| In an effort to conserve resources and improve
services, CFANS has implemented a Print Conservation Program in CFANS
student computer labs. The college's goal is to employ sustainable
printing practices and provide excellent services at a small cost to
the student.
Students will send their print jobs to Pharos print-release
stations, small PCs with U-card readers in their keyboards. When a job
is sent to the printer, it will appear at the print-release station,
and students can release their jobs with their U Cards.
Costs
Beginning October 5, 2009, CFANS students will receive $30 in printing credits allotted to their U Cards.
Printed pages will cost $0.10 per page for single-sided or double-sided
black-and-white pages; $0.50 for color, where available. Printers will be set to print double-sided pages by default to
encourage saving money and paper. Each semester, an
additional $30 will be added to each student's printing account, and
leftover funds will remain in the account until August of the following year. Printing allotment funds will be good only for printing in CFANS
student computer labs. If the allotment is used up, students may print using their U Card's Gopher GOLD account.
Process Students can use their U cards to release printing jobs from a
print-release station attached to the printers in the CFANS student
computer lab. When a job is sent to print, the student will be asked to
enter a simple password that he or she creates. The job will appear in
the queue at the print-release station. To release it, the student must
swipe his or her U Card, find the print job in the queue, and enter the
password. The screen will lock within 5 seconds after the card is swiped; moving the mouse will keep the screen open.
Pharos station instructions (pdf)
Why change our practices?
In the past, a great deal of paper, ink, and toner have been wasted
while costs associated with printing have continued to escalate. By
charging a small amount per page, the college hopes to create the
incentive to print more deliberately, which should greatly reduce
waste. Although CFANS will continue to subsidize student printing, the
amount generated will enable us to contiue to improve this service.
CFANS values sustainability and conservation, and this program is one
small step toward a greener college, and a greener campus.
How will students pay for printing?
Students will pay for printing using the new Gopher GOLD UCard,
either with the $30/semester allotment from CFANS or, if that is
expended, funds stored in their Gopher GOLD account. Adding money to a
Gopher GOLD account online costs $2 per transaction. Adding money at a
Value Port is free. There is currently one Value Port on the Saint Paul Campus on the lower level of MacGrath Library.
More information
If you have questions, contact cfans.help@umn.edu.
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