2009/2010 Faculty Survey Results
Part II Comments (edited)
Contents
Libraries .......................................................................................................................................... 1
USA Health System ........................................................................................................................ 4
Technology ..................................................................................................................................... 9
USA Bookstore ............................................................................................................................. 14
USA Federal Credit Union............................................................................................................ 15
Additional Comments ................................................................................................................... 16
Libraries
I wish I could access more journals and articles off of Pubmed through the
Biomed Library, instead of having to order them and wait to be sent the article.
My old institution was much better in what we had full access to, in regards to
journal articles. and I hate that when I click on Biomed library on the Hospital
internet, I have to click something again to be redirected to the new site - can't
they get that updated?
Broader access to journals. More journal subscriptions needed (whether
electronic or otherwise).
Biomed library staff very helpful and accommodating
Biomedical library does not provide services to faculty from A&S, even though
faculty from A&S and College of Medicine collaborate with each other. This needs
to change. Every faculty in USA should get same services at the Biomedical Lib.
regardless of which department/college they are from.
journal access has improved and needs to continue to do so
Electronic resources are difficult to navigate. A clear list with direct connections to
journals and books would be beneficial. The current system navigates the user
through multiple pages and can lose the original search request along the way.
Access to electronic journals must be expanded.
I think the staff is quite capable, but they do not have sufficient funds.
I don't use the biomedical library directly.
I commend the services of USA Library Staff.
Need more on-line journals subscribed to.
Dissatisfied with the limitations placed on faculty renewals of library materials
necessary for our research.
Need access to American Geophysical Union journals
The library has few resources to help my teaching and research, but I believe it is
primarily due to a lack of funding.
There are a few journals that I have tried to articles from that are not available
My negative comments are principally directed at the Biomedical Library's inability
provide access to some top journals, especially during the first year of publication.
I do recognize that this may be beyond the budget of the Biomedical Libr but this
is our business and we need these resources to perform our work adequately.
They are always ready to help if you only ask them.
I am please with the assistance provided by the Libraries. I think they all do a
great job.
here are a few journals and such I cannot find sometimes. I usually can get
them interlibrary loan, but its extra work.
The interlibrary loan people are wonderful. They help make up for the fact that the
library is not as comprehensive as a graduate institution should be.
Library should subscribe to Nature journals and Cell journals. The scanned
interlibrary loan documents provided are of poor quality and often not ledgible.
I really appreciate the BL who comes and rounds with us at Children's and
Women's Hospital.
Interlibrary loan process is not always reliable.
The Biomedical Library (every department) provides great, and customized
service that contributes to the success of our department.
The Interlibrary Loan department in the University Library is excellent. The
library's holdings are extremely limited making it hard for students and faculty to
achieve their research goals. Also, the limited renewal policy for faculty seems
time consuming for both the faculty and the Library staff, as well as requiring the
books to be transported more than necessary.
I mostly use the MCOB Library. It is excellent.
Bio med staff is great!
The biomed library is a great resource. They always are helpful and speedy to
help answer my questions. Couldn't do my job without them!
Now that nursing and allied health are on campus, the space at the biomed library
for student study groups is very inadequate. Students from other disciplines that
might use/need/benefit from more services in the biomed library are limited. Is
there a plan to expand the space, open it up to other disciplines, and grow the
biomed library services?
I don't view the libraries purpose to keep me abreast of the latest developments in
teaching and research. If that were the job of the library, then the library should be
polling the faculty: we are on the cutting edge of research and teaching.
The resources are wonderful and available. The difficulty is having time to use
these resources as workloads are so high in College of Nursing.
Still would like to see a more consistent and easier path to online journals. It is
different for several journals and sources and sometimes I get lost in the maze of
trying to figure out how to get the PDF version to print or save
Faculty should have longer loan periods on their library books.
The addition of more electronic journals is critical for research.
I cannot believe that the university dropped the subscription to Books In Print.
This is a basic resource that any self-respecting university library should have.
There are many other resources that would be extremely valuable, but the
university administration needs to understand the importance of the library to
research and teaching.
