CSD Student Survey Summer Term 2005

All undergraduate and taught postgraduate (including Laureate) students were emailed on Friday 6^th May and asked to complete an online web-based survey on CSD services by Friday 27^th May. Those who submitted their responses by Monday 16^th May were entered into a prize draw and from these 3 winners have been randomly selected, who will each receive a cheque for £25. 1946 responses were received, which is 10.3% of the total 18864 students emailed.

The survey questions focused on Helpdesk services, the Virtual Learning Environment (VITAL), the Personal Development Program (LUSID), personal computer ownership, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) ownership, mobile phone ownership, the wireless service (ROAMNET) plus other modes of Internet access and the Windows Terminal Service (WTS).

Overall, the student responses are very positive about CSD services. Preliminary key findings include:

• Asked for their overall impression, 93.7% were satisfied with the computing and information technology services provided by CSD.
• 84% were satisfied with the CSD Helpdesk services, though only 49.5% had required Helpdesk services.
• 90.5% reported they were using VITAL. 88% reported it was easy to use and similarly 88% were satisfied with the service.
• Only 16% have used LUSID and 75% of those because it was compulsory as part of their course programme.
• 34% of respondents were in Halls of Residence accommodation, with a network connection, and 90% of those are satisfied with the RESNET service.
• 92% have access to a computer at their home or hall of residence. Of these, 91% own the computer and 88% have Internet connectivity.
  (When first year undergraduates were asked the same question in December 2003: 80% had access to a computer at their home or hall of residence and, of those, 87.1% owned the computer and 76.5% had Internet connectivity.)
• 82% are currently running Windows XP on their own computer, 8% Windows 2000, 1% Apple Mac, 0.5% Linux and the other 8.5% are running older versions of Windows operating systems.
• 47.7% are desktop and 52.3% laptop computers.
  (When first year undergraduates were asked the same question in December 2003: 53.2% were desktop and 46.8% laptop computers.)
• 30% expressed interest in a laptop computer rental scheme being made available to students. Of those, 49% said that a monthly cost of between £25-30 for the loan of the laptop (including maintenance, insurance, Microsoft Windows XP and Office 2003) would be the most they could afford. One month rental periods when required, rather than a longer term agreement, attracted the most interest.
• Only 6.5% own a PDA.
• 62% had heard of ROAMNET and, of those, 27% had used and 79% were satisfied with the service.
  17% had heard of WTS and, of those, 38% had used and 70% were satisfied with the service.
  These figures indicate that we need to do more to make students aware of these services and the benefits they offer.
• A staggering 98.2% own a mobile phone and 80% would be interested in receiving urgent messages from the University, such as change of lecture times and venues, via text messages to their phones as well as by email.
• Asked which of a number of improvements to CSD services would be of most interest, the ranking (in descending order) is:

o Ability to pay for print quota online using credit or debit card

o More Teaching Centre PCs

o Improved access to M: drive when off campus

o Extended Teaching Centre opening hours

o More printing in Teaching Centres

o Ability to submit print requests from off campus

o More ROAMNET

o Better support for laptop problems

o Extended Helpdesk opening hours.

Sue Byrne

Head of User Services

Computing Services Department

31^st May 2005