DOCUMENT RESUME JC 950 486 ED 387 183 McHewitt, Earl R. AUTHOR VCCS Utilization of Classrooms and Class TITLE Laboratories. Fall 1994 [and] Utilization of VCCS Classrooms: Measures That Include Non-Credit (CEU) Instruction. Virginia Community College System Research Report Series. Virginia State Dept. of Community Colleges, INSTITUTION Richmond. PUB DATE 94 NOTE 20p. Research/Technical (143) PUB TYPE Reports MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Classrooms; Community Colleges; Credit Courscs; DESCRIPTORS *Educational Facilities; Educational Facilities Planning; Laboratories; *Noncredit Courses; *Research Methodology; *Space Utilization; *State Standards; State Surveys; Statewide Planning; Two Year Colleges; Use Studies *Virginia Community College System IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT In Fall 1994, the Virginia Community College System conducted two analyses of space utilization to compare actual facilities utilization in system colleges with state standards for space planning. The first study focused on the utilization of classrooms and class laboratories over the past 4 years, determining the percentages of the standard-use levels that spaces were actually for in use. Results from this study included the following: (1) classrooms, 4 of the system's 23 colleges exceeded the state standard for space utilization in 1994, with Mountain Empire College showing a 13 colleges (2) for regular labs, rate of 117.4% of the standard; exceeded the standard, while for heavy labs 5 colleges did so; (3) from 1992 to 1994, classroom utilization decreased for 11 colleges (4) from 1992 to 1994, rates for heavy labs and increased for 6; declined for 15 colleges and increased for 6; and (5) overall, station use remained steady or decreased slightly compared to 1992. The second study performed a similar analysis of use levels, but included classroom use for non-credit, continuing education courses to determine differences in utilization rates for the colleges. This study revealed that, in general, classroom-use rates improved for about two-thirds of the colleges, with six of these moving above the standard when the additional use was counted. As expected, however, neither heavy nor regular laboratory-use rates increased significantly. (Data tables are included.) (BCY) ***************************1'******************************************* * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM Research Report Series "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THIS dued:10^4 hosear:, 4...o Irlyovere,.! 0" co i..ii f MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED VCCS Utilization of BY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION eCENTER (ERICI K B.A. Blois his document has been reproduced as Classrooms and ceived from the person or organization onginating it Class Laboratories 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Fall 1994 _ TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of slew or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent INFORMATION CENTER 'ERIC) 01 policy official OERI position [and] Utilization of VCCS Classrooms: Measures that Include Non-Credit (CEU) Instruction. otruAur,,,, 0 $ 0 0 # r z 4,%-iFetP Academic Services and Research James Monroe Building 101 North Fourteenth Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 225-2124 BEST COPY AVAILABLE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM Arnold R. Oliver, Chancellor STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES 1994-1995 Constance T. Bundy, Chair, Abingdon Robert C. Wrenn, Vice Chair, Ernporia Arnold R. Oliver, Secretary Thomas E. Albro, Charlottesville John W. Brown, Chesapeake Robert P. Crouch, Jr., Roanoke Howard M. Cullum, Midlothian Joyce Fooks Holland. Nassawadox Johnny S. Joannou, Portsmouth Leonard W. Lambert, Richmond Anne P. Petera, Mechanicsville Gamrniel G. Poindexter, Surry Donald L. Ratliff, Big