Assessment of Students’ Satisfaction on the Restructured Essay

1.0 IntroductionAt the University of gold coast in that location be reports that populates origin exclusivelyy strengthened to instruct two bookmans, argon now offici tot all in allyy allocated to five educatees (after minor modifications), besides un semiofficially occupied by as many as eighter or nine to the knowledge of the university authorities A voice from the obvious hygienics and health hazards posed, what kind of ambience does this provide for issue after classes? all in all of which have brought around African universities to a state of serious deterioration. This is unembellished non only to those who work or interpret in those universities tho to even the most casual visitor. (Association of African Universities, 2004) Housing is a basal human need in all societies and fundamental right of twain individual. In advanced countries, trapping is more accessible to all categories of peck including the poor and the needy as a result of subsidies from th e government. The topographic point is not the uniform in developing countries of the world.In Ghana, for example, accessibility to living try-ons by the poor is quite a difficult collapse which is worsened by the harsh economic conditions and poor enabling environment. Likewise, accessing hold facilities by Ghanaian savants at the university is no exception, especially where much(prenominal) university happens to be the dream address of most Ghanaians entering into tertiary institution. In tertiary institutions worldwide, the provision of adaption to the school-age childs creation takes different models.This includes non-residential, where assimilators source for their own adjustment. residential, where the university houses all its pupils and dual-residential, where the university houses its school-age child population for a period of time only, probably the prototypal and utmost year, epoch the students during the remaining period source for their own accommod ations. The experiences of students in tertiary institutions in sourcing and securing for their own accommodation around university comm social unities atomic itemize 18 likely to be enkindle and significant. However, it is worth noting that, University of Ghana, the nations premier university has gone through a series of development when it mothers to how to carry its students, both undergraduates and postgraduates.1.1 Research problemUniversity of Ghana has undergone a series of reforms when it comes to the residential indemnity for its students. The ever increasing issue forth of enrollees in the institution is what defines this restructuring of the policy politics students accommodation over time. In the past two years what the incumbent vice chancellor of the university condition as Decongestion has taken plate in anticipation to the fulfillment of the university achieving qualification in its field of operation. The drive has also been fast tracked by his informal g oal that the university should achieve a world-class status. Effective August, 2011, the university effectively implemented its decongestion policy allocating board to a maximum of three (3) students and iv (4) students in the main halls and annexes respectively.This was done to address the problems of overcrowding that resulted in adverse cause of poor sanitation, pressure on residential utilities much(prenominal)(prenominal) as class period rooms and libraries, kitchen and washrooms, among whatever other(a) poor conditions for effective personal studies by students. residential facilities have been increased to make the policy successful. Even though, the problem of myopic accommodation for students is not entirely solved, the restructuring have been effective since its implementation, and it is worth canvass the effects of the new policy, whether it has achieved its goal or it is towards achieving its intended goal or otherwise. 1.2 Purpose of the submitThe main reaso n why this research is being conducted is to evaluate the delight of students with the latest students residential policy and its effects on their studies.1.3 Objectives of the studySpecific objectives of the study ar as follows1. To assess students acquaintance of sanitation in the halls/hostels now. 2. To assess students cognition of security in the halls/hostels now. 3. To check up on students accessibility to some basic hall/hostel utilities.1.4 Research Questions1. What is students science of sanitation in the halls/hostels now? 2. What is students perception of security and comfort in the halls/hostels now? 3. What is the accessibility status of students to basic halls/hostels utilities now?1.5 Relevance of the studyAs a top university in Ghana and Africa and one which is stress to attain a world class status, adequate facilities should be provided and already existing ones improved, especially standards of services and facilities which include providing conducive on- campus student housing facility. The supra research provides the grounding for this study and gameylights the areas of new knowledge which are needed to focus upon students blessedness of residential facilities in University of Ghana. A primal requestion is what is the level of students atonement with regards to the students housing facility (SHF) in the context of University of Ghana?The study contributes to a better understanding of SRS of UG. The results offer invaluable feedback to the university authorities, facility managers and university hostel/hall administrators