More electronic subscriptions even if that means fewer books. Faculty need to be
able to borrow for much longer periods of time.
Allocate more money to online resources; every journal the library subscribes to
should be available online.
The university library has only about half of the scientific books that I need.
The loss of Web of Science as a resource is unfortunate, as is the lack of access
to some of the basic journals (such as the ASM journals) in my field. They are
available after 6 months, but that does not make the most recent research
accessible.
I'd love access to more journals in counseling and counseling psychology, group
work, etc. Especially the Journal for Specialists in Group Work.
I'm not sure exactly what I would requesr, but it seems the biomed library might
send out more e-mail notices about services provided, methods for searching
journals, rtc.
Not sure if it's the library that needs to do this but since they maintain the journal
subscriptions I will mention it here - it would be very helpful if the university
provided membership to the ICPSR which is the largest holding of social science
data available - membership to ICPSR is pretty standard at every university I have
been at and at most universities I am familiar with; however, membership often
falls to a particular department who then resents paying because everyone in the
entire university gets to use it but it only comes out of a single departmental
budget - essentially it is a research resource that allows both students and faculty
access to data over an immense range of social science subjects and it is
something that I think should be provided by USA. Given that it is a research
resource based on yearly subscriptions, I think that a case can be made that it is
within the purview of the library, also since it can be utilized by the entire
university once paid for, I think having it fall within the library would keep
departments from wrangling over it - of course, I realize that the library would then
have its own budgetary beef; however, I believe they could make the case for
additional funding to provide the service given its 1) research orientation and 2) its
multidisciplinary and university wide appeal.
USA Health System
There is a serious shortfall in primary care services available to USA employees
within the system. It is virtually impossible to obtain a timely appointment at KPG
and it is often not with your physician. The Pediatric practices are bursting at the
seams and there is a serious lack of Internal Medicine Primary Care services.
The faculty routinely turn away employees and other privately insured patients for
lack of a practice. Urgent Care is not an adequate substitution for primary care. If
we choose to offer urgent care services they should be available after hours and
weekends. I think it is unlikey the University will be able to build other services
without an adequate primary care base. We are also doing a tremendous
disservice to our employees by not providing these services within our system.
I feel Thomas Hospital should be added to the list of hospitals and utilized as it
was in the day of Prime Health. We added Infirmary West which is owned by
Mobile Infirmary, Thomas is also owned by Mobile Infirmary so it would be nice
not to have to travel to Mobile for health care. Thanks.
All of the choices in #12 means loss to the employee. I would not wish for either.
the healthy are carrying a heavy burden for the unhealthy
Over past 2 yrs have seen significant increase in time for emergency/work in
illness appt (from same day to 2-3 wks now) , as well as for routine followup appts
(from 3-4 wk availability to 3 mos before available now) with my primary care MD.
Not enough primary care/internal med docs. Very pleased with my internist and
quality of care, accessibility is the issue! I switched to USA docs due to insurance
reimbursement and now am questioning my decision.....Also, need more gyn's
that "stay a while", so you can build a relationship.
Access to an internist in the USA health system is poor. KPG has lost many
talented physicians which have yet to be replaced. The options left will force me
to look outside the USA system for a PCP. This needs to be addressed.
It takes weeks and months to make appointments for regularly scheduled (nonemergency)
visits.
Appointments are meaningless, it only means sometime on that day. This needs
to change. One appointment does not mean we have to clear 4-5 hours from our
work schedule.
Pediatricians don't give well-baby care appointments after school hours. How
education friendly are we to expect to pull children out of school for well-baby care
appointments? That also needs to be made weeks/months in advance. Why?
USA should improve their overall health care coverage and benefits, and provide
better coverage for prescription drugs.
Very disappointed in mental health services. why now items related to this?
Pleased with Infirmary West at Knollwood, very displeased with USAMC...docs
and staff were rude and treated me the same, I imagine, as they treat the other
indigent patients.
There is a lack of specialists in USA Doctors Group
The cost should be borne by the heaviest users .... an increase in deductibles is
heaviest on a person who uses the system infrequently. However, a higher co-pay
is borne by the heaviest users. If I'm exercising, eating right, not smoking or
drinking, I should be able to benefit from these healthy habits by having a much
lower deductible. As it is, the people who practice health promotion are penalized
the most. What kind of message are we sending?
