Student Computing Survey 2003-2004: Graduate Results

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Summary

Results:

Summary

Demographics:

This year, 1289 students or approximately 31% of all on-campus housed graduate students* responded to the survey, 70% male. Fifty percent of the students identified themselves as being part of the School of Engineering and most students who responded were enrolled in either the Masters (32%) or Doctoral (52%) programs. It is also important to note that unlike the undergraduate population, there are many more international students in the graduate program-- only about 58% of students who responded were US citizens/permanent residents (as opposed to 96% in the undergraduate survey).

Use of Computers:

Regarding equipment:

  • 99% have their own computer
  • 39% have 2 or more computers (not including other computing devices, such as handhelds)
  • 77% have a laptop
  • 65% have their own printer
  • 68% have a cell phone
  • 57% have a digital camera or video camera
  • 35% have a portable music player (MP3, iPod, etc.)
  • 27% have a personal digital assistant (PDA) device or handheld computer
  • 13% have a wireless access point or router ("WiFi")

In terms of platform:

  • 91% have a Windows PC desktop or laptop
  • 12% have a Mac desktop or laptop
  • 14% have a Unix or Linux computer

About 90% of students say they use their computers 11 hours a week or more, with about 47% 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 = 79%
  2. Information (news, jobs, travel, medical, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 42%
  3. Social interaction (social email or discussion groups, instant messaging, chat, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 30%
  4. Entertainment (music, video, gaming, hobbies, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 25%
  5. Commerce (shopping, banking, investing, auctions, etc.), 6 or more hours/week = 5%

Most suggestions for improvement to student computing resources in the residences focused on the desire for free (or cheaper) printing, increased availability of wireless networking, and more Windows computers in the clusters.

Wireless

Unfortunately, University-provided wireless networking is currently unavailable in the graduate residences. However, some residents have set up their own informal wireless networks-- 13% of those who responded said they owned a wireless access point or router. About 15% of students use these informal wireless networks at least weekly, with 12% using them daily. If wireless was University-provided in the graduate residences, 59% said they would use it daily.

The most common areas in which students use the wireless network are, in order of popularity: their room or apartment (72%#37;); outdoors, such as in courtyards or adjacent lawn areas (49%); and house common areas such as the hallway or lounge (43%).

Students expressed a strong desire to have University-provided wireless networking added to all graduate residences as well as other areas on campus and many said that the main reason they do not have a wireless-enabled computer currently is because wireless access is not available everywhere. Some students also expressed concerns about the security of the informal wireless networks in their residences and would use wireless networking if it sere University-provided and had some guarantee of security. Here are some sample comments:

  • Wireless networking should definitely exist everywhere. Get with the times!
  • Although I don't have a wireless capable computer, I would probably get the card if a wireless network were available.
  • I believe that Stanford should have wireless networking all
    over campus. I'd like the convenience it would provide. I also dislike
    the fact that our school is behind others on this regard since we are
    supposedly the hotbed of technology.
  • Wireless connection would greatly increase the quality and utility of the network services provided by the University.
  • Since I cannot use wireless at home, I have not bothered
    setting up my laptop with a wireless card. However, if I COULD use
    wireless at home I would set it up and then I would also use it daily
    at other non-residential on campus locations (e.g. Tresidder, my dept.
    office, libraries, etc.).
  • It would be very convenient if there was wireless in the
    apartments. There have been times when I've had people over to do
    homework but we couldn't work efficiently since there was no wireless
    and there is a limited number of active ethernet connections.
  • Wireless in our residences would be FANTASTIC. I couldn't
    think of anything that would enhance my happiness with my building
    more.
  • Wireless is probably one of the services with the greatest
    impact that could be provided. It should be implemented as must as
    possible.
  • Wireless networking on campus is great. I do most of my work
    during the day on wireless networks. It would be great to see it in the
    residences.
  • Wireless networking is essential! The undergrad dorms are
    great. I have a wireless network in my own apartment, but it would
    certainly be nice if grad residences had wireless networks available
    like many of the undergrad dorms.
  • It really should be universal in all the residences and classroom buildings.
  • Wireless networking is easy and efficient. I use it all the time at the law school as well.
  • I don't own a wireless device, mostly because there are so few
    areas of campus where you can get access. In the places that do have
    wireless, like the libraries, it's generally not too hard to find a
    wired machine anyway. I'd like to see wireless access points near
    picnic tables, sculpture gardens, etc. so that it would be possible to
    get some work done outdoors instead of being trapped in the lab all
    day! But until access improves, I'm not planning to buy a wireless
    device.
  • Wireless networking would be tremendously useful. Really
    looking forward to that. Then, my laptop wouldnt just be a desktop
    replacement :). It would become a laptop in a true sense.

