2008 UW-Madison
Faculty and Staff Computing Survey
Report Completed: September, 2008
Prepared by Mary Evansen
Division of Information Technology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Contents:
I.
Introduction and Methodology
II.
Summary of Results
III.
Detailed Results
Introduction and Methodology
The 2008 UW-Madison Faculty and Staff Computing Survey was developed and implemented by the Communications staff of the Division of Information Technology. The main goal of the survey was to determine usage and satisfaction with the information technology products and services available to faculty and staff on the UW-Madison campus. Results will be used to help guide future decisions regarding technology products and services.
A random sample of 1200 UW-Madison Faculty, Academic Staff and Classified Staff were invited to participate in the 2008 survey. These faculty and staff were sent an email invitation with a Web link to the survey via WebSurvey@UW. After the initial email invitation, non-respondents were sent two follow-up email reminders. No incentive was offered. Of the 1200 survey recipients, we received 375 responses, resulting in a response rate of about 31%.
II. Summary of Results
• Ninety-one percent of respondents reported using a desktop or fixed machine, down from 94% in 2007.
• Sixty-three percent of respondents said they used a laptop, up from 57% in 2007.
• Cell phone use has increased to 55% from 49% last year.
• Forty-eight percent reported using a portable storage device, such as a flash drive, and MP3 player usage has increased to 28%.
• Twenty-nine percent of respondents use a Mac OS X Operating System, 86% reported using Windows Vista or earlier version OS.
• The most often cited functions performed with technology devices (desktop or laptop, cell/smart phone, flash drive and MP3 player) included data storage, email, calendaring or scheduling, collaboration, and downloading or listening to music.
• When at home or off-campus, 31% of respondents primarily access the Internet via DSL, 26% use cable modem, and 21% use wireless through their cable modem, DSL or cell phone provider.
• Only 34% of respondents use WiscVPN to access campus resources.
• Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported that the campus wireless network works well for them. Fifty-three percent do not use the wireless network.
• Eighty-nine percent of respondents are either satisfied or very satisfied with the direct campus network connection at their campus office.
• Ninety-six percent of respondents report using the My UW-Madison portal; 50% report doing administrative computing, down from 58% last year; 39% use streaming music or video, up from 26% last year; 20% used wikis, blogs or VoIP, up from 10% last year; instant messaging increased to 22%, up from 16% last year; and research applications over the Internet remained at the same level as 2007 at 15%.
• The most widely used technologies among faculty and staff are email (95%), Google search (90%), flash drive (78%), cell phone (72%), digital camera (69%), Wikipedia (59%), wireless Internet (58%), online calendar (47%) and YouTube (45%).
• Among respondents who have used a particular product or service, the highest satisfaction rankings were anti-virus software, the campus wireless network and the DoIT walk-in service desk.
• Seventy-two percent of respondents reported updating or patching their computer software (operating system, Web browser or applications) within the last month.
• Seventy-eight percent of respondents are aware of the copyright infringement issue on campus, and 62% are aware of the penalties for being caught downloading materials illegally. Seventy-one percent were not aware that music files may be shared inadvertently by having file sharing programs installed on their computer.
• Eighty-five percent of respondents indicate that they are aware that phishing attempts are prevalent, and 86% are aware that they often come though email. Eighty-three percent know not to respond to unsolicited requests for personal information. Only 34% of them perceive that they know how to identify a malicious Web site.
IV.
