The use of networked classroom, lab and library printers is governed by PRP 3410-Student and Pennsylvania Resident Printer Paper Use Policy. The policy is as follows:

Each student at Bloomsburg University is given an allocation of 500 pages of printer paper each semester. A student can print as many pages as needed up to that limit at no charge, using any of the designated printers on campus. Any student who prints more than 500 pages of paper in a semester is billed at a rate of $.04 per page printed above the 500 page limit. This policy also applies to any Pennsylvania resident who uses the computers and printers on the Bloomsburg University campus.

Please note that Pennsylvania resident library patrons are only allowed access to printers in Andruss Library.

How It Works

When you log onto a campus computer you will see an icon on the taskbar that indicates the dollar value of the pages you have printed. Before your first print job this value will appear as ($20.00). The parentheses indicate -$20.00, which represents the 500 free pages allotted to you for the semester. Each time you print, the value will change.

When the value reaches $0.00, it means you have printed 500 pages. As you continue to print after reaching your 500 free page limit, the dollar value will appear as a positive number with no parentheses, based on a $.04 per page charge. For example, if you print 10 pages after reaching your limit of free pages, the dollar value will appear as $.40. At any time during the semester you can view your printing output by logging onto a campus computer and clicking on the icon.

The bill for your next semester will include printing charges for the previous semester as a separate line item (except for graduating or non-returning students who will receive a separate bill). Inquiries or disputes regarding printing charges should be directed to the Bloomsburg University helpdesk at 570-389-4357) or helpdesk@bloomu.edu .

What Factors Were Used to Determine Per Page Pricing

There are three primary costs associated with printing:

1. The cost of printers and replacement parts;
2. Tthe cost of toner and;
3. The cost of paper.

Printing consultants such as HP, Xerox, Bertl Research and Gartner estimate the cost per page for black and white printing at $.05 to $.09. Retail outlets like Staples or Office Depot charge at least $.06 per page for self printing or copying. Other PASSHE institution print charges range from a low of $.04 to a high of $.10 per page. All of the above factors were considered in establishing the per page price for printing at Bloomsburg University .

What Pages are Counted?

The only pages counted are those printed to a classroom, lab or library printer. If you are a work- study student or a graduate student using your personal login to access a departmental or unit computer and printer, your pages will not be counted against your semester allotment.

Be Careful and Patient When You Print

Every time you send a page(s) to the printer by clicking YES in the pop-up dialog box, that page(s) is sent to a print queue. When your pages are released from the queue and actually printed, they are charged against your account. Please note that the print queue includes all print jobs that have been sent to the printer recently. In some cases, others may have sent jobs to the printer ahead of you and you must wait for the printer to get to your job. Be patient and wait until your print job is completed. If you become impatient and send the same page(s) to the printer a second time you might get two copies of the page(s) and, consequently, be charged again for all pages that were printed.

In other cases, there may be a problem with the printer itself. If this occurs contact the helpdesk immediately at x4357 and report the problem. Do not send the same print job a second time or you will be charged for the additional pages. The printer will clear out all jobs from its queue after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Always Log Off Classroom and Lab Computers

It is very important to log off any campus computer you have used as soon as you have completed your work. If you walk away from a computer without logging off the next user could print to your account or access any files you have placed in your online storage space.

How To Dispute a Print Charge

There may be occasions when a printer malfunctions and does not print your job, but charges you as if the job had printed. This may occur as a result of a paper jam, insufficient toner, an electrical disruption or any one of several other technical glitches. In such cases we will credit your account by the number of misprinted or unprinted pages.

Here's how to get credit for misprinted or unprinted pages:

Contact the helpdesk by telephone (x4357), email helpdesk@bloomu.edu , or by visiting Ben Franklin 120. Be prepared to provide the following information:

• Name
• Contact information
• Date
• Approximate time and place of malfunction and the number of pages that misprinted or did not print.

As soon as the helpdesk confirms the daily printer logs, you will be credited with the appropriate number of pages. Accounts will be credited only once daily, so the actual credit may not appear until the day after the helpdesk received your request.

If the misprint is toner related, then you must physically bring the pages to the helpdesk in person and provide the same information as above. It is worth noting that we will be monitoring toner use very carefully to avoid these issues.

Please note that questions or disputes about print charges should be directed to the Bloomsburg University helpdesk at 570-389-4357 or helpdesk@bloomu.edu

How Many Students Are Likely to be Affected by the Print Charges?

Based on statistics from the spring 2006 semester, 84% of students who used classroom, lab or library printers did not exceed their 500 page allotment and, therefore, would not have been assessed a printing fee. Approximately 12% of students would have incurred charges between $.04 and $20 and only 4% of students of would have incurred charges of $20 or more.