RCCs

Resident Computer Coordinators (RCCs) are students who live in each residence complex and serve as local network managers by supporting in-room network connections, educators by working with students, consultants by helping residents with computer problems, cluster technicians by helping to take care of the residence clusters, and more. Graduate RCCs are managed by the RCC Manager and receive support and training from the entire ResComp central staff. RCCs are the first line of support for residential students. For more information about RCCs, click here.

In general, graduate students are less likely to ask their RCC for help compared to undergraduates (57% versus 83% have asked for help at least once this year). Of those students who have asked their RCC for help this past year, 92% percent said they received a response in under two days, about half of those receiving a response within the same day, and 79% were able to resolve their computer-related problems within two days. Ninety-one percent rate their RCC's knowledge as excellent or good and 87% consider their RCC's helpfulness excellent or good.

Residence Computer Cluster Use

Residential Computing supports roughly 350 public computers in 79 locations. In graduate residences, while a cluster is not available in every building, clusters are available in central locations in each residential complex. Forty-five percent say they have used a residence computer cluster this year and of those, 68% rate the availability of cluster computers as good or excellent.

The top five reasons for using the residence clusters are:

  1. Printing (cited by 38% of cluster users)
  2. Availability of Windows PC computers (37%)
  3. Convenient location (27%)
  4. Other (see below) (24%)
  5. Available software, courseware (20%)

The other main reason for using the cluster was a non-working personal computer or in-room network connection.

Most comments named location (i.e., they consider the cluster too far away) as the primary reason they avoid using the cluster or do not use the cluster at all.

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

  1. Color printing (cited by 46% of cluster users)
  2. More multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing, scanning, etc.) (44%)
  3. More support for laptops (e.g. shared displays, wireless networking, laptop-friendly furniture) (43%)
  4. More high performance Windows PC computers (40%)
  5. More quiet individual study spaces (34%)

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), most people (62%) said they were not very important or not important at all.

Again this year, many students complained about the price of printing, asking for cheaper or free printing.

Central Public Computer Cluster Use

Academic Computing, Residential Computing's parent organization, also provides central public computer clusters in Tresidder Union and Meyer Library. Public computers are also available in Green Library. Forty-nine percent of students who answered the survey say they have used one of these clusters this year with 44% using the clusters on the first and second floors of Meyer (not including the Multimedia studio), 14% using the Multimedia Studio, 24% using those in Green, and 23% using those in Tresidder. Most students use these clusters one to five hours per week and 79% 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 59% of cluster users)
  2. Availability of Windows PC computers (40%)
  3. Study space away from residence (34%)
  4. Printing (32%)
  5. Available software, courseware (23%)
  6. Multimedia (scanning, video editing, etc.) (18%)

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

  1. More support for laptops (e.g., shared displays, wireless networking, laptop-friendly furniture) (cited by 40% of cluster users)
  2. Color printing (39%)
  3. More multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing, scanning, etc.) (36%)
  4. More quiet individual study spaces (36%)
  5. More high performance Windows PC computers (35%)

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), most students (63%) said they were not very important or not important at all.

Again, many students complained about the price of printing, asking for cheaper or free printing.

Notes:

* Residential Computing supports all graduate residences (Crothers, Crothers Memorial, Escondido Village, Lyman and Rains) with the exception of Schwab Residential Center. Schwab is supported by the Graduate School of Business.

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Results


Total Number of People Who Responded to Survey:

1289.

