2008 Woodie Awards
New PUC paper policy may cost students money
By: Brandon Thomas
Issue date: 12/11/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
There will be a change in printing at PUC computers next semester. A program is being implemented into campus computers as part of a new initiative on campus to conserve technological resources.
A small percentage of students have reportedly been using large amounts of unwanted printing paper and leaving it at printer stations in the Powers computer lab, according to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Information and Instructional Technology Douglas Sharp.
Technology fees do not cover costs of printing, a resource not funded by student service fees.
"We are not looking to generate revenue," said Sharp. "We want to cap costs and also limit some of the environmental costs."
The program will give students an allotted amount of printer usage, a monetary total. Different kinds of paper or printing will cost students different sums.
When a user exhausts their allotted amount of printer usage, they will have to select the nearest on-campus cash machine to instantaneously add to their usage amount.
The system will initiate when an item is printed on campus. There will be a pop-up when an item is printed on any PUC computer. This pop-up will show the files selected to be printed and the balance left in the individual student account. There will be signs near the computers explaining this process in early February.
The program will be implemented in the spring and the summer semesters in an experimental stage, where students are not actually responsible for printer usage. In fall 2007, the program will be activated.
"In the beginning, I think [students] will feel that this is going to be just another cost," said Director of Technical Services Joe Morales. "But I think they will realize that it is not going to impact them."
Technical Services has not decided what the costs for paper will be. During the spring and summer semesters, the experimental program will allow time for PUC to gauge the current use of printing paper, create costs for printing paper and total allotment for students and obtain any feedback from students.
Only the top 5 percent of the distribution use paper in excess, Sharp said.
Student Service fees may increase to support the application.
"I think what they are doing is a great idea," said SGA President Stephen Lynch. "But if they are going to save as much as they think with this, then the tech fees for students should go down."
Machines for adding to an account will be located in three places - CLO, SUL and the Academic Learning Center in Merrillville.
A small percentage of students have reportedly been using large amounts of unwanted printing paper and leaving it at printer stations in the Powers computer lab, according to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Information and Instructional Technology Douglas Sharp.
Technology fees do not cover costs of printing, a resource not funded by student service fees.
"We are not looking to generate revenue," said Sharp. "We want to cap costs and also limit some of the environmental costs."
The program will give students an allotted amount of printer usage, a monetary total. Different kinds of paper or printing will cost students different sums.
When a user exhausts their allotted amount of printer usage, they will have to select the nearest on-campus cash machine to instantaneously add to their usage amount.
The system will initiate when an item is printed on campus. There will be a pop-up when an item is printed on any PUC computer. This pop-up will show the files selected to be printed and the balance left in the individual student account. There will be signs near the computers explaining this process in early February.
The program will be implemented in the spring and the summer semesters in an experimental stage, where students are not actually responsible for printer usage. In fall 2007, the program will be activated.
"In the beginning, I think [students] will feel that this is going to be just another cost," said Director of Technical Services Joe Morales. "But I think they will realize that it is not going to impact them."
Technical Services has not decided what the costs for paper will be. During the spring and summer semesters, the experimental program will allow time for PUC to gauge the current use of printing paper, create costs for printing paper and total allotment for students and obtain any feedback from students.
Only the top 5 percent of the distribution use paper in excess, Sharp said.
Student Service fees may increase to support the application.
"I think what they are doing is a great idea," said SGA President Stephen Lynch. "But if they are going to save as much as they think with this, then the tech fees for students should go down."
Machines for adding to an account will be located in three places - CLO, SUL and the Academic Learning Center in Merrillville.
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