Perhaps not coincidentally, in these units the responses to the survey indicated that quality of instructional support services was good. Other academic units that do not request feedback from the principal users of the facilities received less favorable responses. NCSU should regularly upgrade and modernize its core teaching laboratories and classrooms, and should replace some facilities and equipment as soon as possible. In general, however, respondents who thought their academic unit is well staffed and equipped also felt that the use of the facilities and services is efficient. Instructional Equipment Survey results on the quality of instructional equipment mirrored those on the quality of classroom space.
Concerns take two forms.
Recent technological developments in classroom instruction, involving use of computing and video equipment, have opened up new possibilities for effective instruction. Some of NCSU's classrooms are equipped to enable faculty to take advantage of these new teaching methods, and many respondents want more such facilities. Other respondents have more basic concerns. While many classrooms and laboratories are well supplied with appropriate instructional aids and equipment and supplies, others leave much to be desired. Teaching labs for both undergraduate and graduate instruction have especially suffered in recent years because of cutbacks in federal funds, which the University has had difficulty replacing.