IT Responds to Student Computer Survey

by Aviva Luria

A survey of students who use computer classrooms has already inspired some major changes in computer availability on campus. The 1998 survey, which was sent in February to a random sampling of 1,000 computer room users, was the second of what will likely become an annual tradition for IT Lab Management. Both surveys were designed to assess the technology-related needs and concerns of UC Davis students.

More Computer Rooms

Results from the survey have helped spur creation of three new computer rooms to open in the 1998-1999 academic year, including an open-access computer lounge in the MU East Conference Room that will house between 45 and 50 computers. Two other labs, doubling as computer classrooms, will open in Olson Hall and Surge IV. The East Conference Room project is a collaboration between ASUCD, Student Affairs, and Information Technology.

Extended Hours

Concrete changes stemming from the 1997 and 1998 survey results were made as early as last quarter. In Fall 1997, TB 114 was opened as an open-access lab, where students don't have to compete with classes for computer time. For three weeks before last quarter's final exams, students had the option of working in TB 114 until 2 a.m. The lab opening and the extended hours were direct reflections of survey results from 1997 and 1998 respectively. When asked how they would improve overall computer access, a vast majority of survey respondents chose "large open-access computer room." Topping the list of most important ways to improve already-existing computer classrooms were "more computers," "more open use time," and "open later hours."

The actual hour of closing during last quarter's study period was also chosen with the help of the 1998 survey. Because nearly 32% of survey respondents said they'd use computer labs until midnight, and 33% said 2 a.m., the 2 a.m. closing time was chosen "to satisfy over 60% of students," said IT Lab Manager Tim Leamy. The experimental late closing was a success. "One of those nights had about 95% usage between midnight and 1 a.m.," said Leamy. "We'll most likely extend the hours again during next quarter's finals."

Extending lab hours for the entire quarter isn't likely, Leamy said, mainly for staffing reasons. "It's hard on the site attendants, especially if they have morning classes" he said.

"You don't want someone hurt academically because they're trying to do a good job."

Printing

The survey has also provided IT Lab Management with insight into another issue: printing. IT currently spends roughly $50,000 per year on printing in labs, and during Fall quarter, over one million pages were printed.

"There's a huge amount of recycling," Leamy said. "Many people don't pick up their printing jobs, and that paper ends up getting thrown out. When something is free, people tend to waste it. We're now considering various ways to encourage more responsible usage."

In a question added since the 1997 survey, students were asked how they might address the printing issue. A per-page charge after a number of free pages ranked first by a large margin.

Lab Management is still researching the issue. "We don't want to implement a system that will drive up the charges for printing," he said. Other schools have card systems (similar to photocopying cards) or hire students to count pages and take money, said Leamy. "Both these options seem like resource sinks. We want a system that will be unobtrusive to users, won't be an administrative burden, and makes sense."

Resources

More information about the 1998 and previous computer lab surveys may be found at http://lm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/