About Your Resident Computer Coordinator - RCC

1. About how many times this year have you asked your RCC for computer related help or advice?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Never asked for help (1)

542

43.71%

Once (2)

401

32.34%

2 to 5 times (3)

279

22.50%

6 to 10 times (4)

15

1.21%

More than 10 times (5)

3

0.24%

Total who responded

1240

96.20%

Average

1.75

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Same day (1)

345

27.89%

1 to 2 days (2)

307

24.82%

3 to 5 days (3)

45

3.64%

More than 5 days (4)

4

0.32%

Never received response (5)

11

0.89%

Never asked for help (6)

525

42.44%

Total who responded

1237

95.97%

Average

3.35

  

3. On average, how quickly have your computer related problems been resolved?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Same day (1)

219

17.72%

1 to 2 days (2)

336

27.18%

3 to 5 days (3)

89

7.20%

More than 5 days (4)

31

2.51%

Never resolved (5)

25

2.02%

Never asked for help (6)

536

43.37%

Total who responded

1236

95.89%

Average

3.59

  

4. How do you normally contact your RCC?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

By phone (1)

93

7.54%

By email (2)

587

47.57%

In person (3)

43

3.48%

Never asked for help (4)

511

41.41%

Total who responded

1234

95.73%

Average

2.67

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

268

21.82%

Good (2)

292

23.78%

Fair (3)

39

3.18%

Poor (4)

14

1.14%

No opinion (5)

615

50.08%

Total who responded

1228

95.27%

Average

3.18

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

323

26.15%

Good (2)

271

21.94%

Fair (3)

69

5.59%

Poor (4)

23

1.86%

No opinion (5)

549

44.45%

Total who responded

1235

95.81%

Average

3.03

  

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About Wireless Networking

1. Which of the following best describes how often you use any ad
hoc wireless networking that may be available in your residence?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Daily (1)

144

11.85%

Weekly (2)

37

3.05%

Monthly (3)

23

1.89%

Quarterly (4)

25

2.06%

Never (no wireless available, or don't have wireless-equipped laptop) (5)

986

81.15%

Total who responded

1215

94.26%

Average

4.12

  

2. If University-provided wireless networking WERE available
in your residence, which of the following best describes how often you
would anticipate using it?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Daily (1)

721

59.49%

Weekly (2)

97

8.00%

Monthly (3)

22

1.82%

Quarterly (4)

9

0.74%

Never (or don't have a wireless-equipped laptop or other device) (5)

363

29.95%

Total who responded

1212

94.03%

Average

2.20

  

3. Which of the following best describes how often you use wireless networking available in OTHER residences that you visit?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Daily (1)

92

7.60%

Weekly (2)

113

9.34%

Monthly (3)

79

6.53%

Quarterly (4)

53

4.38%

Never (or don't have a wireless-equipped laptop or other device) (5)

873

72.15%

Total who responded

1210

93.87%

Average

3.98

  

4. If you DO use wireless networking available in student
residences (yours or another residence), in what specific locations do
you use it? (Select all that apply.)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Your room or apartment (1)

368

72.30%

Other student rooms or apartments (2)

197

38.70%

House common areas (lounge, hallway, lobby, cluster, etc.) (3)

219

43.03%

Outdoors (courtyards, adjacent lawns, etc.) (4)

251

49.31%

Total who responded

509

39.49%

Average

1.88

  

5. Which of the following best describes how often you use
wireless networking available in NON-RESIDENTIAL campus locations
(e.g., Quad, Tresidder, Libraries, etc.)?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Daily (1)

279

23.27%

Weekly (2)

193

16.10%

Monthly (3)

77

6.42%

Quarterly (4)

48

4.00%

Never (or don't have a wireless-equipped laptop or other device) (5)

602

50.21%

Total who responded

1199

93.02%

Average

3.18

  

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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)

331

27.38%

Good (2)

552

45.66%

Fair (3)

286

23.66%

Poor (4)

37

3.06%

Don't know (5)

3

0.25%

Total who responded

1209

93.79%

Average

1.91

  

2. How many personal computers (desktop or laptop) do you
have with you on campus? (Note: if your answer to this question is 0
(zero), please skip questions 4 and 5.)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

0 (1)

5

0.41%

1 (2)

733

60.58%

2 (3)

370

30.58%

3 (4)

70

5.79%

4 or more (5)

32

2.64%

Total who responded

1210

93.87%

Average

2.34

  

3. Which of the following computers, peripherals, and other electronic devices do you have? (Please select all that apply.)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Windows PC desktop/tower (1)

564

46.73%

Windows PC laptop (2)

813

67.36%

Apple Macintosh desktop/tower/iMac (3)

41

3.40%

Apple Macintosh laptop/Powerbook (4)

121

10.02%

Unix or Linux computer (5)

164

13.59%

Cell phone (6)

818

67.77%

Printer - inkjet (7)

578

47.89%

Printer - laser (8)

