Student Computing Survey 2002-2003: Graduate Results

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Summary

Results

 

Summary

Demographics

This was the first year Residential Computing conducted a survey of student computing within the graduate residences. 1089 students responded to the survey, 65% male. 41% of students who responded identified themselves as part of the department of engineering and most students who responded were enrolled in the Masters (25%) or Doctoral (49%) program. It is also important to note that unlike the undergraduate population, there are many more international students in the graduate program- only about 60% of students who responded were US citizens/permanent residents (as opposed to 95% for the undergraduate survey).

Use of Computers

Regarding equipment:

  • 98% have their own computer
  • 55% have 2 or more computers or computing devices (handheld, etc.)
  • 70% have a laptop
  • 51% have their own printer
  • 51% connect devices other than a printer to their computer (digital camera, scanner, etc.)
  • 30% have a personal digital assistant (PDA) device or handheld computer

In terms of platform:

  • 86% have a Windows PC desktop or laptop
  • 12% have a Mac desktop or laptop
  • 12% have a Unix or Linux computer

About 88% of students say they use their computers 11 hours a week or more, with about 44% using their computers more than 30 hours per week.

Within five broad categories, the most common personal computer activities are, in order:

  1. Academics (any course-related computer or Internet use), 6 or more hours/week = 77%
  2. Information (news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 40%
  3. Social interaction (social email or discussion groups, instant messaging, chat, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 29%
  4. Entertainment (music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 20%
  5. Commerce (shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 4%

Wireless

To supplement the wired infrastructure already provided in the residences, ResComp, in collaboration with ITSS, launched a wireless project this year to determine usage, technical requirements, cost and programmatic effectiveness of wireless networking. For more information on this project, visit the Wireless Pilot Project page.

While wireless is available in a subset of academic buildings, including the libraries, it is not available in the graduate residences (at least officially provided by ITSS or ResComp). When asked how important this capability was for the residences, 58% said very important or important.

Residence Computer Cluster Use

Residential Computing supports a computer cluster in every residence, roughly 350 public computers in 77 locations. A lower percentage of graduate students seemed to use the cluster when compared to undergraduates, with only 51% saying they have used a residence computer cluster this year (83% in undergraduate residences). Of those who do use the cluster, 69% rate the availability of cluster computers as good or excellent.

The top five reasons for using the residence clusters are:

  1. Printing (cited by 37% of cluster users)
  2. Convenient location (31%)
  3. Other (30%)-- reasons students cited included their own computer not working or their in-room network connection either not working or not set up yet
  4. Scanning (21%)
  5. Available software, courseware (18%)
  6. Study space away from room (15%)

The top five suggested improvements that students say "would be great" to increase usefulness of residence clusters are:

  1. Color printing (cited by 43% of cluster users)
  2. More high performance Windows PC computers (39%)
  3. More quiet individual study spaces (34%)
  4. Better black and white printing (32%)
  5. Better spaces for partner or group study (30%)

However, when asked how important these changes were (for example, if they would still want them if it meant reducing the total number of computers available), only 38% answered important or very important.

Students also cited a number of other improvements to increase the usefulness of the residence clusters, including cheaper or free printing, better printing services (with regards to available paper and toner), better lighting, and more convenient locations for the clusters themselves.

Central Public Computer Cluster Use

Academic Computing, Residential Computing's parent organization, also provides central public computer clusters in Tresidder Union and Meyer Library. Other public computer clusters also include those in Green Library and sit-down Unix workstations in Sweet Hall. 62% of students who answered the survey say they have used one of these clusters this year with 84% using the clusters in Meyer, Green and Tresidder and 45% using the cluster in Sweet Hall (as well as the 24 hour Unix cluster in Meyer). Most students use these clusters 1 to 5 hours per week and 83% rate the availability of these computers as good or excellent.

The top five reasons for using the central public clusters are:

  1. Convenient location (cited by 51% of cluster users)
  2. Printing (45%)
  3. Study space away from room (32%)
  4. Available software, courseware (31%)
  5. High performance computers (30%)
  6. Unix computing (27%)

The top five suggested improvements that students say "would be great" to increase usefulness of central clusters are:

  1. Color printing (cited by 47% of cluster users)
  2. More high performance Windows PC computers (39%)
  3. More quiet individual study spaces and Better spaces for partner or group study (both at 38%)
  4. Better black and white printing and More connectivity for (network jacks or wireless) for laptops (both at 37%)
  5. Multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing) (27%)

However, when asked how important these changes were (for example, if they would still want them if it meant reducing the total number of computers available), responses were split with 45% answering important or very important and 55% answering not very important or not important at all.

