According to a detailed statistical summary provided by Information Technology's Lab Management, over 1,300 more users logged on to the UCD network using campus computer facilities in Fall 1998 than in Spring 1998. Coupled with an 85 percent increase in the total number of logons from Spring 1998 to Fall 1998, all signs are pointing towards an enormous campus-wide surge in computing.

The Fall opening of The Station, an open-access computing room located in 177 MU that has proven immensely popular with students, can account for a large portion of this startling increase; however, according to information posted on the Lab Management Web site, only 68,000 of the 175,000 new logons can be attributed to the new facility. The remaining increase is distributed evenly between the twelve other campus computing facilities.

Equally compelling is the room usage data, which shows that for Fall 1998, the thirteen computing facilities operated by Lab Management were collectively operating at near maximum capacity between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The figures reflect statistics taken from Monday through Thursday, as Friday has consistently proven to be significantly less popular among both students and faculty. On average, up to 12 users wait in line to utilize computing resources in highly impacted classrooms during these peak periods.

While these waiting lines have become a common sight on campus during the week (especially at The Station and the basement facilities in Olson), the login data does suggest that most users need computer access for relatively short periods (see graph below).

Statistics recently released by IT-Information Resources Lab Management reveal that in Fall 1998 two-thirds of log-in sessions in campus computer rooms lasted less than 15 minutes.

The Fall quarter of 1998 also produced a significant increase in faculty computer usage, with a 19 percent increase over Spring 1998. Such numbers point towards a growing trend in the classroom, as a greater number of instructors and TAs are becoming increasingly comfortable with using technology as a learning facilitator in the classroom.

Lab Management is taking steps to meet this growing demand by opening a new open-access facility in 301B Surge IV in March and a new computer classroom in 1 Olson by Summer 1999. While these new computer rooms will certainly alleviate some of the demand at other facilities, another jump in computer usage and logon numbers is expected as both UC Davis students and faculty continue to make computers an increasingly significant aspect of the educational landscape.

Jeff van de Pol is a senior majoring in English. He joined the IT publications team in January 1999.

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