The only dissatisfaction I have is that my and my wife's primary care physician left
the USA Physicians Group. This also happened with my children's pediatrician,
though my children are now old enough (16 & 20) to use adult physicians.
I required emergency treatment last year and was APPALLED that BCBS has NO
AGGREEMENT WITH ANY AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THE INTIRE STATE OF
ALABAMA! Thus, I had to pay more than $400 cash for a 1.5 mile ride in an
ambulance
I used an emergency room that was non-affiliated with USA on several occasions
and no data was collected for that choice I make due to my residence in Baldwin
County (it was either USA or no ER services needed - no alternate ER services).
You always leave out an obvious option in q12: that the University cover a greater
portion of the cost...that would be my preference.
Increased health care expenses should be covered by the university. So raise for
the last 3 years.
Make sure health care reform passes
One of the problems that continues with using USA physicians for primary care is
that there seems to be too much turnover in the practices. It is frustratin when
you develop a relationship with a primary care physician and then have to start
again every few years.
This is the most I have paid for the least benefits in both the private and public
sectors. Using the USA system should be cheaper.
The University picking up more of the tab for health care.
I haven't yet established my provider as I am relatively new in the system so am
no able to respond appropriately to most of these questions; but with salaries
frozen (no raise) it would be difficult to have any cuts, no matter how they are
addressed.
Better coverage for physical therapy would be nice. My child has to go weekly
and I don't think I've had a visit yet that I don't have to pay something for it.
To increase co-pays would make it equitable for everyone. If you don't go to the
doctor, then you don't have an increased cost. Staying healthy would be an
incentive.
There is a large turnover of doctors associated with USA - there is no continuity of
care.
Increase the costs for use of a non-USA doctor or facility.
How about adding a mail order maintenance prescription drug plan - they are
usually much less expensive.
I have not studied any comparative data on either costs of co-pays in our plan
related to other plans or on the availability of doctors. In my own experience, I
never had a USA primary care doctor for any significant length of time (longer
than two years.) I was always having to find a new doctor, and often the ones
recommended to me were full. I just signed on with a non-USA physician this
month. It means paying a higher co-pay, but at least I can get an appointment
within a reasonable amount of time, and this doctor is from Mobile and intends to
have her practice here. Getting a dermatologist appointment is the worst.
I have not had the same doctor for more than 3 visits in 20 years of using USA
physicians. Stability in the staff at USA Knollwood Physicians Group would be
helpful.
Since premiums are paid with pre-tax dollars, an increase in premiums is preferred.
Faculty qualty of life is in sharp decline at USA. Additional fees for health care will
cause it to decline further.
I would answer these questions differently for my children's pediatrician within the
USA system and my adult primary care provider. I answered related to my
primary care provider. I have not been pleased with the time to get an
appointment and access to Midtown pediatrics. I love the physicians and have
stayed with them because I like them and the care for my children but the way the
office is run does not seem efficient.
With regard to the co-pay questions and other questions like this, I think they
needed to be divided out between use of services within the USA system and
outside the system. I am pleased with the co-pay inside and outside of the
system overall but I am not pleased that I have to pay the outside the USA system
co-pay for specialty services not available within the system such as
gastroentorology, ENT, dermatology, to name just 3 examples. My family has had
to a need for services of these specialty areas and we needed to go outside of the
USA system at the time and pay the higher co-pay. In one instance surgery was
needed and that outside MD did not have privileges at the USA system and so we
had to pay the $150.00 copay for out of USA surgery services. I was not pleased
with that when USA did not have the service within the system. I am assuming
there are other specialty services we do not have that this would also occur.
There should be some way that a co-pay could be the same outside of the USA
system as if we were inside the system for those specialty areas not available
inside the USA system.
I am very displeased with the high deductable for PT services if you chose to go
outside of the USA system for outpatient adult PT. What is available currently for
outpatient PT is not accessible to faculty, staff or students on main campus ans is
VERY VERY small in comparison to the highly staffed and excellent services at
an outpatient PT facility such at Providence or Thomas Hospital or other private
PT practices in the area.