205

16.98%

Scanner (9)

242

20.05%

Digital camera or video camera (10)

684

56.67%

Handheld computer (11)

36

2.98%

Personal digital assistant (PDA) (12)

295

24.44%

TV (13)

704

58.33%

Stereo system (14)

565

46.81%

Portable music player (MP3, iPod, etc.) (15)

420

34.80%

Wireless access point or router ("WiFi") (16)

151

12.51%

Total who responded

1207

93.64%

Average

41.07

  

4. 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)

23

1.91%

6 to 10 hours (2)

92

7.62%

11 to 20 hours (3)

244

20.22%

21 to 30 hours (4)

277

22.95%

More than 30 hours (5)

571

47.31%

Total who responded

1207

93.64%

Average

3.80

  

5. 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)

6
0.50%

29
2.41%

218
18.14%

303
25.21%

292
24.29%

354
29.45%

1202
93.25%

4.28

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

12
1.01%

95
8.03%

581
49.11%

330
27.90%

116
9.81%

49
4.14%

1183
91.78%

3.21

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

31
2.63%

167
14.15%

626
53.05%

243
20.59%

79
6.69%

34
2.88%

1180
91.54%

2.96

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

101
8.59%

285
24.23%

495
42.09%

195
16.58%

57
4.85%

43
3.66%

1176
91.23%

2.70

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

64
5.40%

566
47.72%

491
41.40%

47
3.96%

9
0.76%

9
0.76%

1186
92.01%

2.29

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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)

571

47.23%

No (2)

638

52.77%

Total who responded

1209

93.79%

Average

1.43

  

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About Your Residence Computer Cluster

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)

Availability of Windows PC computers (1)

209

37.19%

Availability of Apple Macintosh computers (2)

75

13.35%

Available software, courseware (3)

115

20.46%

Multimedia (scanning, video editing, etc.) (4)

86

15.30%

Printing (5)

211

37.54%

Study space away from room (6)

75

13.35%

Availability of group/partner work space (7)

43

7.65%

Convenient location (8)

149

26.51%

Social environment, atmosphere (9)

16

2.85%

Other (please specify below) (10)

134

23.84%

Total who responded

562

43.60%

Average

4.29

  

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)

529

96.18%

6 to 10 hours (2)

16

2.91%

11 to 20 hours (3)

3

0.55%

21 to 30 hours (4)

1

0.18%

More than 30 hours (5)

1

0.18%

Total who responded

550

42.67%

Average

0.45

  

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)

181
32.73%

259
46.84%

103
18.63%

8
1.45%

1
0.18%

1
0.18%

553
42.90%

0.82

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

322
60.30%

191
35.77%

17
3.18%

3
0.56%

1
0.19%

0
0.00%

534
41.43%

0.60

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

339
64.57%

169
32.19%

14
2.67%

2
0.38%

1
0.19%

0
0.00%

525
40.73%

0.57

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

430
82.38%

80
15.33%

8
1.53%

4
0.77%

0
0.00%

0
0.00%

522
40.50%

0.49

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

436
84.17%

72
13.90%

5
0.97%

4
0.77%

1
0.19%

0
0.00%

518
40.19%

0.48

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

130

23.17%

Good (2)

252

44.92%

Fair (3)

118

21.03%

Poor (4)

37

6.60%

No opinion (5)

24

4.28%

Total who responded

561

43.52%

Average

0.97

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

88

15.63%

Good (2)

254

45.12%

Fair (3)

119

21.14%

Poor (4)

53

9.41%

No opinion (5)

49

8.70%

Total who responded

563

43.68%

Average

1.09

  

6. 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)

82

14.59%

Good (2)

244

43.42%

Fair (3)

148

26.33%

Poor (4)

53

9.43%

No opinion (5)

35

6.23%

Total who responded

562

43.60%

Average

1.09

  

7. Which of the following best describes your experience with printing services in your cluster?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

I don't use the cluster printer (1)

295

52.58%

The printer works fine, few or no problems (2)

112

19.96%

The printer is fine, but not well supplied with paper and/or toner (3)

76

13.55%

The printer occasionally has problems like losing print jobs or printing garbage characters (4)

44

7.84%

The printer frequently has hardware problems and needs repair (5)

14

2.50%

Other problems (6)

20

3.57%

Total who responded

561

43.52%

Average

0.86

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

I don't use the residence cluster printer (1)