Many students commented that they do not use the central clusters because they use the ones in their department, but those who do use the public clusters because they provide equipment that they do not have or are not made available to them otherwise. Many asked for better printing services overall.

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Results

Total Number of People Who Responded to Survey: 1089.

 

About Your Resident Computer Coordinator - RCC

1. On average, how often do you ask your RCC for computer related help or advice?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

More than once a week (1)

0

0.00%

Once a week (2)

1

0.09%

Once a month (3)

25

2.35%

Once a quarter (4)

550

51.59%

Never asked for help (5)

490

45.97%

 

Total who responded

1066

97.89%

Average

4.34

  

2. On average, how quickly do you get a response from your RCC?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Same day (1)

174

16.34%

1 to 2 days (2)

294

27.61%

3 to 5 days (3)

96

9.01%

More than 5 days (4)

50

4.69%

Never asked for help (5)

451

42.35%

 

Total who responded

1065

97.80%

Average

3.22

  

3. How would you rate your RCC's knowledge?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

163

15.35%

Good (2)

236

22.22%

Fair (3)

79

7.44%

Poor (4)

19

1.79%

No opinion (5)

565

53.20%

 

Total who responded

1062

97.52%

Average

3.46

  

4. How would you rate your RCC's helpfulness?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

207

19.44%

Good (2)

228

21.41%

Fair (3)

97

9.11%

Poor (4)

56

5.26%

No opinion (5)

477

44.79%

 

Total who responded

1065

97.80%

Average

3.27

  

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About Your Personal Computing

1. How would you rate your computer knowledge or fluency?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

250

23.67%

Good (2)

492

46.59%

Fair (3)

277

26.23%

Poor (4)

35

3.31%

Don't know (5)

2

0.19%

 

Total who responded

1056

96.97%

Average

2.03

  

2. Residential Computing, in collaboration with ITSS and Residential and Dining Enterprises, is conducting a few pilot projects of wireless networking in the residences. Wireless does not replace the existing wired network but adds "anytime, anywhere" networking with lower speeds and less security. If your residence (like most) does NOT currently have wireless networking provided by Stanford, how important do you think adding this capability is for the Stanford residences?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Very Important (1)

261

24.76%

Important (2)

353

33.49%

Not Very Important (3)

369

35.01%

Not Important At All (4)

71

6.74%

 

Total who responded

1054

96.79%

Average

2.17

  

3. How many computers or computing devices (handheld, etc.) do you have with you on campus? (Note: if your answer to this question is 0 (zero), please skip questions 4, 5, and 6.)

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

0 (1)

16

1.52%

1 (2)

436

41.37%

2 (3)

351

33.30%

3 (4)

150

14.23%

4 or more (5)

101

9.58%

 

Total who responded

1054

96.79%

Average

2.80

  

4. Which of the following computer devices or peripherals do you have? (select all that apply)

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Windows PC desktop/tower (1)

503

48.32%

Windows PC laptop (2)

676

64.94%

Apple Macintosh desktop/tower/iMac (3)

49

4.71%

Apple Macintosh laptop/Powerbook (4)

105

10.09%

Unix or Linux computer (5)

124

11.91%

Printer (6)

529

50.82%

Scanner (7)

155

14.89%

Digital camera (8)

375

36.02%

Handheld computer (9)

27

2.59%

Personal digital assistant (PDA) (10)

309

29.68%

N/A (11)

5

0.48%

 

Total who responded

1041

95.59%

Average

12.57

  

5. About how many total hours per week, on average, do you use your personal computer(s) (NOT public or cluster computers)?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

1 to 5 hours (1)

31

2.98%

6 to 10 hours (2)

88

8.46%

11 to 20 hours (3)

205

19.71%

21 to 30 hours (4)

256

24.62%

More than 30 hours (5)

460

44.23%

 

Total who responded

1040

95.50%

Average

3.81

  

6. About how many hours per week, on average, do you spend using your personal computer(s) (not public or cluster computers) for the following activities?