Either an increase in co-pays or deductibles. I don't use the health insurance
much and don't really want to pay higher premiums for services I don't use. It's
good that the services are available, but don't penalize everyone for services only
some people use.
Those who have more family members on the family plan should pay accordingly
The main problem is that the service at Knollwood is horrible.
Not very happy with the USA doctors. Very frustrated. Would hate to pay more in
order to continue to be unsatisfied with the competency and service.
My emergency room visit was outside of Mobile. That was not a choice.
There are virtually no primary care doctors in the USA system. This is at crisis
point and must be rectified immediately.
USA Health Systems lack many specialties, such as ophthalmology, dermatology,
and allergy, which increase members' co-pay.
It irritates me that there is a 'single' option and a 'family' option, but no option for a
couple with no children. I pay as much for two people as others pay for 4-5
people. Not what I consider fair.
Our health plan should offer an "employee plus 1" option, with reduced premium
over family plan since fewer people are covered.
The ability of USA Health Plan to keep primary-care physicians is appalling. In
the the 15 years I have been here, I have had 8 different physicians since they
keep leaving. I am presently trying to find a new one and I am tired of starting
over every other year.
I believe that increased health care expenses should be absorbed that those who
are using the services. Therefore, an increase in co-pays is more approrpriate
than an increase in premiums. This also serves to decrease unnecessary
utilization of health care services.
Impossible to answer question #13 without details -- i.e., how much.
With the new health care bill there should be an overall reduction in health care
costs. The insurance companies will have many more clients which should
actually reduce our copays, premiums, and deductibles. It would be unAmerican
and unethical to raise the cost of health care when the insurance companies have
been operating without oversight for so long.
Do not wish to see an increase in health care expenses -- especially do NOT want
to see caps placed on services received.
An increase in co-pays is preferable over an increase in premiums; the people
who use the benefits more should have to pay more. Those of us who keep
ourselves healthy through good diet and exercise and rarely go to the doctor
shouldn't have to pay an increased deductible or premium.
not happy with USA docs for primary care, went elsewhere after first experience -- co-pays generate a higher psychological impact than deductibles or premiums,
so could more effectively reflect the costs of health care to consumers,, all other
choices obscure costs somewhat
How is one to answer question 12? Salaries have remained stagnant (and they
are not very high to begin with) while expenses have increased across the board.
We are barely getting by as it is. With #12 what is really being asked is: "In what
form would you like your salary reduction to come?"
The university services are in a state of total involution and are basically closing.
One must now seek services outside the University in virtually all specialties.
Although I'm retired (and on Medicare with USA BC/BS as supplementary, I've
always felt the amount we RSA members pay for health care premiums is too low.
less wassteful spending on decorations for USAC&W
Ultimately I would prefer to see separate offerings such as a distinct HMO plan
versus a PPO plan where those willing to accept some limitations could realize a
cheaper plan while those opting for more coverage and more choice could
appropriately pay for such choices
Have a problem with paying the same for 'family' coverage (premium) as a family
with 6 children would pay.
When DR. Whidon was running Prime Health, perhaps it was reasonable to force
us into this mode of care. However, I can see no reason we should not have
access to the main three hospitals in Mobile. If we are practicing good medicine,
then we will go to Infirmary WEst or USAMC. If we are not, let the market solve
the problem. AT our hospitals we do not have access to Cardiology Associates or
the Heart Group--yet heart disease kills 50% of our population. WE do not really
get into preventative medicine or the use of afternative forms of medicine
(including the use of supplements). This lack of focus is harmful to all of us.
We can't seem to hold onto some specialties like dermatology, urology, which is
frustrating. My primary care physician just left USA, hassles regarding who I will
see now, etc.
MAKE A THRID CATEGORY- ONE FOR COUPLES ONLY, WE SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO PAY FOR A FAMILY PLAN
the health plan needs to include vision coverage beyond the testing, i.e. glasses
or contacts
If the quality of USA health services which are cheaper through or benefits
program does not improve I will find another employer.