323

57.58%

Less than 5 pages a week (2)

185

32.98%

5 to 15 pages a week (3)

39

6.95%

15 to 35 pages a week (4)

9

1.60%

35 to 50 pages a week (5)

5

0.89%

Over 50 pages a week (6)

0

0.00%

Total who responded

561

43.52%

Average

0.68

  

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

Email & Web kiosks

115
22.86%

134
26.64%

254
50.50%

503
39.02%

0.89

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

64
12.88%

105
21.13%

328
66.00%

497
38.56%

0.98

More high performance Windows PC computers

205
39.65%

155
29.98%

157
30.37%

517
40.11%

0.76

Availability of Unix or Linux computers

107
21.49%

131
26.31%

260
52.21%

498
38.63%

0.89

More multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing, scanning, etc.)

226
44.14%

140
27.34%

146
28.52%

512
39.72%

0.73

Color printing

243
46.37%

157
29.96%

124
23.66%

524
40.65%

0.72

More support for laptops (e.g., shared displays, wireless networking, laptop-friendly furniture)

216
42.52%

127
25.00%

165
32.48%

508
39.41%

0.75

More quiet individual study spaces

174
34.25%

139
27.36%

195
38.39%

508
39.41%

0.80

Better defined spaces for partner or group work

151
30.14%

139
27.74%

211
42.12%

501
38.87%

0.82

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

93
18.56%

91
18.16%

317
63.27%

501
38.87%

0.95

Other (please specify in Question 11)

26
8.33%

20
6.41%

266
85.26%

312
24.20%

0.67

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)

42

7.57%

Important (2)

171

30.81%

Not very important (3)

259

46.67%

Not important at all (4)

83

14.95%

Total who responded

555

43.06%

Average

1.16

  

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About Your Residence Computer Cluster

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)

614

96.85%

Use other computing resources on campus. (2)

247

38.96%

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

6

0.95%

Not enough computers/cluster too crowded. (4)

29

4.57%

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

15

2.37%

Cluster equipment not dependable. (6)

21

3.31%

Work space or furnishings are inadequate. (7)

21

3.31%

Atmosphere not conducive to my studying needs. (8)

69

10.88%

Other (please specify below). (9)

49

7.73%

Total who responded

634

49.19%

Average

2.00

  

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

Email & Web kiosks

59
11.94%

114
23.08%

321
64.98%

494
38.32%

0.97

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

47
9.67%

83
17.08%

356
73.25%

486
37.70%

0.99

More high performance Windows PC computers

101
19.88%

123
24.21%

284
55.91%

508
39.41%

0.93

Availability of Unix or Linux computers

82
16.47%

93
18.67%

323
64.86%

498
38.63%

0.96

More multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing, scanning, etc.)

192
36.16%

157
29.57%

182
34.27%

531
41.19%

0.82

Color printing

228
42.46%

158
29.42%

151
28.12%

537
41.66%

0.77

More support for laptops (e.g., shared displays, wireless networking, laptop-friendly furniture)

149
29.45%

129
25.49%

228
45.06%

506
39.26%

0.85

More quiet individual study spaces

171
33.66%

116
22.83%

221
43.50%

508
39.41%

0.83

Better defined spaces for partner or group work

140
27.72%

119
23.56%

246
48.71%

505
39.18%

0.87

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

95
18.85%

83
16.47%

326
64.68%

504
39.10%

0.96

Other (please specify below in Question 3)

23
7.26%

19
5.99%

275
86.75%

317
24.59%

0.69

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Public Computer Cluster Use

1. Have you used a public computer cluster this year in any of
these locations: Meyer, Tresidder, or sit-down workstations in Green
Library?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Yes (1)

590

49.29%

No (2)

607

50.71%

Total who responded

1197

92.86%

Average

1.40

  

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About Your Public Computer Clusters

1. Which of the following are significant reasons that you use
the public computer clusters in Meyer, Tresidder, or Green? (Select all
that apply.)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Availability of Windows PC computers (1)

234

39.80%

Availability of Apple Macintosh computers (2)

97

16.50%

Available software, courseware (3)

136

23.13%

Multimedia (scanning, video editing, etc.) (4)

106

18.03%

Printing (5)

186

31.63%

Assistive technology in Meyer (6)

20

3.40%

Non-English language support (7)

25

4.25%

Wireless availability (8)

