To avoid costly withdrawal fees this semester, University ofMemphis students will have to keep an eye on more than just theirchecking account balances, due to changes in the TigerLAN printingpolicy.
To stop printing abuse and cut down on waste, TigerLAN labs willfollow the new Responsible Printing Initiative, said JohnWasileski, associate vice president of the Information TechnologyDivision.
Like last year, each student will start the semester with anallotment of 500 pages, covered by each student's Technology AccessFee.
In the past, when students exhausted their printing allowance,ITD would simply reset it with no charge. Starting Jan. 12,however, after the initial allotment is used, students will have topay $25 at the Bursar's Office for each subsequent ream of paper.Students will take the receipt from the bursar's cashier to the ITDHelpdesk located in Room 124 of the Administration Building, wherethe account will be reset, Wasileski said.
Printing balances left at the end of the semester will rolloverto the next semester.
Allowances have been made in the policy for students who may runout of paper when the Bursar's Office is closed.
"Each semester, students can receive a free bump that can beactivated by the lab technicians," Wasileski said.
A bump is a one-time allotment of 100 pages to help coverstudents in emergencies, Wasileski said.
The charge covers not only paper but also the cost of thingslike toner and maintenance associated with printing, Wasileskisaid.
"The Student Government Association requested that we (ITD)investigate printing waste in the labs and to come up with possibleways to curtail it," Wasileski said.
Many printed pages, two out of every eight, according to theinvestigation, end up discarded in lab recycle or waste bins.
Wasted sheets often result when students use the "print all"option instead of printing selected pages in a document, Wasileskisaid.
"Many students will print an entire 10 page document when theyonly need the information on two of the pages," Wasileski said.
ITD also found excessive printing by a small number ofindividuals.
Of the around 8 million pages printed in TigerLAN labs yearly,over 2 million of the pages are printed by 4 percent of the users,Wasileski said.
"We only monitor quantity, not content of printing, so it wouldbe inappropriate to speculate on the legitimacy of what thehigh-volume users are printing," Wasileski said.
The important thing to remember, Wasileski said, is that moststudents will not be affected by the changes.
"I haven't come close to 500 pages yet, so it's not a problem sofar," said Peter Merrill, sophomore undeclared major.
The $25 price tag drew a reaction from lab attendant DemadreLockett.
"You can buy a ream of paper at OfficeMax for less than $10, andwe have to get a great deal for buying in bulk," Lockett said.