in cost of the demonstrate standards or the need for besides improvement of the SHF through effective designs and management. The results allow help to formulate guidelines in terms of allocation of rooms to students, tutelage and for future developments of student housing ensuring that the university is able to provide adequate and coetaneous on-campus SHF.2.0 Literature Review2.1 IntroductionThis sec tion reviews existing literature on the student residential facilities. It is mainly made up of previous studies, journals, articles, periodicals amongst other sources. They form the secondary source of data to the study.2.2 The Concept of Student Residential FacilityStudent housing has capacious been regarded as an essential chemical element of the facilities provided by the higher learning institutions in assisting students to expand their intellectual capabilities. consort to Hassanain (2008), well planned student housing facilities (SHF) promote desirable educational outcomes and help to achieve the broader objectives such as social cohesion and amenable citizenship. An earlier study by Zahran (1972) reveals that a good student housing promotes interactions surrounded by roommates of different backgrounds and specializations and thus broadens the students knowledge. Amole (2005) argues that facilities such as study areas or meeting show ups for donnish discussions and soci al gatherings provided in the student housing leave behind encourage informal intellectual activities outside the students own faculties. Price et al. (2003) cerebrate student interpersonal growth to adequate facilities and Fay (1981) highlighted the importance of students pleasure in the SHF as a strategy to enhance student development. despite the importance of SHF, little literature is available to evaluate student opinions of their housing facilities. Most studies on post-occupancy evaluation focus on family housing every public or common soldier domicils, investigating the interaction amidst owner-occupiers or tenants and their housing settings. Majority of these studies utilized the concept of housing satisfaction when evaluating the interactions between the residents and their physical environment (Amole, 2009b). Arguing that housing satisfaction can hotshot towards improving individuals quality of feeling, Salleh (2008) investigates dwelling, housing services and vi cinity factors that influence the residents of occult low-cost housing in Malaysia. The study revealed that the residents are more satisfied with their dwelling units and housing services if compared to their neighbourhood facilities. Elsinga and Hoekstra (2005) study housing satisfaction among European communities and find out that except in Austria, homeowners are more satisfied than the tenants because homeownership provides security, freedom and financial benefits.In contrast, pile (2008) analyses the influence of age and type of ownership on the level of satisfaction and establishes that tenant satisfaction increases with the age at a much fast rate than the type of homeownership. However, student housing and family housing are not the same. Student housing comprises of basic bedroom units with other shared facilities such as bathrooms, toilets, laundry, kitchens, common lounges and cafeterias located either per floor level, per block or for the whole student housing accommo dation (Amole, 2009a). On the contrary, the basic unit for family housing is a house which includes bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets and a living area all as part of the unit with other housing facilities such as playground, shops and school at the neighbourhood (Parkes et al., 2002). In addition, student housing offers especial(a) security of ownership and freedom if compared to family housing.Therefore, the above findings may not utilise in the context of student housing. Studies on residential satisfaction (RS) from the student perspective are mostly focused on factors falling RS such as reasons for students to fight their previous residence (Cleave, 1996) and predictors of student residential satisfaction (SRS) (Foubert et al., 1998 Khozaei et al., 2010b). There are also studies on student housing with narrower scopes such as the effects of floor height on over-crowding (Kaya and Erkip, 2001) students perceptions on interior comfort (Dahlan et al., 2009) students sense of atta chment with a particular student housing (Khozaei et al., 2010a) coping strategies for students staying in student housing (Amole, 2005) and the relationship between satisfaction and levels of environment (Amole, 2009b).These studies offer little guidance as to whether the students are satisfied with SHF provided. Among the limited studies on SRS are studies by Amole (2007, 2009a), Hassanain (2008) and Radder and Han (2009). Amole (2007, 2009a) investigates RS among students in Nigeria and the findings indicated a low satisfaction with the SHF provided. Radder and Han (2009) researched student satisfaction levels in South Africa and the findings indicated again a level of dissatisfaction with campus residences. Alternatively, Hassanain (2008) found that students in Saudi-Arabian Arabia indicated a level of satisfaction with the SHF provided. However, the studies were conducted in countries where the culture and mood are different from that experienced in the Southeast Asia region, w hich is likely to affect the perceived environment of the built environment. Therefore, the results of the studies may not be relevant to the study context.2.3 