 

 

 

0 hours (1)

Less than 1 hour (2)

1 to 5 hours (3)

6 to 10 hours (4)

11 to 20 hours (5)

More than 20 hours (6)

Total who responded

Average

ACADEMICS (any course-related computer or Internet use)

5
0.48%

36
3.48%

193
18.65%

250
24.15%

260
25.12%

291
28.12%

1035
95.04%

4.32

INFORMATION (news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.)

8
0.79%

93
9.18%

507
50.05%

277
27.34%

92
9.08%

36
3.55%

1013
93.02%

3.21

SOCIAL INTERACTION (social email or discussion groups, instant messaging, chat, etc.)

28
2.79%

135
13.47%

552
55.09%

202
20.16%

57
5.69%

28
2.79%

1002
92.01%

2.95

ENTERTAINMENT (music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.)

129
12.82%

263
26.14%

411
40.85%

145
14.41%

37
3.68%

21
2.09%

1006
92.38%

2.55

COMMERCE (shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.)

70
6.89%

536
52.76%

369
36.32%

34
3.35%

5
0.49%

2
0.20%

1016
93.30%

2.22

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Residence Cluster Use

1. Have you used a residence computer cluster this year?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Yes (1)

536

50.81%

No (2)

519

49.19%

 

Total who responded

1055

96.88%

Average

1.45

  

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About Your Residence Computer Cluster (a)

This section was completed by those who answered that they HAVE used their residence computer cluster this year.

1. Which of the following are significant reasons that you use the residence cluster? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

High performance computers (1)

65

12.26%

Printing (2)

194

36.60%

Scanning (3)

113

21.32%

Available software, courseware (4)

97

18.30%

Network connection speed (5)

57

10.75%

Study space away from room (6)

82

15.47%

Convenient location (7)

164

30.94%

Comfortable furnishings (8)

22

4.15%

Group/partner work space available (9)

46

8.68%

Social environment, atmosphere (10)

21

3.96%

Proximity to food or drink (11)

12

2.26%

Other (please specify below) (12)

158

29.81%

 

Total who responded

530

48.67%

Average

5.45

  

2. About how many total hours per week, on average, do you use your residence computer cluster?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

1 to 5 hours (1)

486

95.29%

6 to 10 hours (2)

14

2.75%

11 to 20 hours (3)

6

1.18%

21 to 30 hours (4)

3

0.59%

More than 30 hours (5)

1

0.20%

 

Total who responded

510

46.83%

Average

0.50

  

3. About how many hours per week, on average, do you spend using your residence cluster (NOT your personal computer if you have one) for the following activities?

 

 

 

0 hours (1)

Less than 1 hour (2)

1 to 5 hours (3)

6 to 10 hours (4)

11 to 20 hours (5)

More than 20 hours (6)

Total who responded

Average

ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use)

185
36.06%

224
43.66%

88
17.15%

10
1.95%

5
0.97%

1
0.19%

513
47.11%

0.89

INFORMATION (news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.)

312
63.41%

152
30.89%

23
4.67%

5
1.02%

0
0.00%

0
0.00%

492
45.18%

0.65

SOCIAL INTERACTION (social email or discussion groups, instant messaging, chat, etc.)

321
65.11%

142
28.80%

25
5.07%

5
1.01%

0
0.00%

0
0.00%

493
45.27%

0.64

ENTERTAINMENT (music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.)

418
87.27%

50
10.44%

8
1.67%

1
0.21%

2
0.42%

0
0.00%

479
43.99%

0.51

COMMERCE (shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.)

407
85.32%

62
13.00%

5
1.05%

1
0.21%

2
0.42%

0
0.00%

477
43.80%

0.51

4. How would you rate the availability of residence cluster computers for your use?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

123

23.21%

Good (2)

241

45.47%

Fair (3)

89

16.79%

Poor (4)

39

7.36%

No opinion (5)

38

7.17%

 

Total who responded

530

48.67%

Average

1.12

  

5. How would you rate the maintenance of the computer equipment in your cluster?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

83

15.60%

Good (2)

218

40.98%

Fair (3)

121

22.74%

Poor (4)

54

10.15%

No opinion (5)

56

10.53%

 

Total who responded

532

48.85%

Average

1.27

  