69

11.73%

Availability of consulting/tech help (9)

16

2.72%

Convenient location (10)

345

58.67%

Study space away from residence (11)

198

33.67%

Availability of group/partner work space (12)

95

16.16%

Social environment, atmosphere (13)

51

8.67%

Other (please specify below) (14)

42

7.14%

Total who responded

588

45.62%

Average

8.69

  

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

316
96.05%

9
2.74%

3
0.91%

0
0.00%

1
0.30%

329
25.52%

0.27

MEYER 2nd floor

226
93.39%

12
4.96%

2
0.83%

1
0.41%

1
0.41%

242
18.77%

0.21

MEYER Multimedia Studio

173
96.11%

4
2.22%

2
1.11%

1
0.56%

0
0.00%

180
13.96%

0.15

GREEN LIBRARY

287
92.28%

17
5.47%

6
1.93%

1
0.32%

0
0.00%

311
24.13%

0.27

TRESIDDER

283
94.33%

12
4.00%

4
1.33%

0
0.00%

1
0.33%

300
23.27%

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)

119
21.44%

252
45.41%

149
26.85%

23
4.14%

7
1.26%

5
0.90%

555
43.06%

0.95

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

239
45.79%

231
44.25%

44
8.43%

7
1.34%

1
0.19%

0
0.00%

522
40.50%

0.67

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

250
48.73%

203
39.57%

51
9.94%

7
1.36%

2
0.39%

0
0.00%

513
39.80%

0.66

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

397
81.35%

72
14.75%

13
2.66%

5
1.02%

1
0.20%

0
0.00%

488
37.86%

0.47

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

397
81.69%

73
15.02%

13
2.67%

1
0.21%

2
0.41%

0
0.00%

486
37.70%

0.46

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

144

24.49%

Good (2)

301

51.19%

Fair (3)

110

18.71%

Poor (4)

11

1.87%

No opinion (5)

22

3.74%

Total who responded

588

45.62%

Average

0.95

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Excellent (1)

109

18.57%

Good (2)

296

50.43%

Fair (3)

128

21.81%

Poor (4)

23

3.92%

No opinion (5)

31

5.28%

Total who responded

587

45.54%

Average

1.03

  

6. 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)

85

14.51%

Good (2)

305

52.05%

Fair (3)

139

23.72%

Poor (4)

27

4.61%

No opinion (5)

30

5.12%

Total who responded

586

45.46%

Average

1.06

  

7. Which of the following best describes your experience with printing services in the public clusters?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

I don't print in Meyer, Green, or Tresidder (1)

367

62.84%

The printers work fine, few or no problems (2)

110

18.84%

The printers are fine, but not well supplied with paper and/or toner (3)

21

3.60%

The printers occasionally have problems like losing print jobs or printing garbage characters (4)

56

9.59%

The printers frequently have hardware problems and needs repair (5)

9

1.54%

Other problems (please specify) (6)

21

3.60%

Total who responded

584

45.31%

Average

0.81

  

8. On average, how many pages do you print using the printers in Meyer, Green, Tresidder?

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

I don't print in Meyer, Green, or Tresidder (1)

386

66.21%

Less than 5 pages a week (2)

141

24.19%

5 to 15 pages a week (3)

41

7.03%

15 to 35 pages a week (4)

7

1.20%

35 to 50 pages a week (5)

8

1.37%

Over 50 pages a week (6)

0

0.00%

Total who responded

583

45.23%

Average

0.67

  

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

Email & Web kiosks

155
32.98%

119
25.32%

196
41.70%

470
36.46%

0.76

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

75
16.06%

94
20.13%

298
63.81%

467
36.23%

0.90

More high performance Windows PC computers

166
34.58%

120
25.00%

194
40.42%

480
37.24%

0.77

Availability of Unix or Linux computers

86
18.53%

100
21.55%

278
59.91%

464
36.00%

0.87

More multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing, scanning, etc.)