Evolution of the accommodation structureOriginally, halls in the university were built to equip two students per room. This provision was adequate for students because not many people sought-after(a) for higher education. However, as the population of Ghana increased and the need to adjudicate higher education became giving in the rural, the number students enrolled separately academician year increased rapidly as well. Residential facilities were increased and expand to accommodate the ever increasing number of student intake which demanded restructuring of student residential policy given the limited resources the university had. In the midst of the reforms, beyond the expansion and modification of the original rooms to accommodate two persons at a time, the number increased to five (5) in a room officially, both in the main halls and the annexes.The continuous increase in the student intake amidst the unexpanded residential facilities meant that, not all students could be accommodated on campus, therefore, private hostels began to spring up to absorb the excess students who could not secure accommodation on campus. The private hostels motivation to make profit meant that they charge high prices which were unbearable by many students. This brought about one of the prominent terms that everyone who has passed through the four walls of the University of Ghana is popular with Perching.2.4 The issue of PerchingThe word connotes students who illegitimately share residential facilities with official occupants of a room. This resulted in overcrowding in the halls, displace extreme pressure on washrooms, reading rooms, hall libraries, dry lines, among other facilities that were originally constructed for two people. This was happening who many reforms were going on. The two most popular reforms were the in-out-out-in and the in-out-out-out policies. The former meant that, all archetypically year students were qualified for accommodation on campus, this qualification did not mean automatic allocation of rooms to freshmen but allocation was subject bal assigning for a YES or NO and second and third year students were to look for their own accommodation.Under this policy, final year students like first year students also qualified to be accommodated on campus it is however, worth noting that, even for the final year students, because of the limited number of rooms available, allocation of rooms was also done via balloting a yes or no by students. The latter policy, in-out-out-out raised a lot of eyebrows as it meant that only first year students were offered accommodation on campus. And for this policy allocation to level 100 students was automatic and assured. With this policy in place the problem of perching worsened. The official number of occupants in a room roughly doubled for almost all the halls of residence. The adverse effects of poor situation created a lot of problems poor sanitation, insecurity, discomfort, which had direct impact on students health, hygiene, and efficiency.2.5 The current residential policyThe University of Ghana Hostels with a capacity of 26000 beds, which was to be built at the University of Ghana, Legon, with partnership between the university and sestet banks was a dream come alive as considerable as finding a beginning to the perennial problem of accommodation in our public universities is concerned this was an command made by Professor C. N. B. Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the university of Ghana (GhanaWeb, 2008). From the above statement I would to acknowledge the misadventure scheme one of the prominent schools under the Open Systems perspective of Organizations. This theory as a break up of systems design emphasizes that design decisions are dependent on environmental conditions. Contingency theory is guided by t he general orienting hypothesis that organizations whose national features match the demands of their environments will achieve the best adaptation.Lawrence and Lorsch (1967), who coined the label contingency theory, argue that different environments place differing requirements on organizations. In a upstart review article, Lawrence (1993) provides a partial list of factors that one or another(prenominal) theorist has considered important. They include size or scale, technology, geography, uncertainty, individual predispositions of participants, resource dependency, national or cultural differences, scope and organizational life cycle. With concentration on the resource dependency factor, it is indicative that, the adaptation and realization of the said resolvent was heavily contingent on the provision of financial resources by the sestet banks which are external to the organization.As the resources from the external environment was provided by the six banks, the expansion of t he residential facilities have been a reality indeed, making it attainable to establish four different hostels which accommodates about 7, 120 students. It is a combination of these factors that made it possible for the decongestion exercise in the five traditional halls feasible. Currently, some of the hostels have been restructured into halls and run as the traditional halls. The standard rooms accommodate four (4) persons as the annexes do. With other stringent measures put in place to control perching it is believed that, the social occasion for which this restructuring was done is being worked towards. It must be give tongue to categorically that, the main reason for this exercise is to improve students