6. On average, how many pages do you print using the printer in your residence cluster?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Less than 5 pages a week (1)

201

38.00%

5 to 15 pages a week (2)

57

10.78%

15 to 35 pages a week (3)

11

2.08%

35 to 50 pages a week (4)

1

0.19%

Over 50 pages a week (5)

3

0.57%

I use my own printer and not the cluster's (6)

256

48.39%

 

Total who responded

529

48.58%

Average

1.75

  

7. Please rate the quality of printing services in your cluster:

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

The printer works fine, no problems (1)

93

17.92%

The printer is fine, but not well supplied with paper and/or toner (2)

55

10.60%

The printer occasionally has problems like losing print jobs or printing garbage characters (3)

61

11.75%

The printer frequently has hardware problems and needs repair (4)

25

4.82%

Other problems (5)

15

2.89%

I use my own printer and not the cluster's (6)

270

52.02%

 

Total who responded

519

47.66%

Average

2.00

  

8. How would you rate the furnishings provided in your residence cluster (computer furniture, work space, lighting, etc.)?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

60

11.36%

Good (2)

192

36.36%

Fair (3)

175

33.14%

Poor (4)

44

8.33%

No opinion (5)

57

10.80%

 

Total who responded

528

48.48%

Average

1.31

  

9. Which if any of the following would substantially increase the usefulness of the residence cluster for you? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

 

Would be great (1)

Would be OK I guess (2)

Couldn't care less (3)

Total who responded

Average

More lower end computers for email, web

49
10.68%

151
32.90%

259
56.43%

459
42.15%

1.04

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

67
14.66%

107
23.41%

283
61.93%

457
41.97%

1.04

More high performance Windows PC computers

181
39.09%

125
27.00%

157
33.91%

463
42.52%

0.83

More Unix or Linux computers

109
23.96%

97
21.32%

249
54.73%

455
41.78%

0.96

Multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing)

110
24.07%

128
28.01%

219
47.92%

457
41.97%

0.94

Multimedia display equipment (LCD projection for computers, DVD, etc.)

118
25.76%

118
25.76%

222
48.47%

458
42.06%

0.94

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

73
16.01%

70
15.35%

313
68.64%

456
41.87%

1.06

Better black and white printing

149
32.11%

152
32.76%

163
35.13%

464
42.61%

0.87

Color printing

199
42.80%

153
32.90%

113
24.30%

465
42.70%

0.78

More connectivity (network jacks or wireless) for laptops

149
31.91%

149
31.91%

169
36.19%

467
42.88%

0.88

Large displays that support laptops and collaborative work

125
27.53%

133
29.30%

196
43.17%

454
41.69%

0.90

More quiet individual study spaces

159
34.12%

137
29.40%

170
36.48%

466
42.79%

0.87

Better spaces for partner or group study

139
30.35%

130
28.38%

189
41.27%

458
42.06%

0.89

Other (please specify below)

53
23.77%

8
3.59%

162
72.65%

223
20.48%

0.51

10. How important would these changes be for you? For example, would you still want them if it meant reducing the total number of computers available?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Very important (1)

37

7.24%

Important (2)

157

30.72%

Not very important (3)

250

48.92%

Not important at all (4)

67

13.11%

 

Total who responded

511

46.92%

Average

1.26

  

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About Your Residence Computer Cluster (b)

This section was completed by those who answered that they HAVE NOT used their residence computer cluster this year.

1. What are the major reasons you don't use your residence computer cluster? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Use my own computer/peripherals. (1)

507

97.69%

Use other computing resources on campus. (2)

266

51.25%

Have little need for computing, printing, etc. (3)

9

1.73%

Not enough computers/cluster too crowded. (4)

10

1.93%

Need other equipment or systems (please specify below). (5)

8

1.54%

Cluster equipment not dependable. (6)

14

2.70%

Work space or furnishings are inadequate. (7)

17

3.28%

Atmosphere not conducive to my studying needs. (8)

55

10.60%

Other (please specify below). (9)

27

5.20%

 

Total who responded

519

47.66%

Average

1.87

  

2. Which if any of the following would substantially increase the likelihood you would use your residence cluster? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

 

Would be great (1)

Would be OK I guess (2)

Couldn't care less (3)

Total who responded

Average

More lower end computers for email, web

16
4.18%

49
12.79%

318
83.03%

383
35.17%

0.98

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

37
9.59%

60
15.54%

289
74.87%

386
35.45%

0.94

More high performance Windows PC computers

86
21.61%

77
19.35%

235
59.05%

398
36.55%

0.87

More Unix or Linux computers

58
14.76%

74
18.83%

261
66.41%

393
36.09%

0.91

Multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing)

99
24.57%

116
28.78%

188
46.65%

403
37.01%

0.82

Multimedia display equipment (LCD projection for computers, DVD, etc.)

