UNM's Information Technology Services (ITS) Department recently initiated the Print Release Program in all the ITS computer labs and PODs throughout campus. The program is a joint effort between ITS and the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) Association, and is aimed at not only improving print job tracking for students, but is also part of UNM’s larger environmental initiative to “go green” and reduce wasted resources such as paper, ink and energy. There is no charge to students, faculty or staff for printing.
From an environmental standpoint, the Print Release Program gives students the option to decide if their print job is indeed necessary or if it is something they can access in less wasteful, environmentally-friendly manner. During the Fall 2007 semester, there was approximately 13 percent of paper waste, with a 25 percent increase during finals. These peak printing periods showed approximately 300,000 pages being printed each week. Print Release will help those numbers drop significantly and saving the University money and valuable natural resources.
The support of ASUNM was instrumental for implementation of the Print Release Program.
“ASUNM actively worked with us at ITS to come up with a solution to the wasted resources such as paper, and we are very grateful for their assistance and backing of this program” said Moira Gerety, Director of ITS Computing. ASUNM purchased and placed the see-through recycle bins in each of the ITS PODs to raise student environmental awareness of how much paper is wasted on unnecessary printing.
The Print Release program holds print jobs until they are released by the user. Students who send something to print will see pop-up screen on their monitor, asking them to name their print job, type in their own name, and giving them the option to delete or to print. Once at the printer, the student will swipe their Lobo Card at the print station monitor to release the print job. Print Release enables a student to print out large documents or files on their own schedule, and also offers increased security and privacy by utilizing the optional password.
Lobo Cards are used to only correctly identify users and their print jobs only, and does not charge the students for their print jobs. However, swiping the Lobo Card is required to print in the ITS PODs so students and other users must have their Lobo Cards with them.
Media Contact: Vanessa Baca, (505) 277-0987; e-mail: vjbaca1@unm.edu