Development of health and fitness services. We are an OBESE faculty and staff
and getter more obese. With obesity comes all of the medical problems that are
VERY COSTLY. No one seems to want to see the Pink elephant in the room and
I don't want to continue to pay for faculty and staff that don't want to take the self responsibility
to intervene in their own health issues to decrease the overall costs
to our health plan. Make our health insurance premiums like life insurance. If you
chose to engage in risky behaviors like obesity, HBP because you are obese, type
2 diabetes because you are obese or don't take responsibility to follow a plan of
care outlined by your health care provider, then you should pay more in your
premiums than those that go out of their way to "follow the rules" and take care of
themselves and incur little to no healthcare costs. Something has to be done. I
REFUSE to pay higher health insurance premiums because our claims go up
related to obesity, heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. I am sick and
tired of paying for those that do not want to take self-responsibility but expect all of
us to do so.
University should support the electronic health record system.
Technology
PETAL Rocks!
University email very time consuming to open from other locations-takes a long
time to load all of the parts; continually has to do this every time you change
screens
ridiculously burdensome amounts of spam make it through our filters
Difficult to get requested repair/upgrade work on personal office computers.
CPU's old, refurbished and break down often. Computer technology in
classrooms not maintained/repaired regularly or promptly.
broadband access is unsatisfactory. Internet is very slow at times during the day
USA wants faculty to do all sorts of things with technology, but we do not
personally have access to the programs or sufficient training.
there needs to be better, more extensive, and consistent support for faculty
websites, especially when these are being used to support classroom teaching.
IT is understaffed. Much of hardware is pushed beyond useful life expectancy.
Our reliance on computers is increasing, & our dependence on Internet access &
robust network behavior is now mission-critical. A perfect storm.
Four-year replacement schedule for our primary tools - our personal computers
(both PC and Mac) needs to be reinstated ASAP
Groupwise should be made adaptable to the iPhone...this phone is quite popular
and I have to forward all my emails through another address in order to receive
the content on my iPhone
COMPUTER SERVICE AND FUNCTIONALITY IS VERY POOR SOFTWARE
REMAINS OUTDATED AND UPGRADES THAT ARE NECESSARY (AND FREE)
AREN'T INSTALLED
Dissatisfaction with help on technology is based on my experiences using the
Polycom video conferencing equipment. Technical support is lacking.
We need access to a content management system on the main university web
server. Having to use static HTML to manage large websites is ungainly and
inefficient.
Technology in the classrooms varies by a ridiculous amount. This is unfair to our
students. Classroom technology should not be left to individual departments but
implemented on a college or university-wide basis.
There should be an option for not erasing emails from the university email service
without moving it out of the system.
Internet and e-mail are often super slow or unavailable
We have a computer tech person in name only. She doesn't nothing for our
department and is generally inaccessible.
Arts and Sciences has one person to help all of us with our computer needs. He is
incredibly busy and cannot possibly do all of the work that is needed. I hate the
sun java email program we have -- I have to keep re-loading it to see new
messages, but often have to do it 4-5 times because it doesn't work properly. I
also do not like that I cannot see students' names as part of their email address -all I see is letters and numbers. The sun java email program also makes it
impossible to easily access addresses you commonly write to. I have to
continually type them in. The address book function is useless.
Our Department needs better Departmental Web page management.
Groupwise is not very good and numerous functions do not
Access to help on technology issues after hours is very poor. During regular
hours it is ok.
I find USA's e-mail service to be very inefficient. It constantly kicks me out when
I'm reading, sending, and/or moving e-mails forcing me to re-enter my password
multiple times in order to work with my e-mails. Thanks for asking!
Internet access speed nust be increased
Sometimes that Internet connection is slow during the middle of the day and that
can be very annoying.
Too much irrelevant e-mails from the college!
We are heavy users of a site licensed program that is controlled by computer
services. The computer services staff has never actively asked for feedback from
users of the program. Consequently, there are aspects of the software that are
useful but not purchased as part of the agreement between the university and the
vendor.
There is not enough tech support staffing in A&S!!!! The number and frequency of
university wide emails is out of hand at best.