87
22.14%

96
24.43%

210
53.44%

393
36.09%

0.83

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

61
15.29%

52
13.03%

286
71.68%

399
36.64%

0.94

Better black and white printing

86
21.72%

111
28.03%

199
50.25%

396
36.36%

0.83

Color printing

179
41.63%

107
24.88%

144
33.49%

430
39.49%

0.76

More connectivity (network jacks or wireless) for laptops

91
23.21%

96
24.49%

205
52.30%

392
36.00%

0.82

Large displays that support laptops and collaborative work

89
22.76%

90
23.02%

212
54.22%

391
35.90%

0.83

More quiet individual study spaces

119
29.68%

99
24.69%

183
45.64%

401
36.82%

0.80

Better spaces for partner or group study

111
27.54%

82
20.35%

210
52.11%

403
37.01%

0.83

Other (please specify below)

25
11.31%

12
5.43%

184
83.26%

221
20.29%

0.55

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Public Computer Cluster Use

1. Have you used a public computer cluster this year (Meyer, Tresidder, Green Library, sit-down workstations at Sweet Hall)?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Yes (1)

641

61.58%

No (2)

400

38.42%

 

Total who responded

1041

95.59%

Average

1.32

  

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About Your Public Computer Clusters (a)

This section was completed by those who answered that they HAVE used a public cluster this year.

1. Which of the following are significant reasons that you use the public computer clusters? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

High performance computers (1)

195

30.33%

Printing (2)

291

45.26%

Scanning (3)

82

12.75%

Unix computing (4)

174

27.06%

Assistive technology in Meyer (5)

23

3.58%

Non-English language support (6)

20

3.11%

Available software, courseware (7)

199

30.95%

Network connection speed (8)

95

14.77%

Availability of consulting/tech help (9)

41

6.38%

Study space away from room (10)

204

31.73%

Convenient location (11)

330

51.32%

Comfortable furnishings (12)

66

10.26%

Group/partner work space available (13)

121

18.82%

Social environment, atmosphere (14)

75

11.66%

Proximity to food or drink (15)

67

10.42%

Other (please specify below) (16)

55

8.55%

 

Total who responded

643

59.04%

Average

14.18

  

2. About how many total hours per week, on average, do you use public computer clusters in the following locations?

 

 

 

1 to 5 hours (1)

6 to 10 hours (2)

11 to 20 hours (3)

21 to 30 hours (4)

More than 30 hours (5)

Total who responded

Average

MEYER Lobby or 2nd Floor

314
91.28%

18
5.23%

10
2.91%

1
0.29%

1
0.29%

344
31.59%

0.36

MEYER 24 hr. (Unix) cluster

183
94.33%

5
2.58%

5
2.58%

1
0.52%

0
0.00%

194
17.81%

0.19

SWEET HALL

221
73.67%

37
12.33%

27
9.00%

11
3.67%

4
1.33%

300
27.55%

0.40

GREEN LIBRARY

295
91.33%

22
6.81%

4
1.24%

1
0.31%

1
0.31%

323
29.66%

0.33

TRESIDDER

240
94.86%

8
3.16%

3
1.19%

1
0.40%

1
0.40%

253
23.23%

0.25

3. About how many hours per week, on average, do you spend using a public cluster (NOT your personal computer if you have one, and not a residence cluster) for the following activities?

 

 

 

0 hours (1)

Less than 1 hour (2)

1 to 5 hours (3)

6 to 10 hours (4)

11 to 20 hours (5)

More than 20 hours (6)

Total who responded

Average

ACADEMICS (any course related computer or Internet use)

93
15.07%

206
33.39%

230
37.28%

51
8.27%

22
3.57%

15
2.43%

617
56.66%

1.47

INFORMATION (news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.)