Detailed Results
1. To make sure we are supporting the right products and
services, please tell us which of the following you use: [Check all that apply]
|
|
Jan 2005 |
Jan 2006 |
Jan 2007 |
Jan 2008 |
|
Desktop/Fixed machine |
94% |
94% |
94% |
91% |
|
Laptop/Portable computer |
36% |
29% |
57% |
63% |
|
Cell phone |
24% |
20% |
49% |
55% |
|
Portable storage device |
18% |
22% |
37% |
48% |
|
MP3 player |
-- |
5% |
19% |
28% |
|
Handheld Internet device (smart phone, etc.) |
22% |
18% |
11% |
11% |
2. Which operating system(s) do you use on the computer(s)
you own or use? [Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
Windows Vista or earlier version |
86% |
|
Macintosh OS X or earlier
version |
29% |
|
Linux |
11% |
|
Unix |
3% |
|
I donÕt know |
4% |
|
Other |
1% |
3. Please indicate the functions or activities that you
perform with the information technology products you use: [Check all that
apply]
|
|
Sched- uling |
Email |
Wikis/ Blogs |
Phone Calls |
Music |
Data Storage |
Video |
IM |
Collabo-ration |
|
Desktop/Fixed machine |
57% |
59% |
53% |
12% |
40% |
48% |
52% |
48% |
57% |
|
Laptop/Portable computer |
30% |
36% |
42% |
9% |
26% |
30% |
43% |
38% |
38% |
|
Cell phone |
6% |
1% |
2% |
72% |
2% |
1% |
0% |
10% |
0% |
|
Handheld Internet device or smart phone |
9% |
5% |
2% |
7% |
2% |
2% |
1% |
4% |
1% |
|
Portable Storage device |
1% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
2% |
25% |
1% |
1% |
7% |
|
MP3 player |
2% |
1% |
1% |
0% |
31% |
2% |
3% |
0% |
0% |
4. When you are at home or off-campus, what is your primary
method of accessing the Internet? [Check one]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
Digital Subscriber Network (DSL) |
31% |
|
Cable modem |
26% |
|
Wireless (commercial service
through cable modem, DSL, or cell phone provider) |
21% |
|
Campus dial-in modem pool |
8% |
|
I do not access the Internet
when at home or away from UW-Madison |
6% |
|
Dial-in modem using a commercial
Internet service provider (AOL, TDS, Metrocom,
etc.) |
5% |
|
Other |
2% |
|
Mad City broadband (wireless) |
1% |
5.
When you connect to the
Internet from home or off-campus, do you use WiscVPN to access campus
resources? [Check all that apply]
Thirty-four percent of respondents
either use WiscVPN exclusively or sometimes when connecting to the Internet
from off-campus, 33% do not use it. Forty percent do not know what WiscVPN is.
6.
Regarding the campus wireless
network, please indicate which of the following statements are true for you.
[Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
I don't use the campus wireless
network |
53% |
|
The campus wireless network works well |
39% |
|
I have problems getting a
wireless connection |
6% |
|
I get a weak signal when I use
the wireless network |
4% |
|
I canÕt get wireless access
where I need it |
3% |
7. Assuming you have a direct campus network connection at
your campus office, please indicate how satisfied are you with the performance
of that connection:
|
|
Percent Response |
|
Very Satisfied |
62% |
|
Satisfied |
27% |
|
Neutral |
7% |
|
Dissatisfied |
0% |
|
Very Dissatisfied |
0% |
|
I do not have a direct campus
network connection |
4% |
8. Which of the following Internet services do you use at
the UW? [Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
My UW-Madison (Web portal) |
96% |
|
Administrative computing
(student records, Shared Financial System, payroll benefits, etc.) |
50% |
|
Streaming audio or video |
39% |
|
Instant messaging (AOL, Yahoo,
MSN, etc.) |
22% |
|
Blog, Wiki, VoIP (Skype, etc.) |
20% |
|
Research applications over the
Internet (Internet2) |
15% |
|
Video conferencing |
14% |
|
Podcasting or video podcasting |
8% |
9. Which of the following statements apply to you regarding
the ResearchChannel? [Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
I have not heard of the
ResearchChannel |
79% |
|
I have not submitted content and
do not plan to |
16% |
|
I have viewed programming |
5% |
|
I have submitted content to it |
1% |
|
I am planning to submit content
within the next 12 months |
1% |
10. Please indicate which of the following technologies you use: [Check all that apply]