Groupwise is awful. It has cost me at least one publication because the
submission did not go through.
Can't we get a spam blocker
Too much campus wide email comes through groupwise which makes it difficult at
times to filter through it. Some way of opting out of campus wide emails or a way
to be more selective of the ones would be helpful.
It would be helpful to have servers provided to back up data.
The university really needs to tap into a faster pipeline for internet access. Even
on the LAN access the speed clocks fairly slow for internet connections.
My department continually has problems with Dell projectors, but the technology
staff continues to order the same type. Also we continually have the same
problems with our equipment over and over again. The technology team,
however, does respond quickly to our phone calls.
Our department is saddled with the cost of upkeep of class technology expenses
for classrooms used by a number of departments with no reimbursement for initial
costs or subsequent maintenance costs
It is almost impossible to get technology-related help in our college because there
is so much more need than personnel.
Please consider switching to Microsoft Outlook for email.
we need support for apple computers and software
There needs to be a single unified email system for all faculty, staff AND students.
There is considerable inefficiency in trying to figure out who has what email
address...
Email is sometimes a problem with items being lost for some reason or having to
relog in too many times in an hour. I have used PETAL and it is a good and
valued service to me.
Trying to find the time to teach myself the use of Smart Boards is just not
possible. I hope to find the time this summer.
I can't imagine that the staff in computer services is at all up to the task of fulfilling
the VPAA's goal of increasing technology. Consequently, that staff will grow at the
expense of maintaining the faculty size. The end result will be more staff who are
not directly involved in teaching or research.
College of Nursing has equipment but it often is not working correctly and causes
delay in classroom time. Internet is only offered in some areas of CON. If a
nursing faculty does not have an office at CON it is difficult to get computer
access. Mediasite is not used by students. It is not effective and takes an
enormous amount of faculty time.
I know what the College of Medicine has in computer and technology support and
what we have is an absolute and utter joke. We have a "techonology" person that
walks down our hall in our department saying "I hate MACs.: Real nice to know
you have a "technology person" that is supposed to support your entire college
that says things like that and does not seem to try and is not given financial
support to be educated in assisting with MAC issues. In addition, the person is
rarely available and takes forever to get assistance. With regard to daily support
for technology in the classroom, it is NON existent in our college and
embarrassing when you are trying to recruit a faculty member that has come from
another university where they have the appropriate support for technology in their
DEPARTMENT and in their college.
The univeristy is the largest producers of spam. To many people send out emails
to everyone in the university. There should be a better filtering system. I work at
USAMC; most actitivities on campus do not affect me. Dozens of unneccessary
emails each week are rather annoying.
We cannot have the simplest computer problems fixed in a timely fashion in our
department We waited a year for an upgrade in RAM in a computer-equipped
classroom and finally just did it ourselves using a faculty member's old RAM from
home. Few of our classrooms have any computers, and those that do have
terribly outdated and/or broken materials. The community colleges have better
resources than we do, honest. I had better equipment in the classroom in the
1990s at other universities.
Petal, OLL … are all useless. They don't have the training to
help faculty. Couldn't all of this be outsources to people who are competent?
The computer services staff are helpful and friendly but they do not have time to
"keep us abreast of the latest technologies".
External grants provide computer resources for resources in most departments,
without them computer technology would be severely lacking.
Many classroom computers are not maintained, some even have viruses.
Departments try their best and hire students to maintain lab and classroom
computers but in this technology-based era there should be a more coherent
university- or college-wide effort in place.
It seems that the university uses the email service to solicit for things that are not
important.
My email dissatisfaction is from the use of GroupWise. Outlook is much more
useful, especially the calendar functions for scheduling meetings.
We need completely updated computers with faster connections in the large
lecture halls of the humanities buildings. We also need to have greater technical
support. Our tech person, Jason Smith, can't do it alone. If the university wants
us to utilize more technology, then they have to give us the tools to do it
The email system especially seems to be lacking and very limited in the services.
Even simple thinkgs like finding email addresses can be difficult.
Our internal computer technology support is very poor in Allied Health.
