The end of the Spring 2010 semester brought with it rumors of a ‘more difficult printing system’. One where students pay out of pocket to print! One where students have to relearn the printing system all over again! One so complicated even the IT department was bamboozled!
Let me put your fears to rest. Yesterday I met with Ray Cardillo, manager technology support helpdesk, to discuss the new printing system.
Yes, it is true. There will be a new printing system in operation by fall 2010. Black & white printers, b&w copiers, and many more color copiers will be available to adhere to student demands.
At the beginning of each semester, students will receive an allocated amount of approximately 375 pieces of paper, at $15 total. Students, however, should not worry about the cost of printing as this new “fee” is not a “fee” at all. No one’s tuition is on the rise.
In the past students experienced ‘free printing’. While printing was free for them, the funds to print ultimately came from the IT department. This semester instead of giving everyone ‘unlimited’ sources to print, the IT department is simply allocating a set ‘fund’ to every student’s account. This is being done in order to make students more print conscious.
It’s examples such as printing 30 copies for the class only to find a spelling error. Or printing 2 copies when you only needed 1. Or printing out personal information to a printer and never retreiving it.
The IT department wants you to know where your document is at all times. They want you to have ultimate control over your papers.
This can be done by a new feature that enables your documents to “Follow You” until you arrive at a copier most conveninent to you. For example, you may print a document in the School of Business Library, rush over to Greenspring and print it from the copier in AC 202. A simple swipe of your SU1 Card tells the copier you are giving it permission to print the document there, right in front of you. Basic black & white printers, however, will still be available in classrooms and do not require a swipe.
The IT department is very excited, not about the new printers, but the new copiers and hope students will use the copiers more frequently than the classroom printers. While the copiers are more cost efficient, they also have some new features, sure to please students. These new options enable for easier double sided printing and students can now tell the copier to staple or 3 hole punch their paper for them!
Currently, students have access to 3 copiers between both campuses. Next semester, however, students will have access to 9, with 6 copiers on the Greenspring campus and 3 on the Owings Mills Campus.
The SU1 swipe also will ellimate the distinction between ‘faculty’ copier and ’student’ copier. Everyone will have access to all copiers.
Art students who face the frustrations of a backed-up or broken copier in AC 202 will have access to the once “faculty printer” diagonal from the room in AC 231. The printer will be replaced with a color copier.
The copiers will have an easier copy to email feature, all scanners on copiers, wheather it be a b&w or color copier, will all scan to color, and fax will be available on most copiers.
I was able to take a look at a new color cube copier yesterday to examine how easy it was for students to use. If you can’t read the words, there are HUGE pictures for you to press and walk you through step by step in your copy or printing process. Additionally, if pictures weren’t enough, the IT department will hang up posters above each copier to help walk you through the process.
For those wanting just a simple print in the classroom they are in, not much has changed. Yes, every printer and copier is now Xerox, however, when a student hits print, new options will apprear to ensure that YES, you are sure you want to print and this is the way you’d like to print: double-sided, two copies, from copier AC 230 etc.
A new feature that the IT department is also working towards is “off campus printing”. While details are still underway, this feature will enable students off campus, or in dorm rooms to print. Additionally, residents may find a surprise in the Ratcliffe Community Center this Fall with the appearance of a new copier. This is not set in stone yet, however, as there are space and power outlet limitations
Student should not worry over the cost of printing. 375 pages in more than enough. AND if you happen to run over, the printing will link to your SU1 card/Flex. For more information on the costs of printing or the copier/printer systems, click here.
Throughout the semester, if you fear your professor is abusing printing, please contact the SGA to ensure that a new printing policy is set. Don’t allow your professors to tell you to “Print out this PDF version of a book.” Sometimes it is better to buy the darn thing on half.com for two dollars then to print a low grade pdf. Additionally, if you fear your professor prints too much in general, fear not, as they’re printing will be monitered monthly by the heads of their department. Each department will be given a printing budget as well.
Again, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at jswing@stevenson.edu.
Hopefully this clears up some of the confusion inregards to printing. Look for more details as we draw closer to the new academic year!