| Response Percent | |
|---|---|
| 95% | |
| Google searching (search, maps, video, etc.) | 90% |
| Flash drive/USB/thumb drive, etc. | 78% |
| Cell phone | 72% |
| Digital camera | 69% |
| Wikipedia | 59% |
| Wireless Internet | 58% |
| Online calendar | 47% |
| YouTube | 45% |
| Google applications (Gmail, Writely, spreadsheets, etc.) | 41% |
| MP3 Players (iPod, Zune, etc.) | 39% |
| Text messaging | 35% |
| Music downloads | 33% |
| Digital video | 32% |
| Instant messaging/chat | 31% |
| Wikis | 25% |
| Blogs | 24% |
| Computer kiosks (free-standing Internet access stations on campus) | 23% |
| Message boards | 23% |
| Podcasts | 21% |
| Faceboo | 19% |
| Bluetooth | 19% |
| PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) | 19% |
| RSS feeds | 19% |
| Skype or other Internet long distance service | 18% |
| TIVO (digital video recorder) | 17% |
| MySpace | 16% |
| Handheld Internet Device (smart phone, iPhone, Blackberry, Treo, etc.) | 14% |
| Gaming consoles (Xbox 300, Wii, PlayStation, etc.) | 13% |
| Flickr | 10% |
| Social bookmarking and/or Social News (del.icio.us, Digg, reddit, etc.) | 7% |
| Portable gaming system (Nintendo DS, PSP, etc.) | 6% |
| E-portfolio | 4% |
| Virtual worlds (Second Life, Action Worlds, etc.) | 3% |
| Mashups | 3% |
| Blu-ray Disc | 3% |
| Massively Multiplayer Online Games (Everquest, World of Warcraft, Rune Scape, etc.) | 2% |
| Mobile social software/GPS (Dodgeball) | 1% |
11. What information technology services should the UW
provide that are now unavailable?
Of the 67 responses to this question, the most requested
service was to have one integrated email and calendar package that is
compatible, available and possible to sync/access on a variety of devices.
Other services mentioned were more training/updates on available services,
better technology in classrooms, video-conferencing capabilities and better
home office support.
12. Please tell us which of the following services you are
AWARE of:
|
|
2008 |
|
My UW-Madison |
93% |
|
WiscMail |
92% |
|
DoIT Help Desk (Tech Support via phone, email or Web) |
87% |
|
DoIT Tech Store |
87% |
|
DoIT Walk-in Service Desk (Help Desk and Repair area) |
78% |
|
My WebSpace (free Web-based storage for file & Web
pages |
73% |
|
WiscCal (online calendar) |
73% |
|
TechNews (DoITÕs email newsletter) |
70% |
|
Campus wireless network (in public locations) |
70% |
|
DoIT Repair and Desktop Support (fee-based) |
69% |
|
Professional Technical Education (IT training) |
69% |
|
Anti-virus software (free download or CD) |
68% |
|
Computer labs (general access) |
67% |
|
Computing@UW (DoITÕs newsletter insert in Wis. Week) |
62% |
|
Learn@UW |
56% |
|
Campus computer kiosks |
54% |
|
WebSurvey@UW |
37% |
|
Instructor-invited software trainer in academic classes |
28% |
|
Bucky Backup |
27% |
|
Digital Academic TV Network (DATN) |
20% |
|
Research Channel |
13% |
13. Please tell us which of the following services you have
ever USED:
|
|
2008 |
|
My UW-Madison |
90% |
|
WiscMail |
87% |
|
DoIT Tech Store |
72% |
|
DoIT Help Desk (Tech Support via phone, email or Web) |
70% |
|
Anti-virus software (free download or CD) |
49% |
|
TechNews (DoITÕs email newsletter) |
45% |
|
My WebSpace (free Web-based storage for file & Web
pages) |
42% |
|
Campus wireless network (in public locations) |
42% |
|
WiscCal (online calendar) |
39% |
|
Computing@UW (DoITÕs newsletter insert in Wis. Week) |
39% |
|
DoIT Walk-in Service Desk (Help Desk and Repair area) |
37% |
|
Computer labs (general access) |
36% |
|
Campus computer kiosks |
35% |
|
Professional Technical Education (IT training) |
31% |
|
DoIT Repair and Desktop Support (fee-based) |
30% |
|
Learn@UW |
29% |
|
WebSurvey@UW |
16% |
|
Digital Academic TV Network (DATN) |
11% |
|
Bucky Backup |
10% |
|
Instructor-invited software trainer in academic classes |
4% |
|
Research Channel |
3% |
14. Using the scale provided, please rate your satisfaction
with these DoIT services. If you have not used a particular DoIT service,
please check the "Have Not Used Service" button. Services were rated
on a 1-5 scale (1 = very dissatisfied, 5 = very satisfied.)
