If you have been to any of the computer labs recently you may have noticed you were asked to take an on-line survey about your computer usage in the labs. While taking surveys can be useful, students don’t want to take them for various reasons, which in turn are not a true reflection of the student body as a whole. A lot of students do not own a laptop or they don’t want to carry it around school all day; also many students like me do not have access to a computer or printer at home.
Although I was accepted to another university, I elected to attend NJCU because of its proximity, which is close to where I reside. I also loved the that courses that were being offered, the beautiful campus, educational seminars and the diversity of the student body, and the computer labs.
As an older student returning to school, having access to the computer lab is very important to me, along with the support I have received from the lab technicians who were thoroughly professional, knowledgeable and accommodating whenever I had a problem. There also needs to be more computer labs on campus especially in the library, Hepburn hall, and Vodra Hall.
The computers labs are one of the most important aspects of school life because we use them to do a myriad of things such as homework assignments, research papers, writing resumes for our internship programs, and financial aid.
Part of the school’s curriculum also offers computer classes to students in the computer lab which means a lot of students have to wait a long time to gain access to a computer when classes are in session.
There should be a separate building to house the classes so that it doesn’t interfere with our use in which there were several occasions when I was working on a paper I had to leave the area in order to accommodate the classroom that was going to be in session.
Computers are very important to students and should not be considered when contemplating ways of saving money. Some of the high school students that are a part of NJCU Academy as well as local residents use the computer lab located in the library, which is a necessary resource for some in the community who do not have access to computers.
If NJCU is to be competitive in the upcoming future and compete with local colleges such as HCCC (Hudson Community College) and Saint Peters College, who have lowered their tuition, NJCU must become more innovative, progressive and student-oriented, along with being a college that understands the needs of the local community it resides in.
Earnell Ranghel, junior
Sociology Major (graduates Spring 2013)