Computer Services response rate is too long. They need more personnel
Within the COAH, requests for assistance with technology are either not
addressed or significantly delayed. On several occassions, time-sensitive emails
sent to students on the jaguar1 server have not been received by students for
days or weeks.
Computers in faculty offices and some of the labs and classrooms are outdated.
Software also needs for faculty and student use also needs to be upgraded.
My computer is VERY old and VERY slow. It has constant glitches which prevent
me from getting my work done. The techs know this, but the Admin's fancy
computer update, etc are more important. I go home to work on my personal
computer. I have tried to do videoconferencing with both SKYPE and polycom.
Both are problematic. The University needs a band dedicated to academic uses of
Internet and if we are to continue with international initiatives using
videoconferencing we need the connection to work. I also volunteered to conduct
a videoconference-based class from BCF and was told NO. Despite all the $$$
spent on tech (for things like Second Life), USA doesn't have even close to the
capability of schools like Auburn which are able to offer classes using technology
that allows students from all over the world to attend via webcam. I have asked for
several years that we get this tech so we can hold onto our dwindling grad
programs and told we don't have the funds (or it just isn't that important). I have
seen our grad programs go from robust to almost non-existent over the past five
years.
I contacted the computer tech when I experienced difficulty in the classrooom
With the equipment (Humb 150) He had trouble talking with me over the cell
phone he used Then did come to campus but still could not make the dvd work. I
have not used any of the equipment in the rooms since that experience.
It is annoying to that the emails were deleted automatically after 3 month, which
means you have to archive it every so often. It will be nice if the mails are not
deleted but rather set a limit on the size of mailbox.
Great job!
The university e-mail needs more filtering! I receive numerous e-mails daily that
should be sent to "undergraduate" or "graduate" students only. I am medical
faculty and do not have time to delete all of the extra.
the computer service methods and policies seriously delay work completion and
patient care
The network architecture in the MSB building is in disarray.
It would be very useful to have local and remote access to large (TB) amounts of
online data storage for backup and archiving of teaching materials and research
data.
I'm not really sure what the USA computer services center does, they have never
to my knowledge been available or advertised as a source of assistance in the
years that I have been here - I am satisfied with my classroom technology but it is
provided by my department not anyone else. When I have needed assistance
with technical matters and have contacted university resources, I have generally
found them lacking, i.e., not familiar with my problem and can't assist or just
generally unresponsive. This however does lead into the last issue regarding
email - they have been somewhat responsive in my issue but mostly to tell me
what I want, we don't have and although they are working on it, we are unlikely to
have a solution. Essentially, I would like to see my email (groupwise)work with my
iphone. I am able to access it through the Internet option on my iphone so it is not
a "critical" issue but it would be great if it integrated seemlessly - particularly given
the popularity of the iphone in society writ large, I have a hard time understanding
why this can't be done.
technology definitely behind in the medical fields. Access is slow and
cumbersome
I wish the Jaguar mail system had more "search" options for searching old e-mail.
Class e-mail often won't respond(freezes) The Petal classes are only for those
with prior knowledge. Instructors favor those with the tech knowledge.
Would like to have both Jaguar1 and Groupwise accounts
Groupwise SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frustration with the no replacement policy on computer equipment and having to
obtain dean's permission to replace small, but vital computer equipment that is
broken. Department chair should be able to make those calls.
The university needs to have a unified technology policy to allow for regular
equipment updates on an annual basis. Other universities have moved more to
PC lease and repair programs, centralized email systems, etc. The current state
of affairs ends up with students having much better equipment, access to
technologies than do the faculty, staff, etc..
USA Bookstore
The USA Bookstore is an intellectual wasteland. Even Barnes and Noble does a
better job on university campuses.
The University bookstore is run so poorly they would never make it in the private
sector. There isn't enough space to tell you how bad our bookstore is!!!!!! They
are totally clueless and incompetent.
Bookstore is TOO expensive.
I'm surprised that the student discounts on software are not lower.
Bookstore never informed me of discontinued book. Had to learn from students
after classes started.
Now that the health science bookstore has been moved to the main bookstore it
does make it more inconvienet working at the hospitals as well as I feel the
selection is not as good.
