced by the students are more computers and more open use time. Open later hours and more centrally located computer rooms rank a distant third and fourth, 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.
| Comments: tcleamy@ucdavis.edu
URL: http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/student_s99/ Last reviewed: Thu, 18-Jul-2002 Last updated: June 3, 1999 |
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