[990] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Results of TEC Center Survey
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Nancy R Evans)
Fri Aug 14 10:12:06 1992
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 09:07:42 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: Nancy R Evans <NRE%pittvms.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Good Day to Everyone,
Below is a summary of a questionnaire I posted in May
regarding our faculty style support center. I have tried to briefly
summarize the comments and results. The responses included a
variety of comments and detail. I attempted to put them together
the best I could.
In all I found that institutions that have this type of center are
generally successful, fairly well received, work hard at
advertising their services, have varied staffing needs,
offer a wide range of platforms and services, and have problems
with funding.
All these fit our experiences at Pitt as well. To update on
our plans. Because of the budget problems and in an attempt to
increase our usage we are evolving into a area for advanced
computing that will be open to all levels of the university.
Our services will range from multimedia, to slide making and more.
Our platforms include DOS, Mac, RISC/Unix, VMS, workstations, and
perhaps and SGI Indigo.
I hope that you all find these results as interesting as I and if
anyone has any questions, please fell free to contact me at (412)
624-9357 or nre+@pitt.edu. I extend much thanks and appreciation to
those to responded to the survey.
Regards,
Nancy R. Evans
Systems Analyst
University of Pittsburgh
==================================================================
RESULTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
FACULTY TEC CENTER EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE
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+++ Do you have a facility or equivalent support services as was
described in the cover letter?
A total 19 responses. 13 have sites similar to ours, 3 do not, and
3 are under proposal.
+++ Is it in a defined physical space? If so approximately how
large?
Varied
responses include;
classroom (described as one time holding 45 student desks)
375 sq ft
10' x 40'
1000 sq ft
3 floors of one building + 1/2 floor of another
(description more like all of our CIS)
20' x 30'
1200 sq ft
8` x 14` section of an office
rest did no respond
small dedicates spaces near customers
14 x 21
700 sq ft
13 x 24 with a small triangle shaped end
+++ What major platforms does it support? Please indicate using 1
to 4 the frequency of usage, where 1 is the highest usage.
Most responses did not use the number scheme requested. In general results;
12 sites use have both Mac & DOS - 4 support Unix workstations - 4 report uses
of other type, multimedia on PC & MAC and VAX and 1 supports Amiga to an extent
Specifically 5 sites use DOS most frequently - 5 MAC - 1 Unix Workstations
and 1 multimedia on PC & MAC
+++ What peripheral hardware services are offered
12 sites report having or will have some sort of scanning and MAC/DOS
translation service
6 sites report having or will have color printing
8 sites report other services as follows:
OCR
Video Disk
Image Capture
Disk Repair using Norton
Install Instructions for peripherals
3/4 tape M-M Computer Program
35 mm slide generation
Computer graphic generation
Multimedia
VCR
camcorder
overlay
digitizing
video & audio digitizing
cdrom drive
slide printer
B/W Post Script printing
monitor and amplified speakers
digitizing images and sound
virus detection
slide/film recorder
computer based video editing
+++ Name of the department manages the day to day operations
Inorder to keep this as brief as possible I did not list the
various department types reported
+++ Do you have staff and/or student assistants available? How
many of each?
10 of the 19 sites stated they use both staff and students.
The number of each varies for both staff and students.
Staff are used from as little as 1 part time to 12 who do a schedule of
2 hour shifts
One site reported an increase in staff from 2 full time to 3 over a period
of time due to work load
Students went from as little as 2 to 4. Most are graduate students (1 site uses
an under graduate), some do shifts, and some have other responsibilities.
+++ Who is allowed to use the Facility? (Check all that apply)
Over all sites reported as follows;
Faculty - 13
Staff - 10
Grad - 8 ( one stated only those with teaching responsiblilty)
UGrad - 8 ( most had qualifications such as space available,
working with faculty or staff in instructional project,
and if what they were doing was course related)
+++ What primary support services does the staff provide (check
all the apply)?
Over all results:
Courseware development - 2
Hardware demonstrations - 12
General Systems Analysis - 6
Programming - 8
Software Evaluation - 2
One site also reported primary services such as general application
consulting and presentation materials development
+++ What is the general pattern of usage by your community?
6 sites reported small group use, 2 reported wide use and 3
reported other ( The sites reporting other were anticipating usage on
proposed areas, reported some heavy repeat users, or increased usage over
a several years)
+++ What types of media do you use to market this area to you
university community?
A wide variety of methods are used, which include:
Departmental Newsletters, word of mouth, BBoards, Faculty Orientation,
advertised at workshops, inter departmental referrals, advertised top-
down from department chairs, leaflets, pamphlets, weekly & quarterly reports,
brochures, direct mail fliers, into displays, university newspapers, email,
areas are used for faculty training, and demonstrations.
+++ How is this area funded?
12 sites reported that they are funded from an overall budget.
Some also indicated they try to obtain grants.
1 site reported stand alone funding
+++ What type of feedback have to received by the university
community. Please share both your positive and negative
responses.
Most responses were on the positive side. Comments are summarized
as follows:
Positive comments:
Place to do testing and evaluation, helpful staff
Those who use it like it
Expect continued growth
Very happy
Performed miracles
Anxiously awaiting implementation
Well received, award winning
Very positive
Negative comments:
Wanted and area in their own department
Administration does not want to promote
Faculty scared of it
Do not get a lot of input from users - when do
get feed back all on an operational level
(what doesn't work)
Feed back from higher up hard to come by
Do work for others