The mark-up at the bookstore is very high, and daunting for students.
The bookstore should update to electronic textbook submissions for the
instructors. The paper textbook order forms are out of date and wasteful. The
electronic format would be more efficient, less time consuming, and in the long
term save resources.
Run like a movie pawn shop. Never get the same answer twice. Turn it over to the
staff and students!
As a university author, I gave up years ago asking that all of the books that I have
written be stocked in the bookstore.
I don't know if this is a bookstore issue or a communication issue within our
department. I recently found out 1/2 way through the semester that the students
were sold a new edition of a text for my class but I was never advised that there
was a new edition and, therefore, did not request a desk copy. At my previous
university, the book store automatically contacted the publishing company to order
a desk copy of the new text for the faculty member and informed the faculty
member that there was a new edition of the text. When I inquired with the
bookstore about this situation, I was advised by the bookstore that they always
call the dept. secretary to let them know there is a new edition. I have never been
told by our department secretary that there is a new edition of the text so I am not
sure if the call was made and the secretary did not tell me or that the call was
never made to our department from the secretary.
It is impossible to adhere to the bookstore's deadlines for book orders because
the university relies on underpaid adjuncts who cannot be recruited fully for weeks
after the deadline.
I think that the USA bookstore should offer more general interest titles and scientific books that are not
directly related to the courses taught.
Book costs are too high for students.
I can't believe we have a Bookstore to this day that doesn't stock magazines or
periodicals
The USA Bookstore needs to remember to stock up on textbooks required for
courses, even on-line courses. They should order above the maximum enrollment
for a course.
USA Federal Credit Union
The staff has no clue what they are doing. Rules and regulations change from one
day to the next. And none of them make any sense. For example, if there is a
mistake on your credit report and you have it corrected, you have to wait 30 days
to apply for a loan (after you spent time to correct someone's error).
Its mortgage options are far too limited.
The USA FCU is fine, but I hate going in there and being accosted by the revolting
FOX News channel. Keep it on the Weather Channel or something neutral when
you have a captive audience, for heaven's sake. Or, hey, how about you don't
make us watch TV at all?
Very impressed with helpful attitude of the credit union staff.
Only negative comment about the credit union is that it would be more convenient
to have them on campus
The FCU is one of the very best there could be. The policies are enabling, and
the staff is tremendous!
Additional Comments
Football and band are an unnecessary drain on university resources. I will NEVER
go to a game or support it in any way. IT is a waste of $$ when faculty do not
have adequate support in classes and travel to professional conferences. VERY
bad idea.
While I appreciate the new HAHN building immensely, the nursing
department/enrollment exceeded the space we were allotted before we moved
into the building. Classes often crowded, as are student lounge and staff offices.
With the number of students nursing has enrolled, dont understand how bldg
space allocation was determined???
USA has little intellectual atmosphere. It is becoming nothing more than a
business. It is a sad development.
Benefits should be extended to domestic partners, including same-sex partners.
The university provides faculty with 5 semester hours free each semester. I
assume this is a throwback to the quarter system where 5 hours made sense.
Why not provide 6 semester hours?
There should be a uniform policy that guides the number of student that can be in
a section of all courses. If double the number are in a section, double teaching
credits should be given to the teacher.
USA Business Offices need to be surveyed. The services they provide are highly
inadequate and irregular.
We love having the football team! Great fun!
I'd like to see USA implement a serious recycling program for more than paper
goods
Faculty should get a choice between paycuts and benefit cuts. For some of us
the benefit cuts are much more painful and we would rather have a paycut instead
to decrease taxable income.
The administration of the institution is focused upon increasing administrative
salaries and developing policies and procedures that bloat the ranks of the
administration. Surprise: the university can survive without administrators. It
cannot survive without faculty who are active researchers and outstanding
teachers. Get your priorities straight.
Technology is wonderful, but only when it works and is effective. Mediasite is not
effective. Workloads are often too high in CON to take advantage of library,
resources.
USA should have provision to donate sick time
Have other surveys covered security/USA police? If not, maybe it should in the
future. Thanks.