A comparison of mean (average)
ratings from 2006 – 2008 is below. Anti-virus software, the campus
wireless network and the DoIT Walk-in Service Desk had the highest satisfaction
ratings. (Note: in previous years the Walk-in Service Desk was combined with
the Help Desk and Desktop Support categories.)
|
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
Anti-virus software (free download or CD from DoIT) |
-- |
-- |
4.4 |
|
Campus wireless network |
-- |
-- |
4.3 |
|
DoIT Walk-in Service Desk (Help Desk and Repair area) |
-- |
-- |
4.2 |
|
WiscMail |
4.2 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
|
My UW-Madison |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
|
DoIT Tech Store |
-- |
4.1 |
4.1 |
|
DoIT Repair and Desktop Support (fee-based installation
and repair) |
4.0 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
|
Campus computer kiosks |
-- |
-- |
4.1 |
|
Computer labs (general access) |
-- |
-- |
4.0 |
|
DoIT Help Desk (tech support via phone, email or Web) |
4.1 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
|
Professional Technical Education (IT training) |
3.8 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
|
My WebSpace |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
|
WebSurvey@UW |
3.6 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
|
Computing@UW (DoITÕs newsletter insert in Wis. Week) |
-- |
-- |
3.8 |
|
TechNews (DoITÕs email newsletter) |
-- |
-- |
3.8 |
|
Digital Academic TV Network (DATN) |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
|
Learn@UW |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.7 |
|
WiscCal (online calendar) |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
|
Research Channel |
-- |
3.4 |
3.6 |
|
Bucky Backup |
3.6 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
|
Instructor-invited software trainer in academic classes |
-- |
-- |
3.6 |
15. How often do you back up your important data?
Response
Percent
Daily 33%
Weekly 20%
Monthly 13%
Every six months or so 12%
Never 21%
16. When was the last time you updated or patched your
computer software (operating system, Web browser or applications) with released
patches or new versions?
Response
Percent
Last week 51%
Last month 21%
Last year 10%
Never 18%
17. Regarding the issue of illegal downloading of music and
movies (copyright infringement) on campus, which of the following statements
applies to you: [Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
I am aware of the copyright infringement issue on campus |
78% |
|
I am aware of the publicity that
the campus has generated on this issue |
71% |
|
I am aware of the penalties for
being caught downloading material illegally |
62% |
|
I am aware that music files may
be shared inadvertently by the installation of common file sharing programs
(LimeWire, Morpheus, BitTorrent, etc.) |
29% |
|
I have not changed my views on
downloading |
24% |
|
Awareness of this issue has
changed my opinion on downloading |
14% |
|
I subscribe to a fee-based
(legal) service to download movies and music |
14% |
|
None of the above |
9% |
18. Regarding online scams or phishing, which of the
following statements apply to you? [Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
I am aware the phishing attempts
often come through email. |
86% |
|
I am aware that phishing is prevalent. |
85% |
|
I know not to respond to
unsolicited requests for personal information. |
83% |
|
I am aware that there are
malicious Web sites, but I donÕt know how to identify them. |
51% |
|
I am aware that there are
malicious Web sites, and I know how to identify them (https, lock icon, etc.) |
34% |
|
None of the above. |
2% |
19. As a normal part of your work, do you regularly (at
least once per year) handle electronic versions of sensitive University data
including: [Check all that apply]
|
|
1-10 Records |
11-100 Records |
101-1000 Records |
More than 1000
Records |
I do not handle any of this data |
|
Social Security Numbers |
7% |
8% |
8% |
7% |
70% |
|
DriverÕs License or State ID Numbers |
4% |
3% |
2% |
2% |
88% |
|
Financial Account Numbers (debit/credit cards or any
access/security codes) |
10% |
5% |
2% |
3% |
79% |
|
Protected Health Information |
4% |
2% |
6% |
4% |
83% |
|
DNA Profiles |
0% |
1% |
0% |
0% |
99% |
|
Unique Biometric Data |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
99% |
20. Are you aware that the University classifies these data
elements as restricted and requires special security controls to be in place
when handling this data?