Stone Gap Michael W. Reid. Alexandria Charles C. Pickers, Kenbridge Robert B. Thompson, Chatham 3 VCCS Utilization of Classrooms and Class Laboratories Earl R. McHewitt Director of Research (804) 225-2297 March 1995 4 Utilization of Classrooms and Class Laboratories One component of SCHEVs space planning system provides comparisons of colleges' actual facilities utilization with standards adopted for space planning purposes. There are separate standards for: The amount of space used per student desk or station . The number of hours that a room is used per week. The percentage of stations occupied when a room is used. The first section of this report (Tables I-III) presents combined measures of actual and, for room use and station occupancy from each of the last three utilization studies the 1994 study, the measure is expressed as a percentage of the combined SCHEV standards. This latter measure reflects, on average, how the number of hours that students use Jesks or stations compares to SCHEV assumptions about how many hours per week they should be used. Off-site facilities have been excluded from all utilization measures. College utilization measures from the Fall 1994 study permitting separate compari- table sons to each of the three standards are presented in Table IV. Data in this generally agree with SCHEV's review, not yet reieased, of Fall 1994 data. The standards for each college are listed in Table V. Generally, the data show: If a 5-point change in the percent-of-standard index (Tables 1-111) is used as a yardstick, more colleges experienced a drop than a gain from 1992 to 1994. Note that student contact hours(station use) and student credit hours are closely related, and the latter was lower by two percent in Fall 1994 for the system as a whole. Looking at utilization by type of space and using the five percent criterion, classroom utilization decreased for eleven colleges and increased for six. There was little change in the number of colleges operating at or above the SCHEV standard. Roughly one in four colleges achieved the combined standard. Rates-for heavy labs declined for 15 colleges and increased for six. The number of colleges at or near the SCHEV standard remained the same, with about one in three meeting the standard in both the 1992 and 1994 studies For regular labs, two of three colleges exceeded SCHEV standards, and of these half exceeded the standard by a large margin. Nearly equal numbers of colleges showed increases and decreases compared to 1992 rates. As was the case for the system in the 1992 study, labs are used many hours per week and are filled close to capacity when used. Overall, station use remained steady or decreased slightly compared to 1992, depending on the type of room. Only a few colleges had major gains. Regula,' and heavy labs continue to be better utilized than classrooms. Weekly Use of Rooms and Student Stations, 1990-1994 A primary data outcome of the SCHEV utilization study is the total weekly station use hours(WSUH) for classrooms and labs. This number reflects how many hours per week that students are in the rooms and roughly translates to student contact hours. Dividing this number by the total number of stations or seats available in inventory produces an average weekly station use. This measure reflects both frequency of standard or room use and occupancy when in use. The corresponding SCHEV expected level for station use is based on the product of the room use and occupancy rate standards. For example, standards of 40 hours per week for room use and 62.5 percent for occupancy yield an expected weekly station use rate of 25 hours. Tables I -III present actual station use for the last three utilization studies and, for 1994, actual use as a percentage of SCHEV standards. Information on classrooms, regular labs, and heavy labs are tabled separately. All utilization data and standards are for the extended day which includes