Q: Why are we implementing this system?
A: For many years, the amount of printing on campus has been
significantly increasing. This is attributed in a large part
to the success of the Blackboard system on campus. Labs on
campus can no longer absorb these increases without sacrificing
core services or postponing the replacement of lab computers.
This would dramatically affect the computing environment and
could contribute to a negative computing experience for students.
Additionally, we have observed an immense amount of waste of printing
resources where people print huge print jobs but don't pick up them
up. It is estimated that the MP-121 lab has approximately 20,000
pages/week of wasted paper and toner. This system will entirely eliminate
this waste, and will provide an economic incentive for students to print
only those materials that they really need to print.
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Q: Who authorized this system?
A: A committee was formed
approximately two years ago to begin examining solutions for the increasing
costs of printing on campus. This committee was comprised of students, faculty
and staff of the University, and was chaired by David O'Neill, Executive Director
of the Office of Information Technology.
The Committee developed system specifications and put out a bid to purchase
a system that met the desired requirements. The Pharos UniPrint system was the
only product that met the many requirements. The system was purchased in January
2005 and will be phased in over the Spring and Summer of 2005. The system should
be fully operational on August 15, 2005 which is the beginning of the Fall, 2005
Semester.
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Q: Who can use the system?
A: This system can be used by anyone currently authorized to use computer
labs on campus. The open computer labs require that a student be currently registered
with at least one academic credit or more during the Semester they wish to use the
facility. When the system becomes operational, students who meet this criteria will
be given a quota of free printing. Students who do not meet this criteria are not
eligible to use the labs and will not be given a free quota of printing.
The only exception to this is for patrons of the Albertson's Library at Boise State,
where the general public is welcome. In order to print in the Library, current students
will print the same way they do in the labs. Non-students will be able to purchase a
separate card from a vending machine that they can use for printing while in the library.
In the event of a lost ID card, students would be able to use a card like this as well.
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Q: How does the system work?
A: The Pharos system will keep track of the quantity of printing each student uses
over the course of a Semester. When a student decides to print a document, they will
be prompted to enter their BSU student ID number and their own document title or description.
The system will then display the number of pages to be printed, the cost per page for the
selected printer and the total cost for the print job. The student will then elect to
continue, or they may cancel the job. The student will then go to a touch screen monitor
next to the printer and swipe their BSU Student ID card. The screen will then display the
print job(s) that they have sent to be printed. The system will then ask them again if they
wish to print these jobs. It will also give the student's remaining balance in addition to
the cost of the jobs. Once the student has told the system to print, the screen will tell
the student to go to the appropriate printer.
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Q: How will the system affect my situation?
A: During the remainder of the Spring Semester there will be a learning period for
students. This will take some patience. Once students learn how to use the system, the
system benefits will be apparent. There will be a reduction in wait times for print
jobs because there will be fewer jobs printed. The print jobs themselves will be cleaner
because the printers will need cleaning and maintenance less frequently.
Students will not be asked to pay for any printing during the initial phases of the
system, until the system goes live on August 15, 2005 with the start of the Fall Semester.
Even then, the vast majority of students will not exceed their printing quota and thus will
not have to pay any additional funds.
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Q: How much will it cost to print?
A: The Committee set the initial pricing of a black and white laser printed single sheet
of 8 ½ x 11 paper at $ .05/page for one sided printing and $ .07/page for duplex (two sided)
printing (This works out to 3.5 cents/page for front and back).
Color printing is available in the MP-121 lab on a new high end HP color laser printer. Color prints cost $ .50/page.
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Q: How many free pages will I get per Semester?
A: All BSU students registred for academic credit will receive a printing balance of $15.00 per semester which equates to 300 pages/semester at $ .05/page. Students using duplex printing (front and back printing) can print two pages for $.07 which would allow them to print up to 428 pages per semester.
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Q: When will the system be implemented?
A: The system has been fully implemented, and real charging has begun effective August 15, 2005.
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Q: Are there other benefits associated with this system?
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A: This system will provide the average student with a number of benefits. Students should
see an overall reduction in the time it takes to print… there will be a significant reduction
in jobs being printed so students will spend less time waiting in line for their print jobs
to come out of the printer. Printer quality should improve as well. A reduction in printing
will mean cleaner printing and cleaner pages.
