Focus Group Gist Transcription

Conducted on Nov. 6

Kelly Ward and Rachel Negro

Question: What do Rutgers-Camden students spend their money on? Do you think you’re getting your money worth here?

Rules were laid out and introductions were made

On an average school day at RU-C how much money do you spend?

[spend money on] Parking, gas, train ticket, food and coffee

How much money do you spend on food and coffee? About $10 a day depends if im on campus all day

Does everybody buy food on campus? A couple people said yes, one male student said no because it’s too expensive, so he brings his lunch A female student also brings her lunch

Question to those who buy lunch on campus- How much do you spend on food? When they are on campus all day, two males spend about $20. On average students said they spend about $5 or more a day. Students also said they can get food cheaper at food carts around campus

Do you guys think you’re getting your money worth for food? The portions are small, you can get a better cheese steak and cheaper soda at a food cart The cafeteria is cheaper than eating at a restaurant so it’s cheaper than going out.

Are there other places around campus where you guys go to buy food? Ramona’s Café, subway Students didn’t know there was a subway

Would you guys want to be informed about subway and other places around campus? Yes, maybe have a subway on campus

Anyone a transfer student? Where? Camden County (3 or 4 students), TCNJ, St. Joes

Transfer students- do you see a difference in what you’re getting here for what you’re paying for? St. Joe’s- food was better there, gym was much better, “Going to the gym here is like, “Go at your own risk.” Teachers were more approachable/ TCNJ- more stuff to do on campus there, thinks teachers are approachable at RU-C

Students said at CC for 2 years to get associates, pretty easy to transfer to Rutgers

Like that RU-C is smaller, CC was really big. Easier to get in touch with teachers at Rutgers.

A reason why picked Rutgers, less money on campus because he takes the train.

Student that lives on campus: How do you like it? Good on weekdays, weekends no one is here. Have activities but not many people are involved in them, but there is the pool hall.

Any programs on campus about saving money?

Anyone take the Riverline? No

A few students take PATCO, feel they should have discounts like the Riverline does

If PATCO had discounts would you guys use that? Absolutely

What would be the best way to reach students about discounts around South Jersey area? E-mail, no one thinks they are getting bulk e-mail

If you could get discounts at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Victor, would you go to them? Yes, one student said they would do more around campus if they had it.

Anything you feel you don’t get your moneys worth? One student felt they always take out money for computer costs but there is never a computer available Selling books back you don’t get a lot of money back, for example at CC you get a lot of money back

How do you think you can save money on books? I buy my on Amazon, save $200 Teachers use old editions, e-mail syllabus and let you know which books you will actually use

Complaint- students saying teachers are letting them leave early from class, do you feel that is a problem? No, don’t think they are losing education because of it

Those on Dean’s list, do you think you should be rewarded for good grades? Sure, it would raise morale, would like to get discounts on books, get money back on tuition, etc.

Do you ever think of leaving RU-C because things are too expensive? The only thing that is really expensive is parking. 2 students park at the CC lot and it is $400 plus One student thinks she is getting her moneys worth for the waterfront parking

Student who lives on campus thinks he is almost getting money worth living on campus, it is expensive and is crammed living with 9 other guys

Commuters- do you have money on your RU Express card? Yes, it’s convenient except when I forget to put money on it. Like how the vending machine takes RU Express because he never carries cash

How do you guys pay for school? My mom, loans, out of pocket, parents, financial aid

Do you find it is stressful to take out loans? [18:12] “Not anymore. They have a lot of good deals now if you know how to shop. The financial aid [department] has been really helpful the past few years. The financial aid department has been really helpful in finding me loans that are cheap because I’m going to be the one paying them back.”

Do they have easy monthly plans (to pay out of pocket?) Yes, it’s about $1,100 a month.

Do you guys feel that you’re investing in your future (by going to college)? Yes, I think that’s why we’re here.

Any advice to administration about student’s needs? They need to keep an eye on the gym

Putting money into the gym and the student center, are you guys ok with that? I think it depends on the students, like if you used the gym. It’s really hard at a commuter school because a lot of people don’t have time for activities, sports.

A couple students hate the new cafeteria, they feel they spent a lot of money and students don’t really care about the new renovations. It’s always crowded, don’t like the way it’s setup, cut back on seating, they just made it prettier, not functional. Students also don’t like how they can’t use their debit cards at most places on campus. One student said that is why they got the RU Express. They make changes and don’t let people know about it. Students don’t know where certain buildings are.

To a certain extent students think there is a lack of communication (between school and students)

Students think they should put signs in buildings informing them of the changes.

The Rutgers website didn’t help one student find where the Sociology building was located, he had to search it on Google, which was more helpful than a campus map on the RU-C website.

One student felt the New Brunswick website “rocks” while the Camden website is lacking, hard to find things, one student felt that the business school website is great but not the overall website for the Camden Campus

Would you guys rather win a gift card to WaWa or Sunoco rather than an iPod? Yes

Other things students would be interested in winning?

Students commented they don’t really like the music on campus, bands.

Any other complaints in general about Rutgers? The base cost of Rutgers-Camden is really cheap but the cost of everything else is really expensive, parking, food, books, etc. It’s like they make up for the cheap tuition. With the base tuition and all the extra costs, it still ends up being cheaper than other schools. Good education, so it’s worth it. TCNJ was hard to get into but no one knew the school when you go to get a job, people will know Rutgers and most likely someone who interviewed probably graduated from here.