COUNSELING
CENTER
UNIVERSITY
OF MARYLAND
COLLEGE
PARK, MARYLAND
GRADUATE
STUDENT USE AND PERCEPTIONS
OF THE
STAMP STUDENT UNION:
A
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM THE PAST DECADE
Victoria J. Balenger and Marsha A. Guenzler
Research Report No. 2-92
COUNSELING
CENTER
UNIVERSITY
OF MARYLAND
COLLEGE
PARK, MARYLAND
GRADUATE
STUDENT USE AND PERCEPTIONS
OF THE
STAMP STUDENT UNION:
A
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM THE PAST DECADE
Victoria
J. Belanger and Marsha A. Guenzler
Research
Report No. 2-92
Summary
This report summarizes information from a number of
studies relating to graduate student use and perceptions of the Stamp Student
Union. Areas addressed included information sources about the Union, use of
services, facilities, and dining options located in the Union, recreation and
leisure use of the Union, interest in new Union services and dining options,
and perceptions of the Union. Generally, it seems that the academic- and
work-oriented lifestyle of graduate students may have an important influence
on how they use and perceive the Union. Recommendations are made for increasing
graduate student interest and involvement in Union services and programs.
Graduate
Student Use and Perceptions of the Stamp Student Union:
A
Summary of Research Findings from the Past Decade
In pursuit of its mission of meeting the needs of a
diverse campus community, the Stamp Student Union maintains an ongoing program
of research and evaluation. As the Union looks for new ways to serve various
campus subgroups, research findings can inform decision-making and
facilitate long-term planning of services, programs, and facilities.
One group that is of interest is graduate students. In the
past decade, graduate student use and perceptions of the Stamp Student Union
have been assessed as part of three major studies conducted at five-year
intervals (Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991; Sergent, Sedlacek, &
Mallinckrodt, 1987; Webster & Sedlacek, 1981). The major purpose of the
"five-year" study is to examine preferences and utilization
patterns among graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff.
While this research summary focuses mainly on the three
"five-year" studies of the past decade, data were also drawn
from a smaller study about graduate student use of the Hoff Theater
(Maliinckrodt, Sedlacek, & Manning, 1985) and a recent telephone survey
about the dining options in the Union (Balenger & Guenzler, 1992). The
study by Balenger, Guenzler, and Sedlacek (1991) will be used as the primary
source of information for this report, although trends in graduate student use
of the Union will be identified whenever possible.
2
Information
Sources About the Union
Graduate students most often get their information about Union happenings from campus newspapers or newsletters (especially the Diamondback) (63%), word-of-mouth (551.), and posters/flyers on campus (401.) (Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991). These findings are consistent with previous research (Sergent, Sedlacek, & Mallinckrodt, 1987; Webster & Sedlacek, 1981).
Where Graduate Students Spend Their Time Between Classes
and What They Do
Graduate students most often spend their time between
classes at campus libraries (41%), offices on campus (23%), and or their place
of residence (10X). Compared to 16% of undergraduates, only 3% of graduate
students tend to spend their time between classes in the Stamp Student Union
(Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991). This difference is consistent with
the data on which specific activities undergraduates versus graduate students
tend to pursue between classes. While graduate students more often study (56%
graduate, 4% undergraduate) or work (2% graduate, 5% undergraduate),
undergraduates more often eat (18% undergraduate, 7% graduate) or meet with
friends (17% undergraduate, 7% graduate). Thus, it makes sense that the higher
percentages of undergraduates who are eating or meeting with friends between
classes might be doing so in the Union. These findings corroborate those of
earlier studies (Sergent, Sedlacek, & Mallinckrodt, 1987; Webster &
Sedlacek, 1981).
3
Use of Services and Facilities Located in the Union
In 1990, graduate students most often indicated that they
had used the following services and facilities located in the Union: University
Book Center (97%); the Union Shop convenience store (87%); restroom facilities
(83%); Diamondback dispensers (83%);
bulletin boards (80%); the Information Center (76%); the self-serve
postal facility (71%); pay or campus phones (701.); display cases (67X);
Citizen's Bank and the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) (67%) These results are
consistent with earlier findings (Sergent, Sedlacek, & Mallinckrodt, 1987;
Webster & Sedlacek, 1981). Thus, it appears that graduate students get a
wide range of needs met at the Union. Sergent, Sedlacek, and Mallinckrodt
(1987) emphasized the Union's role in providing information for members of the
campus community. From the research, it is evident that graduate students tend
to use the Union for this purpose.
Use of Dining Options in the Union
Balenger, Guenzler, and Sedlacek (1991) found that the
highest percentages of graduate students had used Roy Rogers* (79%, the Food Co-op
(69%), and the Pizza Shop (61X). These results are consistent with the findings
of Balenger and Guenzler (1992), who found that graduate students most often
used Hardees* (891.), the Food Co-op (75%), the Union Shop convenience
store (58X), and the Pizza Shop (53%). In the 1992 study, graduate students
reported eating at the Union with the following frequencies: daily (1%); a few
times a week (21%); once a week (12%); every other week (12%);
(*) Roy Rogers became Hardee's in the summer of 1990.