264
48.35%

213
39.01%

61
11.17%

7
1.28%

1
0.18%

0
0.00%

546
50.14%

0.83

SOCIAL INTERACTION (social email or discussion groups, instant messaging, chat, etc.)

262
46.95%

220
39.43%

68
12.19%

6
1.08%

2
0.36%

0
0.00%

558
51.24%

0.86

ENTERTAINMENT (music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.)

443
84.38%

68
12.95%

9
1.71%

2
0.38%

3
0.57%

0
0.00%

525
48.21%

0.58

COMMERCE (shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.)

442
85.00%

68
13.08%

8
1.54%

0
0.00%

1
0.19%

1
0.19%

520
47.75%

0.56

4. How would you rate the availability of public cluster computers for your use?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

206

32.34%

Good (2)

322

50.55%

Fair (3)

81

12.72%

Poor (4)

14

2.20%

No opinion (5)

14

2.20%

 

Total who responded

637

58.49%

Average

1.12

  

5. How would you rate the maintenance of the computer equipment in the public clusters?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

150

23.55%

Good (2)

304

47.72%

Fair (3)

124

19.47%

Poor (4)

36

5.65%

No opinion (5)

23

3.61%

 

Total who responded

637

58.49%

Average

1.28

  

6. On average, how many pages do you print using the printers in public cluster?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Less than 5 pages a week (1)

222

35.07%

5 to 15 pages a week (2)

129

20.38%

15 to 35 pages a week (3)

52

8.21%

35 to 50 pages a week (4)

18

2.84%

Over 50 pages a week (5)

13

2.05%

I don't use public printers (6)

199

31.44%

 

Total who responded

633

58.13%

Average

1.81

  

7. Please rate the quality of printing services in public clusters:

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

The printer works fine, no problems (1)

162

25.88%

The printer is fine, but not well supplied with paper and/or toner (2)

77

12.30%

The printer occasionally has problems like losing print jobs or printing garbage characters (3)

114

18.21%

The printer frequently has hardware problems and needs repair (4)

41

6.55%

Other problems (please specify) (5)

22

3.51%

I don't use public printers (6)

210

33.55%

 

Total who responded

626

57.48%

Average

2.01

  

8. How would you rate the furnishings provided in the public clusters (computer furniture, work space, lighting, etc.)?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

79

12.60%

Good (2)

306

48.80%

Fair (3)

171

27.27%

Poor (4)

31

4.94%

No opinion (5)

40

6.38%

 

Total who responded

627

57.58%

Average

1.40

  

9. Which if any of the following would substantially increase the usefulness of the public clusters for you (Select all that apply.)

 

 

 

Would be great (1)

Would be OK I guess (2)

Couldn't care less (3)

Total who responded

Average

More lower end computers for email, web

48
10.57%

113
24.89%

293
64.54%

454
41.69%

1.06

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

79
17.10%

82
17.75%

301
65.15%

462
42.42%

1.05

More high performance Windows PC computers

187
39.37%

96
20.21%

192
40.42%

475
43.62%

0.88

More Unix or Linux computers

111
24.03%

95
20.56%

256
55.41%

462
42.42%

0.98

Multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing)

120
26.49%

115
25.39%

218
48.12%

453
41.60%

0.92

Multimedia display equipment (LCD projection for computers, DVD, etc.)

115
25.39%

108
23.84%

230
50.77%

453
41.60%

0.94

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

60
13.36%

49
10.91%

340
75.72%

449
41.23%

1.08

Better black and white printing

174
36.94%

130
27.60%

167
35.46%

471
43.25%

0.86

Color printing

225
46.58%

128
26.50%

130
26.92%

483
44.35%

0.80

More connectivity (network jacks or wireless) for laptops

172
36.75%

115
24.57%

181
38.68%

468
42.98%

0.87

Large displays that support laptops and collaborative work

141
30.32%

112
24.09%

212
45.59%

465
42.70%

0.92

More quiet individual study spaces

181
38.27%

117
24.74%

175
37.00%

473
43.43%

0.86

Better spaces for partner or group study

178
37.63%

113
23.89%

182
38.48%

473
43.43%

0.87

Other (please specify below)

40
20.20%

16
8.08%

142
71.72%

198
18.18%

0.46

10. How important would these changes be for you? For example, would you still want them if it meant reducing the total number of computers available?