efficiency in the university.2.6 abodes of conformity/HostelsThe University believes in community living as an essential part of student life. It is therefore primarily residential, providing accommodation in houses of Residence for both undergraduate and post-graduate st udents as well as flats and guest rooms for ripened members and guests. There are five halls of residence (available to all students) and several Hostels. The present abidances and Hostels are as follows individually Hall consists of junior members (students) and older members (academic and senior administrative and professional staff), and is managed by a Council comprising members elected by persons be to the Hall. The Master (or Warden in the case of Volta Hall) is the Head of the Hall. Each Hall has minor(postnominal) and cured vernacular Rooms for students and Faculty, respectively. A tutorial system offers an hazard for counseling students and ensuring their welfare at both academic and social levels. Students maintain interaction with each other and the wider community through recognized clubs and societies. Each Hall has a kitchen and a dining hall to cater for students feeding. Chapels and a mosque are also available for use by various religious denominations. A Ch aplaincy Board co-ordinate the activities of religious groups.Social life on the campus is organised mainly by the Students Representative Council and the younger Common Room Committees which provide various kinds of social programmes. LEGON HALL Legon Hall was the first to be built on the permanent site of the University of Ghana at Legon and is, therefore, the Premier Hall of the University. Its foundation tablet was laid during the Michaelmas Term of 1951 and, in September 1952, the first undergraduates were accepted into residence. On Trinity Sunday, 31st may 1953, the first service was held in the Chapel and the first meal served in the Dining Hall. From these events, the Hall took Trinity Sunday every year as its birthday, celebrated by a common Feast for both its Junior and of age(p) Members. The Halls axiom, Cui Datum (To whom much is given), was selected from St. Lukes Gospel, in recognition of the special responsibility attached to the Halls seniority. fourth-year Mem bers of the University may be assigned as Fellows of the Hall by the Vice Chancellor and they usually keep their Fellowship for as long as they remain with the University. Persons of academic distinction outside the University may be elected as Honorary Fellows at a General confluence of Fellows.The rest of the membership of the Hall is made up of persons in statu pupillari. The political science body body of the Hall is the Hall Council, members of which are Fellows of the Hall. The principal Hall Officers are The Master, the Vice-Master, the President of the Senior Common Room, the Senior Tutor, and the Hall Bursar. AKUAFO HALL Akuafo Hall was established with the appointment of Professor D.A. Taylor, a Master-designate and a Hall Council in 1953. The Hall Council in 1954 decided to name the Hall Akuafo to commemorate the big gesture of the farmers of Ghana in giving money for the foundation of the University College. A crest which withdraws a cocoa tree, an open book and a d rum, knowing by Professor W.J. McCallien, and a saying, laboremus et sapiamus, suggested by Professor L.H. Ofosu-Appiah, were adopted by the Council.A commemorative plaque with a Latin inscription composed by Professor L.H. Ofosu-Appiah was set up to show the gratitude of the Hall to the farmers of the country and to the British Government who gave the University College funds for the building of the Hall. The Hall was officially undetermined on 17 February, 1956, but the first students, numbering 131, came into residence on the 5th October, 1955. The Hall has its own statutes governing the election of officers and the administration of its personal matters. formerly a year, the Master has to convene a meeting of the Fellows, who form the governing body, to receive his annual report. The Senior Common Room is open to all Fellows and their guests, and the Senior Combination Room to all senior members of the University. Senior Members may also invite students to the Combination Room.COMMONWEALTH HALL The first raft of students was admitted into residence in earth Hall at the beginning of the 1956-1957 academic year. In the Lent Term of that academic year, Ghana attained its license from Great Britain, and the Hall, hitherto known as the Third Hall, was officially christened area Hall to commemorate Ghanas admission into the Commonwealth of Nations. The official opening of the Hall was performed in March, 1957. It is, so far, the only all-male Hall of Residence in the University. The motto of the Hall, Truth Stands, was taken from a quotation from Satyre by conjuring trick Donne (1572-1631) On a huge hill, cragged, and steep,Truth stands and hee that will carry out her, about must, and about must goe This motto combines both the physical situation of the Hall (on a hillside overlooking most of the University and beyond) and the proper pursuit of a University education, the search for truth. It is the only Hall of Residence in the University which has a subject field and Amphitheatre for lectures and plays. The Coat of Arms of the Hall depicts the strength and unity of purpose of members of the Hall deriving from the bonds of association enjoyed by the individual members of the Hall. High Commissioners of the Commonwealth countries in Ghana are accorded Honorary Membership of