A Study of Availability and Adequacy of Ample Space in College for Students

Title: A Study of Availability and Adequacy of Ample Space in College for Students

Author: Sahil Phonde, Jashmin Mohanty, Piyush Bhimalwar

Introduction: Physical infrastructure plays a vital role in creating a conducive learning environment in higher educational institutions. Adequate space in colleges—including classrooms, libraries, laboratories, corridors, common rooms, study areas, and recreational zones—significantly impacts students’ comfort, academic engagement, and overall well-being. Ample and well-planned space facilitates effective teaching-learning processes, promotes collaboration, and reduces congestion-related stress among students.

With increasing student enrolment in colleges, space constraints have become a growing concern. Overcrowded classrooms, limited study areas, insufficient seating arrangements, and lack of common spaces may negatively affect students’ academic performance and satisfaction with the institution. Therefore, it is important to assess students’ perceptions regarding the availability, adequacy, and usefulness of physical space within the college campus. Understanding these perceptions can help institutions plan infrastructure development and improve the overall student experience.

Objective: To analyze students’ perception regarding the availability and adequacy of ample space in the college campus.

 

Literature Review:

1) Importance of Physical Space in Higher Education Institutions

Kuh et al. (2010) emphasized that campus infrastructure and spatial design significantly influence student engagement and learning outcomes. The study highlighted that adequate classroom space, study areas, and informal learning spaces contribute positively to students’ academic involvement and satisfaction. The authors concluded that well-designed physical environments support collaborative learning and enhance students’ sense of belonging within the institution.

2) Impact of Campus Space on Student Satisfaction

A study by Temple and Fillippakou (2007) examined students’ perceptions of campus facilities and found that availability of sufficient space directly affects students’ comfort and learning efficiency. Overcrowding and poor space utilization were identified as major factors leading to dissatisfaction among students. The study suggested that colleges should regularly assess space adequacy and involve students’ feedback in infrastructure planning to ensure a supportive learning environment.

Data Collection: To analyse students’ perception regarding the availability of ample space in college, five statements were framed using a 5-point Likert scale. A Google Form was designed with a linear scale ranging from 1 to 5. The responses were coded as follows:

• 5 = Strongly Agree
• 4 = Agree
• 3 = Neutral
• 2 = Disagree
• 1 = Strongly Disagree

A total of 100 students from ITM College were surveyed. The collected data was downloaded in Excel format. For each question, mean, standard deviation, standard error, and t-statistics were calculated to analyse students’ responses.

 

As all the t-stats values are less than -1.96 so people disagree with all the statements.

Data Analysis:

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5
Mean	3.0	4.5	2	3	3.5
Standard Deviation	1.24	1.39	1.45	1.30	1.36
Standard Error	0	0.1389	0.145	0.130	0.136
T Stat	0	-17.10	-18.70	-20.13	-18.64

Conclusion:

The findings of the study indicate that students have a moderate to low level of satisfaction regarding the availability of ample space in the college campus. The results suggest that:

• Students feel that the college does not provide sufficient space for academic activities.
• Classroom and study areas are perceived as inadequate to comfortably accommodate students.
• Common areas and recreational spaces are not sufficiently available or well-utilized.
• Space constraints may negatively affect students’ learning experience and comfort.
• Overall satisfaction with the availability and adequacy of physical space in the college is low.

The study highlights the need for colleges to improve infrastructure planning, optimize space utilization, and consider student feedback to create a more conducive and student-friendly campus environment.

 

Reference:

Natarajan, K., & Suresh, B. (2014). Use and user satisfaction of library resources and services in higher education institutions. International Journal of Library and Information Science, 6(3), 45–52.