Your Voice Heard
DCU Library Services:
You told us that you wanted extended opening hours in the library, and more collaborative and meeting spaces to reflect the different preferences of the student body.
In September 2014, the library opening hours have been extended to 8.30am-2am Monday- Thursday all year round. The DCU library now has some of the best library access opening hours of any Irish university
From October 2014, DCU have been able to new the newly refurbished library lounge on the ground floor. The space is designed to provide students with better informal meeting spaces, and a relaxing environment to take a break from studying.
Since September 2014, the Patrick J Wright Research Commons has been made available for use by all postgraduate students, alongside a postgraduate computing suite on the lower ground floor of the Library. The facility provides postgraduates with comfortable study and dedicated meeting spaces.
DCU Library Services
You told us that you wanted more food and drink facilities in the library, with better opening hours
In the summer of 2014, Trispace refurbished the Zero One restaurant, to create a new 140-seat contemporary space that opens onto cafe terraces and allows access to the Library at lower ground level for the first time. The opening hours of the restaurant have also been extended.
DCU Student Support and Development
You told us that you wanted more supports in place for mature students at DCU.
In 2014, Student Support and Development underwent restructuring to create a full-time position dedicated to post-entry mature student support. The Mature Student Officer is available to provide advice and co-ordinate supports to specifically address issues affecting mature students at DCU
DCU Student Support and Development
You told us that you wanted more privacy when using the computer area in the Student Advice Centre
Over the summer of 2014, we installed privacy screens between the computers in the Student Advice Centre.
DCU Student Support and Development
We asked students for feedback on the types of workshops they wanted in the new DCU Life Skills Centre. You told us you wanted workshops and clinics on improving skills in group work, academic writing, and presentations skills among others.
The new DCU Life Skills centre is open in AG00 in the Albert College Extension. It offers a wide range of workshops and drop-in services to support students in their personal and professional development. Information on upcoming events can be found here: http://www.dcu.ie/students/events.shtml
DCU Information Systems and Services (ISS)
You told us, in student surveys, that you wanted easier access to software packages, such as SPSS that were required as part of your studies
ISS have made licensed software available to download and install on their own computers via the ISS website: http://www.dcu.ie/iss/student-services/software-apps-overview.shtml
DCU Information Systems and Services (ISS)
You told us, through the Students’ Union representatives, that you wanted a facility for the short-term loan of laptops.
Working with the library, DCU introduced a Self-Service Laptop loan facility. In 2013, there were *,*** individual loans of these laptops. Given the success and significant demand for this service, ISS are currently extending this scheme.
DCU Information Systems and Services
You told us that you wanted enhanced print facilities on campus, including being able to top-up PaperCut with either cash or bank-card.
In 2014, DCU introduced both cash and card top-up facilities for Papercut. ISS also introduced Follow-Me printing, which allows users to more flexibly select a printer when printing materials. Follow-Me and PaperCut also allows students to quickly select which print jobs to print directly from the printer’s front panel.
School of Health and Human Performance
You told us that you would like to get to know students from other years of your programme of study
We initiated a “Get Active Day” in Health and Human Performance, to allow all students and staff in the school to get together and have a friendly and fun competition in a number of different activities
School of Biotechnology
You told us that you would like tutorials, and more feedback on presentation, essays, case studies and other work completed during the academic year
The School of Biotechnology regularly holds tutorials and individual student sessions with students to review their work, and provide feedback and guidance on improving critical thinking, academic writing and presentation.