Fifty-three percent of respondents
are aware of the special security controls, 11% were not aware. Thirty-six percent of the respondents
indicated that this information is not applicable to them.
21. Are you interested in taking any computing skills
courses (such as database, spreadsheet, PHP, web design, Office 2007: new
features, Learn@UW for faculty, etc.) in the coming year?
Thirty-eight percent of
respondents said yes, 24% replied no, and 39% of respondents said they are
unsure.
22. In what computing topics or areas would you like to have
training? [Check all that apply]
| Response Percent | |
|---|---|
| Spreadsheets (Excel) | 39% |
| Web design (Dreamweaver) | 33% |
| Databases (Access) | 33% |
| Graphics & Animation (Photoshop, Illustrator or Flash) | 33% |
| UW-provided tools (My WebSpace or WiscCal) | 28% |
| Presentations (PowerPoint) | 26% |
| Web Forms (creating Web forms for collecting information that is sent to a database) | 23% |
| Microsoft Office 2007 (What's new features) | 22% |
| Word Processing (Word) | 17% |
| Course Management System (Learn@UW) | 15% |
| Video capturing & editing (Vegas Video or iMovie) | 15% |
| Wikis or Blogs | 13% |
| Other | 12% |
| Narrated online presentations (Connect, E-Teach or Articulate Presenter) | 9% |
| Content Management Systems (DotNetNuke, Drupal, Joomla, etc.) | 7% |
| Take an online, self-paced course of any of the above | 51% |
| I am not interested in computing skills courses at this time | 6% |
23. What is
your primary role at the University? [Check one]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
Administration |
34% |
|
Research |
28% |
|
Other |
22% |
|
Teaching or instruction |
16% |
24. What is your classification? [Check all that apply]
|
|
Percent Response |
|
Tenured Faculty |
11% |
|
Non-tenured Faculty |
4% |
|
Instructional Academic Staff |
7% |
|
Non-instructional Academic Staff |
38% |
|
Classified Staff |
31% |
|
Limited Term Employee (LTE) |
4% |
|
Limited (not to be confused with
LTE) |
1% |
|
Other |
5% |
25. What is your department or unit? [Check all that apply]
Response
Percent
Administrative Offices 8%
College of Ag and Life Sciences 8%
College of Engineering 5%
College of Letters and Science 18%
Division of Continuing Studies 1%
Division of Information Technology
8%
Division of International Studies 1%
Graduate School 8%
La Follette School of Public
Affairs 0%
Law School 1%
Military 0%
Nelson Institute for Environmental
Studies 1%
School of Business 2%
School of Education 5%
School of Human Ecology 1%
School of Journalism and Mass
Communications 0%
School of Library and Information
Studies 0%
School of Medicine 17%
School of Music 2%
School of Natural Resources 0%
School of Nursing 2%
School of Pharmacy 1%
School of Social Work 0%
School of Veterinary Medicine 3%
UW Libraries 3%
Other 11%
26. Regarding the technology products and services that are
available to you, please list any suggestions for improvement, new product or
service, or let us know if you have a complaint.
Comments and/or complaints
included; WiscMail is clunky and doesnÕt have enough memory, Learn@UW is very
difficult to use, make WiscCal more user-friendly and available on all
platforms. Respondents would like
better/more training and IT support for staff and faculty with more times
available for each class; standardized software to better access and share
information; and improved wireless accessibility and high-speed connections.
27. Would you be interested in providing additional
information at a future time? If so, please indicate your name and email
address. NOTE: This is optional and your answers to the survey will remain
confidential.