Fee-less Print

LBCC uses the Pay4Print software in labs, the library and the Learning Center. The cost of the software is roughly $25,000 with an additional maintenance fee of $2,000 a year. This doesn’t include the staffing fees related to the software.

Pay4Print was first introduced to LBCC approximately seven years ago. The reason for the implementation of the software was to stop students from abusing resources such as paper and toner and to cut back on printer service. Staff had noticed students were printing documents that weren’t course-related papers.

The first two weeks of fall term 2013 totaled 18,680 printed pages. In the first two weeks of fall term of 2014 printed pages totaled 33,252. This term, the fee for printing was lifted and printing has doubled.

“Students are burning through paper,” said Michael Quiner, chief information officer.

The software provider, Heartland Payment Systems, has decreased the amount of system updates needed to keep the system current. LBCC has yet to look at today's software alternatives.

“Pay4Print is cumbersome and difficult to use,” said Quiner.

The print usage on campus isn’t being monitored completely; however, staff are encouraging students to use other forms of submitting assignments such as email, thumb drives, USB, and Moodle.

If students can monitor their own usage, the Pay4Print software will no longer be necessary on campus. Located with student used printers is information regarding the “fee-less” printing instructions.

The elimination of the Pay4Print software will save money that could then be used for other departments on campus.

"Our concerns relate to sustainability and improving the experience of our students," said Russell Rinker, manager of network systems. “The college is paying for printing supplies and absorbing fees.”

According to the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA), each person in the United States uses about 749 pounds of paper each year. That equates to two pounds of paper a day. There are over 6,000 students on campus this term.

Using recycled paper would be ideal. However, the printers on campus become jammed when using 100 percent recycled paper. This unfortunate fact limits what paper products are available to LBCC.

“I refill paper and toner everyday,” said Jacqui Winkler, library aide.

LBCC administration will continue to monitor printer usage and will make a decision by December of this year.

While the term progresses and “fee-less” printing continues, students should try to be more aware of their print usage. Paying attention to the formatting and print preview before finalizing the print process will eliminate excessive pages printing.

If students can prove to administration that they can use the “fee-less” print appropriately, then the Pay4Print system will be potentially eliminated and we will no longer be paying out of pocket to print.