evening hours. TABLE I WEEKLY STATION USE HOURS ALL R AND Z FACILITIES EXCLUDED CLASSROOMS 1994 As A Percent of Standard Standard 1990 1994 1992 College 74.3 26.65 19.4 19.3 19.8 Blue Ridge 84 8 26.65 22.3 22.6 21.3 I Central Virginia 52.8 25.00 20.5 Dabney S. Lancaster 13.2 18.3 82.9 26.65 23.9 23.7 22.1 Danville 73.6 25.00 7.8 18.4 Eastern Shore 14.3 25.00 103.2 23.2 24.9 25.8 Germanna 27.30 79.1 21.6 24.3 J. Sargeant Reynolds 24.1 79.9 26.65 21.3 John Tyler 21.5 19.9 94.6 25.6 26.65 25.2 Lord Fairfax 19 4 26.65 117.4 22.8 23.4 31.3 Mountain Empire 26.65 20.6 77.3 New River 22.1 24.5 99.3 27.30 28.3 29.7 Northern Virginia 27.1 88.2 26.65 23.5 Patrick Henry 18.0 15.3 66.8 25.00 Paul D. Camp 16 7 19.6 19.1 97.6 26.65 25.9 26.0 Piedmont Virginia 24.8 40.0 25.00 8.7 12.4 Rappahannock 10.1 70.9 26.65 Southside Virginia 17 9 14.2 18.9 94.6 23.7 25.2 26.65 20.1 Southwest Virginia 27.30 31.2 23.5 33.6 Thomas Nelson 114.3 80.6 27.30 Tidewater 23 0 22.0 23 5 71.3 26.65 23.2 23.4 Virginia Highlands 19.0 27.30 29.6 28.6 108.4 Virginia Western 32.1 43.5 26.65 11.6 _Wytheville 13.9 13.9 TABLE II WEEKLY STATION USE HOURS ALL R AND Z FACILITIES EXCLUDED REGULAR LABS , 1994 As Percent of Standard Standard 1994 1992 1990 College 116.5 20.25 23.6 23.6 Blue Ridge 17.1 96.8 20.25 25.8 19.6 25.8 Central Virginia 1 77.4 14.0 1?..13 12.2 14.2 Dabney S. Lancaster -I 79.5 20.25 17.7 17.4 16.1 Danville -, 62.9 18.13 9.2 11.4 10.7 Eastern Shore 156.9 18.13 28.5 26.5 25.5 Germanna 87.5 23.20 26.6 20.3 20.6 J. Sargeant Reynolds 151.6 20.25 30.7 34.2 34.7 John Tyler 85.6 20.25 24.5 17.3 13.6 Lord Fairfax 142.8 20.25 28.9 30.1 16.1 Mountain Empire 111.6 20.25 22.6 21.9 20.3 New River 108.5 23.20 25.2 20.1 Northern Vir.irna 16.7 111.7 20.25 22.6 11.5 Patrick Henry 11.1 81.1 18.13 14.7 15.6 Paul D. Camp 13.8 110.6 20.25 22.4 26.6 22.4 Piedmont Virginia 53.5 18.13 9.7 j 9.3 12.0 Rappahannock 125.6 20.25 25.4 13.7 15.5 Southside Virginia 127.0 20.25 25.7 30.9 32.1 Southwest Virginia 128.6 23.20 29.8 33.5 21.1 Thomas Nelson 75.1 23.20 17.4 18.7 19.2 Tidewater 85.5 20.25 20.6 23.9 17.3 Virginia Highlands 144.8 23.20 33.6 29.9 25.3 Virginia Western 125.2 20.25 25.3 26.3 17.5 Wytheville TABLE III WEEKLY STATION USE HOURS ALL R AND Z FACILITIES EXCLUDED HEAVY LABS 1994 As Percent of Standard Stanuard 1994 1992 1990 College 52.5 20.25 10.6 12.0 12.9 Blue Ridge 74.5 20.25 15.1 16.9 16.2 Central Virginia a 56.4 18.13 29.6 10.2 Dabney S. Lancaster 13.3 81.7 20.25 18.0 23.3 16.5 Danville 60.6 18.13 11.0 27.8 15.1 Eastern Shore 126.8 18.13 23.0 27.4 13.3 Germanna 23.20 71.1 30.1 29.8 16.5 J. Sargeant Reynolds 87.3 20.25 17.7 21.7 22.8 John Tyler 43.8 20.25 8.9 8.4 9.3 Lord Fairfax 128.4 20.25 26.0 7.0 28.8 Mountain Empire 80.8 20.25 17.7 16.4 23.4 New River 67.5 23.20 15.7 21.7 16.8 Northern Virginia 120.5 20.25 24.4 18.7 Patrick Henry 12.9 81.2 14.7 18.13 12.7 13.7 Paul D. Camp 72.6 20.25 14.6 14.7 Piedmont Virginia 15.1 28.7 5.2 18.13 3.2 4.1 Rappahannock 95.0 20.25 19.2 13.8 11.8 Southside Virginia 104.3 20.25 22.3 21.1 36.7 Southwest Virginia 86.6 23.20 30.6 20.1 27.0 Thomas Nelson 63.6 23.20 1 14.8 18.2 Tidewater 17.5 47.2 9.6 20.25 14.4 21.3 Virginia Highlands , 107.8 23.20 25.0 26.5 Virginia Western 19.5 96.1 20.25 24.0 19.5 18.8 Wytheville 1 J Facilities Utilization Measures and Standards desk or Separate measures for room use, occupancy rates, and amount of space per station are presented in Table IV. Room use is measured in hours per week. ASF/Station Occupancy is the percentage of stations occupied when the room is used. provided refers to the square footage allocated for each station. These measures are of for each type of classroom space. SCHEV standards for each measure and type off-site facilities were not included in space are listed, by college, in Table V. Again, these reports, and all measures and standards are for the extended day. The next SCHEV Facilities Utilization Study is scheduled for Fall 1996. 0