UTSA junior Rhett Skoda in computer lab

New UTSA printing policy to begin Spring 2004

(Oct. 13, 2003)--In an effort to improve service in the student computer labs, reduce print volumes and provide more student assistance, the UTSA Office of Information Technology (OIT) announces a new printing system policy for the three UTSA computer labs and both libraries that will begin Spring 2004.

Students will be allowed to print 200 pages each semester at no cost, but will be charged 8 cents for each black-and-white copy and 50 cents for every color copy over the 200-page limit. The measure is being taken to help reduce the rapidly expanding volume of printing and to offset increasing student computing lab operating costs, and the revenue generated will be used to upgrade printers and computers in the public student labs.

According to OIT officials, UTSA is one of the few local higher education institutions that does not charge for student printing. Last semester more than 5 million pages were printed in UTSA student labs and more than 500,000 pages were printed in the first week of the fall semester.

"We expect that this new policy will help us curtail the exploding volume of printing and long wait times in the student labs and libraries," said Jeffrey W. Noyes, UTSA CIO and associate vice president for information technology. "The majority of colleges and universities across the country have had policies like this in place for some time and the end result is better service for the students and a lot of paper saved."

With the new policy in place, students will still have free options for saving documents including saving a document or information on a diskette, or sending a document through e-mail.

The policy is expected to reduce total print volume by at least 50 percent, decrease the wait time for printed copies, allow for printing in different formats and allow laboratory staff to spend more time assisting students.

Currently students pay an automated services fee that supports the student computer labs, university networks, software and related programs, and a portion of that fee will be applied to printing and will provide the 200 no-charge pages for each student each semester.

OIT asks for faculty to assist by being very discerning in choosing the number of documents students are asked to print. Additionally, it is important for faculty to discuss with their students copyright issues and proper citation of electronic reference materials.