The system will also provide a control infrastructure for higher valued printing services
to be offered. Previously, we could never install high end color laser printers in a busy lab,
because there was no mechanism in place to encourage efficient usage of the printer. Once this
system is in place, we will look at putting high end color laser printers in all of the OIT
managed computer labs. The cost per page of course will be more than a nickel per page, but
will not be out of line with competing copy/print centers like the Student Union or Kinkos.
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Q: Will the system be installed in all labs at BSU?
A: The system has been installed in all open labs on the BSU Main Campus and the West Campus, but has not been installed in "departmental labs."
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Q: How much waste has been generated?
A: It is estimated that the MP-121 lab generates up to 20,000 pages of wasted printing
each week. If laid end to end, this paper would stretch almost 3.5 miles, Every week. This
represents almost 200 pounds of waste paper, and a full cartridge of toner.
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Q: What if I lose my card?
A: Students will be required to have a current BSU ID card to print at the University.
If a student loses their ID card, they will need to replace it at the Campus ID office in
the Student Union. If the card is lost after hours and the student needs to print before
they can obtain a new card, they can purchase a card from "Add Value Stations" that will
ultimately be located in the MP-121, ET-239 & Campus West Computer Labs and in the Library.
Purchases of these cards will not be credited to the students ID card if they find the lost
card, nor will refunds be given for funds left on these separate cards.
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Q: What if I exceed my quota of free printing?
A: Once the system goes fully operational in the Fall of 2005, a student that exceeds
their quota during the Semester will have to pay for the amount of printing that exceeds
their quota, at the rate appropriate for the printer being used. The vast majority of
students will not have this problem.
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Q: How will I purchased additional printing if I exceed my Quota?
A: There will be no cost to students for exceeded quota until the system goes fully
operational in August, 2005. If a student exceeds their quota of free printing before
then, we will give them additional quota at no charge to the student. Once the system is
operational though, the student will be responsible for paying for printing in excess of
their quota.
The students can "add Value" to their printing accounts through the use of Pharos
"Add Value Stations" which will be located in the MP-121, ET-239 & Campus West Computer
Labs and in the Albertson's Library. These systems work like a bank ATM machine in reverse.
Students will swipe their BSU ID card at the Add Value Station and then put currency
(accepts ones, fives, tens and twenty dollar bills).
Students will also have the option to transfer funds from their BroncoBucks account
(if they have one) to the Pharos printing system. This transfer will be one way only and
funds can not be transferred back to Bronco Bucks, nor can they be refunded from their
Pharos account.
Also, if students have lost or forgotten their ID card, they can purchase a new temporary
card from these same Add Value Stations and add however much money to the account that they
feel is appropriate. These funds can not be transferred back to their main account though,
nor can they be refunded.
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Q: What happens if the system fails?
A: If the system fails, each lab will have a backup printing system in place as a
contingency. We do not expect this system to fail any more often than other printing
systems fail on campus, which is occasional but not frequent. Other campuses using this
software report minimal system problems.
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Q: What about my Privacy?
A: In the past, student who wanted to print confidential information had to race to the
printer to keep others from intercepting the job. The Pharos system has several features
to eliminate this problem. First off all, you must swipe your ID card at the Print Release
Station to see any of the print jobs in the system. Once you swipe your card, you will see
only those jobs that YOU sent to the system. You will not be able to see the jobs of other
lab users, nor will you be able to print the jobs of other lab users.
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Q: Will this program slow up the printing process?
A: Once students have gotten used to the system, printing should actually be faster than
before. The company that produces the Pharos software estimates that there will be up to a
30-50% reduction in the amount of printing. This means fewer print jobs and fewer people in
line in front of you waiting to print their jobs.
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Q: Can I get a refund for my unused quota?
A: While the free printing quota that will ultimately be given to all registered BSU
students is represented in the Pharos system as a monetary value, it really represents a
maximum service level of printing resources. The quota was calculated based upon average
printing usage, which takes into account that some students print more and some print less.
Consequently, no refunds will be given for unused printing quota at the end of a Semester,
nor will the unused portion of a quota be forwarded to a future Semester.
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Q: Who can I contact to offer feedback or for additional information?
A: If you have any questions not answered here, or if you would like additional information,
you can ask the Lab Technician on duty in the lab, or you can contact Stephen Henderson via
email at shenders@boisestate.edu or stop by his
office in the MP-121 Computer Lab.
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