4 -
once a
month (16%); and less than once a month (19%). Eighteen
percent
indicated that they never eat at the Union, usually because
they
bring their own meals from home.
Recreation
and Leisure Use of the Union
Similar to undergraduates and faculty/staff, graduate
students most often reported that they had met with friends at the Union (73%)
and attended Hoff Theater movies (55%) (Balenger, Guenzler, and Sedlacek,
1991). Graduate students also reported attending lectures/presentations (50%)
and using the lounges (61%) in the Union. These findings corroborate those of
other researchers (Sergent, Sedlacek, & Mallinckrodt, 1987; Webster &
Sedlacek, 1981), who also found that graduate students pursued a similar array
of recreation/leisure activities in the Union.
As noted above, the Hoff Theater represents one of the
major recreation/leisure outlets for graduate students in the Union. The
results of a 1985 study (Mallinckrodt, Sedlacek, & Manning, 1985) offer
some historical information on graduate student use and perceptions of the Hoff
Theater. In this study, it was found that significantly fewer movies were seen
at the Hoff Theater each month by graduate students who had access to cable TV
or movies on videocassette compared to those who did not (34% of the sample
reported having regular access to either cable TV or a VCR). Seventy percent of
participants agreed that improvements in advertising would increase their
patronage at the Hoff Theater, while they were less likely to agree that double
features (32%), popcorn and refreshments (20%), or cartoons before feature
5
films (16%) would increase their Hoff patronage. Although
these findings may still have some relevance, it is important to note that the
study was conducted before videocassette recorders (VCR's) reached their
current level of popularity and before the Hoff added its concession stand.
Further research would be needed to determine the degree to which these
findings describe present graduate student use and perceptions of the Hoff
Theater.
All-Niter Attendance
The Stamp Student Union All-Niter is an annual event
held each September to welcome students back to campus and introduce members of
the campus community to the services and programs available in the Union. Each
year, the All-Niter has a theme (e.g., Sailing Aboard the S.S. Union) and
features musical entertainment, food, a variety of programs and special events,
contests, and presentations by various campus organizations. In recent years,
there has been a special emphasis on multicultural All-Niter programming
(e.g., International Fair; step shows).
Here, information on rates of graduate student All-Niter
attendance from two studies will be provided. The first study, conducted with
1984 All-Niter attendees during the event, found that 4% of those
surveyed were graduate students, compared to 79% undergraduates, 13% campus
visitors, and 4% faculty/staff (Mallinckrodt & Sedlacek, 1985). In a 1990
study that gathered more general
information about use of the Union through a campus-wide mailed survey,
it was found that 6% of graduate student respondents had attended the 1989 All-Niter
(Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek,
6
1991). The same survey found that 18% of undergraduates
and 7% of faculty/staff had attended the 1989 All-Niter.
Interest in New Union Services and Dining Options
When asked which new services they would like to have
available in the Union, graduate students most often said they wanted a fully-staffed
post office (Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991). (In response to
customer demand, Mailboxes, Etc. came to the Union in Spring, 1991.) Compared
to undergraduates, graduate students indicated that they would use a dry
cleaners, a hair cutting/styling salon, a quick copy service, and an upscale
restaurant significantly less often.
With regard to dining options, graduate student expressed
the most interest in Chinese food, health food, and Mexican food. When asked
how frequently they would use various new dining options in the Union, graduate
students tended to indicate that they would use them less often than did
undergraduates. Also, compared to undergraduates, graduate students said they
would use a nonalcoholic pub significantly less.
Perceptions of the Union
In the 1990 campus-wide study (Balenger, Guenzler,
& Sedlacek, 1991), graduate students expressed significantly less positive
perceptions of the Union than undergraduates on a wide variety of topics. For
example, graduate students were less likely to agree that they generally have a
pleasant experience at the Union, and more likely to agree that the Union was
somewhat inadequate in filling their needs. More specifically, graduate
students were less
7
positive than undergraduates with regard to the
cleanliness of the Union and the attractiveness of the facility. From the
findings, it was also apparent that graduate students find it more difficult
than do undergraduates to find their way around the Union.
Although these results seem to suggest that graduate
students are not satisfied with the Union, it is important to note that ratings
tended to fall in the neutral range. For example, the mean graduate student
response to "My feelings toward the Union are mostly negative" was
2.59 (SD=.803 on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The
mean undergraduate response to the same item was 2.13 (SD=.84), one of the more
definitive responses to any of the attitudinal items. Thus, graduate students
did not actually agree with this item; they simply disagreed less strongly than
did undergraduates. Graduate student means for positively worded items also
tended to be neutral.