173
36.12%

121
25.26%

185
38.62%

479
37.16%

0.75

Color printing

189
38.81%

131
26.90%

167
34.29%

487
37.78%

0.74

More support for laptops (e.g., shared displays, wireless networking, laptop-friendly-furniture)

190
39.83%

115
24.11%

172
36.06%

477
37.01%

0.73

More quiet individual study spaces

173
35.89%

125
25.93%

184
38.17%

482
37.39%

0.76

Better defined spaces for partner or group work

161
34.26%

106
22.55%

203
43.19%

470
36.46%

0.76

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

67
14.63%

60
13.10%

331
72.27%

458
35.53%

0.92

Other (please specify in Question 12)

21
6.62%

26
8.20%

270
85.17%

317
24.59%

0.69

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)

45

7.98%

Important (2)

163

28.90%

Not very important (3)

252

44.68%

Not important at all (4)

104

18.44%

Total who responded

564

43.75%

Average

1.20

  

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About Your Public Computer Clusters

1. What are the major reasons you don't use the public computer
clusters in Meyer, Tresidder, and Green? (Select all that apply.)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Use my own computer/peripherals. (1)

1096

94.48%

Use other computing resources on campus. (2)

470

40.52%

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

32

2.76%

Not enough computers/clusters too crowded. (4)

56

4.83%

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

15

1.29%

Cluster equipment not dependable. (6)

36

3.10%

Work space or furnishings are inadequate. (7)

41

3.53%

Atmosphere not conducive to my studying needs. (8)

114

9.83%

Inconvenient operating hours. (9)

39

3.36%

Other (please specify below). (10)

46

3.97%

Total who responded

1160

89.99%

Average

3.61

  

2. Which if any of the following would substantially increase the
likelihood you would use the clusters in Meyer, Green, or Tresidder?
(Select all that apply.)

 

Would be great (1)

Would be OK I guess (2)

Couldn't care less (3)

Total who responded

Average

Email & Web kiosks

180
20.55%

179
20.43%

517
59.02%

876
67.96%

1.62

More high performance Apple Macintosh OS X computers

84
9.80%

135
15.75%

638
74.45%

857
66.49%

1.76

More high performance Windows PC computers

206
23.38%

173
19.64%

502
56.98%

881
68.35%

1.60

Availability of Unix or Linux computers

115
13.29%

159
18.38%

591
68.32%

865
67.11%

1.71

More multimedia production equipment (e.g. video editing, scanning, etc.)

220
24.92%

203
22.99%

460
52.10%

883
68.50%

1.56

Color printing

285
31.39%

201
22.14%

422
46.48%

908
70.44%

1.52

More support for laptops (e.g., shared displays, laptop-friendly furniture)

246
27.89%

180
20.41%

456
51.70%

882
68.43%

1.53

More quiet individual study spaces

223
24.83%

194
21.60%

481
53.56%

898
69.67%

1.59

Better defined spaces for partner or group work

219
24.97%

160
18.24%

498
56.78%

877
68.04%

1.58

Network gaming (e.g. XBox)

113
13.17%

97
11.31%

648
75.52%

858
66.56%

1.75

Other (please specify in Question 3)

27
4.25%

39
6.14%

569
89.61%

635
49.26%

1.41

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Background Information

1. Gender:

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Female (1)

361

30.41%

Male (2)

826

69.59%

Total who responded

1187

92.09%

Average

1.56

  

2. School: (please select all that apply)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Earth Science (1)

40

3.37%

Education (2)

41

3.45%

Engineering (3)

590

49.71%

Graduate School of Business (4)

62

5.22%

Humanities and Sciences (5)

288

24.26%

Law School (6)

91

7.67%

Medical School (7)

98

8.26%

Total who responded

1187

92.09%

Average

3.73

  

3. Degree program: (please select all that apply)

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Co-terminal (1)

42

3.53%

Masters (2)

380

31.93%

PhD/EdD (3)

620

52.10%

JD (4)

84

7.06%

MBA (5)

44

3.70%

MD (6)

50

4.20%

Other (7)

21

1.76%

Total who responded

1190

92.32%

Average

2.84

  

4. Citizenship:

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

US citizen/permanent resident (1)

691

58.21%

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

496

41.79%

Total who responded

1187

92.09%

Average

1.31

  

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

Selected Choice/Response

Number

Percentage
(of answered)

Black/African-American (1)

19

2.22%

Asian American/Pacific Islander (2)

155

18.13%

American Indian/Native American (3)

5

0.58%

Asian Indian/South Asian (4)

104

12.16%

Mexican American/Chicano (5)

27

3.16%

Other Latino/a-American (6)

29

3.39%

White (7)

413

48.30%

Multiracial/Multi-ethnic (8)

34

3.98%

Other (9)

69

8.07%

Total who responded

855

66.33%

Average

3.76

  

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