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Fee-based printing test causes confusion, but less paper waste
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Students using the Multipurpose Building computer lab are still adjusting to a test program for fee-based printing at Boise State University. But officials say despite the initial confusion, students are adapting well, and the program is already cutting down on wasted paper and other resources.
“Waste is way down,” said Office of Information Technologies lab manager Steve Henderson. He says ordinarily one to three recycle bins are emptied weekly in the Multipurpose Building computer lab, totaling anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 sheets of wasted paper. With the new system, Henderson says, not a single barrel has been left completely full. “I suspect we’ll see a further reduction.”
The Arbiter recently reported that the Boise State University OIT would begin testing a fee-based printing system in the Multipurpose Building computer lab on March 26.
Since the test began, students in the lab have been asked to swipe their student identification cards in order to print. The program assesses a price to the job, based on the number and format of the pages and, after printing, gives a remaining balance on the student’s account.
Henderson says the accounts will be wiped clean of any charges at the end of the semester, and the process will repeat itself in the summer. He says no students will be charged until the fall semester and students will start out with printing credit already in tact. He also says it is important for students to bring their student ID cards, or they will not be able to print in the labs next fall.
The OIT has researched similar university fee-based printing programs and has created a template for the fall that they say will most likely effect only students who print excessively. The average student at BSU uses around 180 pages per semester, and the OIT is trying not to impact students who use that amount of paper.
In the meantime, Henderson says the test has startled some students. “There’s been some confusion. People are under the impression that we’ve fazed this in with no grace period.”
“At first I thought it was a load of crap that we would have to pay for printing,” said junior Andy Phelps. But Phelps said after hearing that students would receive credits each semester, he supports the program. “I think it’ll be worth it in the long run.”
MP lab technician Matt Wald says at first glance most students are confused at the prices and balance given by the test program. But he says that most students are adapting well to the changes. “I think most people are pretty understanding of it.”
Henderson says students who spend more than the allotted amount on printing will be able to add money to their account either by paying cash or purchasing more Bronco Bucks. But students will most likely not be able to use credit and debit cards to pay into the system. “You give it money, and it gives you printing credit.”
Henderson says in the long run less wasted paper will also help the labs pay for color printers and other costly resources.
Grace Lucas
News Writer