the Hall. There is a Hall Council which administers the affairs of the Hall, aided by the Tutorial Board and the Senior Common Room Committee. VOLTA HALL Volta Hall started as the Fourth Hall in the 1959-60 academic year, on 16th November, 1960.The University College Council, on the recommendation of the Hall Council, named it Volta Hall. The Hall consists of the main hall originally intentional to accommodate 82 students, and an annex with an original capacity for accommodating 198 students, the occupation of which began in January 1966. The motto of the Hall, chosen during the Halls tenth anniversary celebrations, is in the Akan speech and it is Akokob ere Nso Nyim Adekyee. This means that the secret or knowledge of life and nature is a gift to women as it is to men. The Hall has a governing Body which comprises all the Fellows assigned to it and those elected by the assigned Fellows. The government of the Hall rests with this body which delegates some of its powers to a Hall Council. The Hall Council consists of ten members, including the Warden, the Deputy Warden, the Senior Tutor and the Bursar who are ex-officio members.The day-to-day administration of the Hall is carried out by the Warden with the help of the Senior Tutor, who deals with all students affairs, and the Bursar. MENSAH SARBAH HALL Mensah Sarbah Hall, the fifth Hall of the University, stands in the Confederate part of the campus. The Hall consists of a main Hall built around a quadrangle and a number of Annexes standing to the uniting and east. The last two south annexes are attached to the Hall. Until October 1991, Mensah Sarbah was the only integrated Hall of Residence in the University, which made it quite unique among the Halls. The governing body of the Hall is the Council, which is responsible to the full body of Fellows who form the Senate. Students affairs are handled by students own elected government headed by a President, while the general administration of the Hall is under the Master who is assisted by the Senior Tutor and Tutors on the one hand and the Bursar on the other. Other Hall Officers are the Chaplain, who is responsible for the Roman Catholic Chapel, the collection Room Warden, who is responsible for the Protestant Chapel, and the Librarian. Senior Common Room affairs are managed by an elected committee under the President of the Senior Common Room.The Hall is named after the famous Ghanaian jurist, writer and statesman, John Mensah Sarbah of Cape Coast. It has been customary for the Hall to celebrate the birthday anniversary of this spectacular man every year. This anniversary is known as Sarbah Day and is highli ghted by a dinner and a get-together. The Hall has a crest designed to bring out the principal features of Mensah Sarbahs life. It consists of three elements a equal of scales, a stool with a book resting upon it, and a hill overcome by a castle. The scale signifies the legal profession, the stool and the book play culture while the hill and the castle are intended to depict the familiar landscape of Cape Coast with its many hills and forts. At the same time, the castle is intended to symbolise strength and honour. The Halls motto is Knowledge, Honour, Service three words which aptly summarise the guiding principles of Mensah Sarbahs life. VALCO TRUST HOSTELS The idea to build a graduate hostel was first nurtured when Legon Hall Annex C was prepared exclusively for graduate students of the Hall. The quest for a suitable accommodation for graduate students gained attention when Valco cuss neckcloth offered to finance the construction of a graduate hostel.As a further boost to th is course, Legon Hall Annex C was converted into an Annex of the Hostel. The Valco Trust Hostel, donated to the University by the Valco Trust Fund to ease pressure on student accommodation, is a block of purpose-built, self-contained flats for 190 students. The Hostel, which was completed in June 1997, is the Universitys first hostel for graduate students. A second block with resembling facilities was opened in January 2006. Located behind Mensah Sarbah Hall on the southern part of the campus, the flats are arranged in single and double study bedrooms with en suite shower and toilet. There is a shared kitchen for every twelve rooms.Facilities in the hostels include common rooms, washrooms and a restaurant. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HOSTELS The outside(a) Students Hostels are located on the southern part of the campus off the road to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. For a long time, it had been the dream of the University of Ghana to create and strengthen links wit h other universities in order to enhance the international student presence on campus. The first phase was commissioned in June 1999 and the second in January 2006. The Hostels are co-educational and each has 43 single rooms and 85 double rooms. In addition, there are facilities such as a well-fortified security system, kitchenettes and restaurants.REFERENCESAmole, D. (2005),Coping strategies for living in student residential facilities in Nigeria, Environment and Behaviour, Vol. 37, pp. 201-19.Amole, D. (2009b),Residential satisfaction in students housing, daybook of Environment Psychology, Vol. 29, pp. 76-85.Association of African Universities (2004), Challenges veneering African Universities Selected Issues, African Studies Review (2004) Vol. 47, No. 1, 1-59Dahlan, N., Jones, P., Alexander, D., Salleh, E. and Alias, J. 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