Carnegie Mellon has been fortunate to offer unlimited cluster printing for many years. It has become rare for a university to offer such a policy to students for campus printing. However, due to the cost of printer upkeep and misuse of printing facilities, Computing Services has instituted an initial $40 per semester quota for all members of the CMU community, along with other guidelines and improvements over the old system.

These new changes have been forthcoming since before Spring 2004. Computing Services began the process by administering focus groups and handing out surveys to better assess the printing issues on campus, while their User Outreach and Analysis Group looked into the printing uses of the community. Their research showed that large amounts of printouts were thrown away daily, often due to the reportedly slow and unreliable nature of the Andrew system. These excess printouts also wore down the toner. Students expressed an interest in printing from campus housing once again, as well. Due to these findings, Computing Services looked into a more stable, secure, and ecological way to print on campus.

Following this initiative, Computing Services set up test kiosks during the Spring 2005 semester. Throughout the months of April and May, students were able to test out the Computing Services' proposed printing solutions by completing a survey after using the test units. The overall response was very positive in all aspects, from ease of use to the speed and quality of printing. Given this student feedback, Computing Services instituted these systems across campus starting in August 2005.

The new system gives all students, faculty, and staff a $40 quota per semester. According to Computing Services, the quota will allow for 800 double-sided black and white printouts, a black and white printout costing five cents per page. This limit was set due to data taken in the fall semester of 2003, which showed thatless than ten percent of students print over 1,000 pages per semester. There are separate prices for color printouts and copies. Guests and those who have used up their quota can purchase a Plaid Ca$h card for an initial cost of one dollar, and Campus Xpress accounts can be used to pay for printouts as well. Unused quota balances will not roll over from semester to semester, though, and jammed or defective printouts will not be reimbursed due to wear on the toner. Anyone can check their quota using the Dining/Campus Xpress portlet on the my.cmu.edu website.

To use the new system, students, staff, faculty, and guests must print to a specific location on campus. The document can be named and secured with a password if necessary. The document will then be held at the specified location for four hours at most locations, and twelve hours at the lower level University Center location. To print the document, a CMU ID or Plaid Ca$h card with a remaining balance must be swiped. The document can then be retrieved and printed immediately. Those using the printing system are encouraged to print jobs of over 50 pages to the Baker and Wean Hall locations to minimize lines at other release locations.

For more information and the charges for different printing options, please visit the Computing Services' Public Printing Guidelines website.

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