University Students Facilities

        Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

For almost 65 years in existence, the University of St. La Salle is a pioneer in providing quality education in the Province of Negros Occidental. In helping the students and faculty members attain broader knowledge and skills relative to their chosen degree, the university offers course modules and collaterals such as the learning materials, functional rooms, learning facilities and equipment and oratories. To fully emphasize the quality of educational experience of learners, the university also goes through the advancement of technology with the aid of the latest learning procedures through the help of computers.

Imbedded in the school curricula is the use of computers in the practical learning experience. The ability to use computers should be mastered by each student before any progress can be done, and computer laboratories provide an opportunity for students to gain expertise and understanding. A well-functioning computer laboratory is important to students since this will increase their computer literacy and help them to better understand their subject more effectively. It gives them a hands-on experience to explore and improve themselves with the information they can derived with the aid of worldwide web and internet.

According to the university’s Information Technology Centre currently the university has a total of 11 computer laboratories each with 35 to 45 computer  units to address the different courses with subjects that  deals with the use of computers such as e – classes, graphics and design, computer application, E-PIP, programming and web designs. However, as to the use of these computer laboratories, computer units and services available, there are certain problems encountered both by the students and the administering teachers ranging from a slow and static internet connection to hardware issues. Since there is no previous research that has been made in this area of studies and an intense growing demand for service quality in the university, hence, this research study will help proponents and other significant users of this study in determining the satisfaction level of the students with the use of computer laboratories, whereas this will attempt to identify several areas and functions where problems occur.

Since customer satisfaction is a never ending pursuit, high quality of services can sufficiently satisfy the learners needs. Customer satisfaction is considered as a necessary condition for offering high quality product or services (Leah Lang, 2012). Students attend universities to acquire the neede knowledge and skills to enable them earned a living and this can be obtained through lectures and tutorials offered by the university (Potura, 2014).

The researcher’s idea on making this study is significant for the students, the faculty members and the ITC Department on helping them on what and where the areas to enhance the computer laboratory services of the university are. Moreover, improve the quality of education, develop a successful environment to support and protect the teaching and learning process, and continue to help the institution towards excellence.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the perceived level of satisfaction of students with the use of facilities and services provided by the University's computer laboratories.

Specifically, this study will attempt to answer the following objectives:

1. What is the socio-demographic profile of the participants in terms of:

a. Age;

b. Sex; and

c. Class Schedule?

2. What are the services availed by the users at the computer laboratory:

a. Internet services;

b. Computer units;

c. Software Services?

3. What is the level of satisfaction of students in terms of (with) the following factors:

a. Availability of service personnel;

b. Functionality of equipment and facilities;

c. Rational capacity of computers to students;

d. Cleanliness of computer laboratory;

e. Fast and Reliable internet connection;

f. Safety and protection inside the computer laboratory; and

g. Up-to-date Software Programs?

4. What are the alternatives open to student when the computer laboratory is not available for use?

Conceptual Framework[pic 1][pic 2][pic 3][pic 4][pic 5][pic 6]

This study will determine the demographic profile of participants, services offered by the computer laboratory, satisfaction level of students with their use of the laboratory and alternatives students do when computer laboratory is unavailable. After the data has been gathered, the researchers evaluated and analyse the results which served as the basis for the recommendation and marketing strategies to apply for the improvement of computer laboratory.

In determining the level of satisfaction with the use of the computer laboratory, all 4th year Information Technology and Computer Science students were used as the participants in this study. Research was exclusively conducted at the University of St. La Salle for the 1st Semester from the months of June until October academic year 2015 – 2016 only. The participants of this study were purposively selected based on certain demographic are and may limit the generalizability of this study.

Students and faculty members from other courses and colleges are excluded in this study. Likewise, computer units and other facilities found in the University Library and other functional rooms are also excluded. Furthermore, this study is solely informative in nature, unbiased to the opinions gathered from the participants and not intended to make decisions for the company. The idea to make service quality of customer satisfaction research, based on the customer’s point of view, was a logical conclusion for the final thesis.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to determine the level of satisfaction of 4th year Information Technology and Computer Science students with the use of services provided by the University's computer laboratories. This study is not only significant to the institution but also to the students and/or faculty members, researchers and future researchers. Stated below are the users who will benefit from this study:

University of St. LaSalle. This will serve as a basis for the University to know the importance of having a well – functioning computer laboratory in the teaching and learning process. The findings of this study may be able and can help increase the quality of computer laboratory usability.