The Offices of Informational Technologies and College Services are pleased to announce the activation of GPC’s printing management program.  The program will affect printing in the computer labs and learning resource centers on all of Georgia Perimeter College’s campuses and at the Rockdale Center.  The programs goal is to eliminate paper and toner waste.  The program will bring accountability to printing management by allocating costs on an as use basis.  The savings from the program will be used to purchase upgraded printers and other technology that will enhance the student experience at GPC.  

Over the past year, nearly 6 million pages were printed in the LRC’s, and computer labs. Much of this material was deemed unnecessary and disposed of by the person who printed it.  Many computer lab printing jobs were left unclaimed. Studies at other universities have shown that printing management programs reduce “unwanted” print jobs by 20% immediately. Unauthorized individuals such as community patrons and students from other institutions have taken advantage of GPC’s open printing system.  The printing management program will alleviate all unauthorized printing.   

The print management program software is a product known as UniPrint.  All public printers at GPC will be networked.  Printing will be allowed in one of two ways.  The first method is by a swipe of the patron’s Campus AccessCard.  The second method will be through a password entry system.  In either case, the UniPrint software will send the patron’s information to the network where their “printing balance” information is stored.  If there is a sufficient balance in the patron’s printing balance, the print job will be released to the printer.  If there is not a sufficient balance, the patron will be asked to add funds to their Access Card debit account.  Cash value may be added to the Campus AccessCard or print management account at “Cash Value Transfer Terminals” (CSVT machines) located in the LRCs and Student Centers on each campus.  Non-GPC patrons will be able to purchase a “V-Card” from the CSVT machine that will allow them printing access. 

Every current student will receive a $7.50 allocation for printing from their student technology fee each semester.  The prices for printing will be six cents ($.06) per page and ten cents ($.10) per page for duplex (front and back of one sheet) printing.  This $7.50 balance equals 125 single sided prints per term or 150 duplex prints per term.  The printing balance fund can only be used for printing.  However, any funds added to the Campus AccessCard by the student can be used anywhere the card is accepted on campus (printing, copiers, vending, bookstores, and food service).   V-Card balances are good at any location that accepts the Campus Access Card.

 The $7.50 balance (125 prints) was established after a survey of other state and national institutions.  These balances are comparable to many of the other institutions surveyed.  Last year’s printing volume of 6 million sheets equates to approximately 115 prints per student per year.  The GPC program will allow each student 125 prints per semester or 375 prints per year.  Unused printing balances will be rolled over from one semester to the next.  However, all balances will be reset to 0 at the end of summer semester each academic year.  The program is designed not to impact the average student.  However, the heavy print user may have to pay for excess printing. 

The program will be managed by Informational Technologies and the College Services departments.  This program is another example of the collaborative use of cutting edge technology to increase services while reducing costs.  As a result of savings generated by this program, additional high speed printers, color printing, and other document management solutions will be made available to the GPC campus community in the near future.  For additional information about the program, or to ask questions, contact the Auxiliary Services department at 678 891-3340.