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Committee considers printing fee for computer labs
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Each week, biology major Elise Conger calmly waits her turn to
print at least 20 pages of notes for her cell biology and organic
chemistry classes. Unfortunately for Conger, printing class notes
could become more expensive if a new campus group gets its way.
A group comprised of student government, faculty, library staff,
Office of Information Technologies staff and several other campus
organizations has convened to sort out the printing problems at
BSU, and one likely solution will be to charge students for
computer lab printer use.
The Student Computer Lab Printing Fee Group, as they are
tentatively calling themselves, stated that their mission to make
it easier, faster, and, most importantly, more economical to print
at BSU. Despite the use of “fee” in SCLPFG’s
title, members say any new charges will present little threat to
students who are not abusing their printing privileges.
David O’Neil, the executive director of the OIT, says the
group hopes to find a way to personalize printing fees, but remains
committed to protecting students from being overcharged.
“To penalize the average student by raising the general
fee, it just didn’t make sense,” says O’Neil.
Instead, the extra charge will be geared towards students who print
“well beyond the normal amount.”
But Conger is not sure she’ll have the forebearance to
cough up extra cash at computer labs in order to make the
grade.
“The amount of printing that teachers require us to do
makes it unfair,” Conger said.
The SCLPFG has been studying lab use since October. O’Neil
said the average student prints around 300 pages per semester,
whether the pages are for academic or personal use — at an overall
cost of less than five cents per page. But “average”
includes students required to print hundreds of pages and students
who rarely even set foot in the labs.
In addition, students already pay a $27.25 computer lab fee.
This fee was originally intended to cover printing, but the SCLPFG
has determined that printing needs are becoming more and more
complicated, with colored ink and other specifics upping the
overall cost.
“I pay enough in student fees already to pay for the paper
I use,” said senior Trevor Smith. Smith said he prints far
less than the 300 pages per semester average.
The group has found many factors to consider, and are examining
several printing charge models used at other universities.
One model would require students to log-in on the computer network,
allowing BSU to record the number of pages and bill accordingly
through the mail. Another model includes a student printing
debit card. The group has also looked at letting students pay
with Bronco Bucks or prepay into a student ID card account.
The SCLPFG hopes to have a proposal ready for students and the
Faculty Senate sometime this spring, at which point a course of
action would be set with the goal of having the smallest monetary
impact on non-abusers.
In the meantime, O’Neil wants students to understand that
the SCLPFG is promising to explore the issue from all sides before
making any printing fee changes. So, at this point anyway,
Conger’s cash is not in danger.
Mary Grace Lucas
Special to the Arbiter
