FAQ: Economics Department Printing Policy
Why must we pay for printing?
Due
to severe University-wide budget restrictions, we have been forced
to make permanent reductions in our operating budget. Some of our
largest expense categories are paper, toner, and service costs
associated with printing.
Doesn't the student computing fee portion of tuition cover printing expenses?
The
student computing fee is intended to cover computing costs for campus
computer labs. We operate our own computer labs in the department and
must cover the costs ourselves. We receive no computing fee funds from
the University for printing costs.
What is the per-page cost for printing?
The
department charges 5 cents per page for all networked printers, with
the exception of the large Xerox machine in Room 202, which is 2 cents
per page.
Why does it cost less to print to the Xerox machine?
Toner costs are included in the fixed-cost contract we have on the Xerox, so our costs are significantly lower on that machine.
Is there any quota of free prints allowed?
Yes.
Each user will receive a deposit of $50 in their account at the
beginning of the academic year. This amount can be used among any of
the networked printers, including the Xerox printer.
Why is using secure print on the large Xerox machine mandatory, and how do I use it?
Secure
print requires you to choose a 4-digit number when you print to the
Xerox, and then enter the number at the machine to actually output
the job. Using secure print is mandatory on the large Xerox machine
for two reasons. First, it prevents your printing job from interrupting
a large copying job (such as exams) that may be in progress. The office
staff has been instructed to cancel print jobs that arrive in the middle of major copying work of this sort. Secure print also
prevents anyone else from retrieving your potentially confidential
document. Instructions for using secure print can be found here.
What happens when my printing quota runs out?
Once your print
account balance reaches zero, no additional printing may be done
until a prepayment is made, and the quota reset. You must pay in
advance for additional printing. If you wish, you can arrange for
payments to come out of a research or grant account, if you have one.
Otherwise you will need to pay in advance (by cash or check) to
increase your quota. Faculty, instructors, and PTLs should speak with
Debbie Holman to replenish printing accounts, while graduate students
should direct such requests to Dorothy Rinaldi. If you are both a
graduate student and a PTL, you should make
your requests to Dorothy. Once payment has been made, Debbie or Dorothy
will contact Wade Olsson, who will increase your quota. Please do
not direct such requests directly to Wade.
What if I have my own printer in my office?
For those of you who have personal printers in your offices, you will
need to purchase both paper and toner cartridges on your own account.
You may purchase packages of paper (500 sheets) from the office for $2.50,
or buy your own paper by the case. Toner cartridges for personal
printers should also be purchased on your own account. These can be
ordered through the department if you have an account that can be
filled. Otherwise it is best to make your purchases outside the
department.
Does this policy affect photocopying?
We do not plan to make any immediate changes in copying policy, as the
bulk of copying now seems to be for teaching (exams, etc.) Materials
for classes, therefore, should be given to the office staff for
copying, rather than printing (unless you don’t mind paying for
this yourself). However, you should strongly consider posting material
such as syllabi online for your students, rather than using handouts,
especially for larger classes.