Another possible explanation for the less positive
responses of graduate students may be that the Union serves a different role in
their lives than it does for undergraduates. Research suggests that graduate
students use the Union primarily to get their service needs met, while
undergraduates apparently view the Union as a place for social interaction
(Balenger, Guenzler, 8 Sedlacek, 1991?. Thus, compared to undergraduates,
graduate students may feel less "at home" in the Union, and this may
influence how they evaluate the Union on many dimensions.
8
Summary and Recommendations .
Like undergraduates, graduate students appear to get a
variety of needs met through the Stamp Student Union. It appears that the Union
serves an important function in providing information for graduate students;
some of the Union services that have been used by the highest percentages of
graduate students include the Diamondback
dispensers, bulletin boards, display cases, and the Information Center
(Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991?. Reflecting the centrality of
academics in the lives of graduate students, nearly 1001. of those who
responded to the 1990 survey had used the University Book Center. Finally, it
seems that graduate students rely on the Union to get daily service needs met,
making relatively frequent use of the self-serve postal facility, the
bank and Automatic Teller Machine (ATM?, and the pay phones.
While graduate students apparently use the Union to get
some of their recreation and leisure needs met - meeting with friends or
attending Hoff Theater movies, for example - they use it less often than
do undergraduates, and perhaps feel less identified with the Union. Here, the
data on what the two groups do with their time between classes (Balenger,
Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991? are illuminating. Studying and working are
primary activities for graduate students; thus, they spend most of their time
between classes at campus libraries or offices. While many undergraduates also
study between classes, this group also
tends to eat or meet with
friends, activities which may often take place in the Union.
9
Generally, it seems that the academic- and work-oriented
lifestyle of the graduate student may have an important influence on how she or
he uses and perceives the Union. Given that graduate students tend to be
neutral on the question of how well the Union fills their needs (Balenger,
Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991?, it might be helpful to explore ways of
becoming more responsive these academic- and work-related needs.
The Union might consider providing additional services that can be conveniently
utilized within the context of graduate students' demanding schedules, for
example, a late-hour study lounge or a copy center.
With regard to graduate students' orientation toward
working, the Union and its tenant departments currently employ 18 graduate
assistants, providing each with tuition remission, health benefits, and a
stipend. By offering such sources of financial support to full-time
graduate students, the Union is meeting a critical need while at the same time
providing a vehicle for these students to become more involved on campus.
Additionally, the Union is a fertile ground for extracurricular learning
opportunities that might be of interest to graduate students in various campus
departments. The Union and its tenant departments currently provide several
internship and practice opportunities to graduate students. To whatever degree
such opportunities can be further developed and marketed to campus graduate
students, they could significantly increase graduate student participation in
Union activities and operations.
10
While the Union potentially has a lot to offer graduate
students, this population apparently does not use and perceive the Union in
quite the same way as undergraduates. As illustrated by past research (e.g., Balenger
& Guenzler, 1992; Balenger, Guenzler, & Sedlacek, 1991; Sergent,
Sedlacek, & Mallinckrodt, 1987?, graduate students have distinct needs and
preferences, the nature of which we are only beginning to understand. It does
seem that the Union can increase graduate student involvement and service use
by learning more about these needs and preferences, and "marketing"
its services, facilities, and programs accordingly. This report represents an
effort to consolidate past research and evaluation findings, toward better
understanding how the Union can meet the needs of graduate students. Additional
research, perhaps focusing on the role of the Union in graduate students'
academic and work lives, should be helpful in furthering this goal.
11
References
Balenger, V.J., & Guenzler, M.A. (1992). Stamp
Student Union Dining Options
Survey.
Internal research report. College Park: University of Maryland.
Balenger, V.J., Guenzler, M.A., & Sedlacek, W.E.
(1991). Use and Perceptions
of the Stamp
Student Union by Students, Faculty, and Staff. Internal research report. College Park: University
of Maryland.
Mallinckrodt, B., & Sedlacek, W.E. (1985). A study
of participants in the
1984 Stamp
Union "All-Niter". (Counseling Center Research Report No. 11-85). College Park: University of
Maryland.
Mallinckrodt, B., Sedlacek, W.E., & Manning, M.
(1985). Attitudes and
preferences
of graduate students toward the Hoff Theater. (Counseling Center Research Report No. 8-85).
College Park: University of Maryland.
Sergent, M.T., Sedlacek, W.E., & Mailinckrodt, B.
(1987). Student, faculty,
and staff
perceptions of the Stamp Student Union. , (Counseling Center Research Report No. 4-87). College
Park: University of Maryland.
Webster, D.W., & Sedlacek, W.E. (1981). Attitudes
and behavior of UMCP
students and
employees toward the Maryland Student Union. (Counseling Center Research Report No. 3-81).
College Park: University of Maryland.