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Very important (1)

56

9.69%

Important (2)

202

34.95%

Not very important (3)

229

39.62%

Not important at all (4)

91

15.74%

 

Total who responded

578

53.08%

Average

1.39

  

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About Your Public Computer Clusters (b)

This section was completed by those who answered that they HAVE NOT used a public cluster this year.

1. What are the major reasons you don't use the public computer clusters? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Use my own computer/peripherals. (1)

389

96.53%

Use other computing resources on campus. (2)

205

50.87%

Have little need for computing, printing, etc. (3)

6

1.49%

Not enough computers/clusters too crowded. (4)

7

1.74%

Need other equipment or systems (please specify below). (5)

3

0.74%

Cluster equipment not dependable. (6)

3

0.74%

Work space or furnishings are inadequate. (7)

9

2.23%

Atmosphere not conducive to my studying needs. (8)

34

8.44%

Other (please specify below). (9)

9

2.23%

 

Total who responded

403

37.01%

Average

1.19

  

2. Which if any of the following would substantially increase the likelihood you would use the public clusters? (Select all that apply.)

 

 

 

Would be great (1)

Would be OK I guess (2)

Couldn't care less (3)

Total who responded

Average

More lower end computers for email, web

18
6.62%

31
11.40%

223
81.99%

272
24.98%

0.69

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

17
6.30%

27
10.00%

226
83.70%

270
24.79%

0.69

More high performance Windows PC computers

50
17.99%

44
15.83%

184
66.19%

278
25.53%

0.63

More Unix or Linux computers

27
10.04%

34
12.64%

208
77.32%

269
24.70%

0.66

Multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing)

37
13.55%

54
19.78%

182
66.67%

273
25.07%

0.63

Multimedia display equipment (LCD projection for computers, DVD, etc.)

35
12.92%

48
17.71%

188
69.37%

271
24.89%

0.64

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

22
8.09%

33
12.13%

217
79.78%

272
24.98%

0.68

Better black and white printing

46
17.04%

51
18.89%

173
64.07%

270
24.79%

0.61

Color printing

85
29.93%

61
21.48%

138
48.59%

284
26.08%

0.57

More connectivity (network jacks or wireless) for laptops

59
21.93%

46
17.10%

164
60.97%

269
24.70%

0.59

Large displays that support laptops and collaborative work

47
17.47%

50
18.59%

172
63.94%

269
24.70%

0.61

More quiet individual study spaces

59
21.30%

55
19.86%

163
58.84%

277
25.44%

0.60

Better spaces for partner or group study

51
18.82%

42
15.50%

178
65.68%

271
24.89%

0.61

Other (please specify below)

10
6.37%

5
3.18%

142
90.45%

157
14.42%

0.41

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Background Information

1. Gender:

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Female (1)

365

35.03%

Male (2)

677

64.97%

 

Total who responded

1042

95.68%

Average

1.58

  

2. Department:

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Engineering (1)

428

41.15%

Humanities (2)

94

9.04%

Natural Sciences (3)

184

17.69%

Social Sciences (4)

137

13.17%

Other (5)

197

18.94%

 

Total who responded

1040

95.50%

Average

2.48

  

3. Degree program:

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Coterm (1)

48

4.65%

M.A./M.S. (2)

261

25.27%

Ph.D./Ed.D. (3)

510

49.37%

J.D. (4)

80

7.74%

M.D. (5)

52

5.03%

M.B.A. (6)

34

3.29%

Other (7)

48

4.65%

 

Total who responded

1033

94.86%

Average

2.96

  

4. Citizenship:

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

US citizen/permanent resident (1)

614

59.27%

International (non-US citizen/permanent resident) (2)

422

40.73%

 

Total who responded

1036

95.13%

Average

1.34

  

5. Optional - Ethnicity (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only):

 

 

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Black/African-American (1)

22

3.03%

Asian American/Pacific Islander (2)

140

19.26%

American Indian/Native American (3)

11

1.51%

Asian Indian/South Asian (4)

65

8.94%

Mexican American/Chicano (5)

27

3.71%

Other Latino/a-American (6)

18

2.48%

White (7)

386

53.09%

Multiracial/Multi-ethnic (8)

24

3.30%

Other (9)

34

4.68%

 

Total who responded

727

66.76%

Average

3.71

  

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