By: RYAN LOHMAN
Staff Writer
How and where students print on campus changed drastically this semester. University Information Technology Services (UITS) replaced Go-Print with a new system, IU Print, and added more printing stations in and outside of computer labs.
As any student who started before this semester will remember, Go-Print required a username and password to release print jobs to a designated printer in a computer lab – the same username and password used to login to a computer terminal. But, according to David Kobb from the IT help desk, IU Print works differently.
“The new reader will bring up anything you need to print, but you need your ID,” Kobb said.
According to Kobb, after a student chooses to print a document on their computer terminal, that document is sent to the designated printer where a student must swipe their university ID card to unlock their print job. When a student swipes their card, a list of print jobs associated with that student appears on a screen next to the printer. A student simply selects a print job on that screen and then selects the option to print.
Additionally, from where a student can print also changed this semester, making computer lab hours all but irrelevant to any student who has a laptop, according to Kobb.
“There are new stations around campus, outside of computer labs, for students to use when labs are closed,” Kobb said. “As long as there’s a building open on campus, they can print.”
The new stations similarly require an ID, but can be used with personal laptops, not just computer lab terminals, according to Kobb. These print stations are located in nearly all buildings on campus, including the Grill and student housing.
The printing stations that are separate from labs work in a slightly different way. The user must send an email to release a print job. Although instructions are printed on handouts at each station, some students have run into some difficulty with the system.
“A lot of students complained because they have to go back and forth, learning something new,” said Reyna Rugelio, a computer lab consultant.
But according to Rugelio, that attitude is slowly changing.
“We don’t like change, but once they get used to it, they’ll like it,” Rugelio said. “They can print anywhere, print from any computer to any station. They can even print from laptops now. It’s a good thing.”
According to Rugelio, students still having trouble should have no fear.
“If it doesn’t work, consultants can print for them,” she said. “That’s why we’re lab consultants. If you need help, just ask.”
Printing prices have also changed. Most notably, the cost to print a one-sided, color sheet went from $0.50 per sheet to $0.25 per sheet, according to Rugelio.
According to the UITS August/September Newsletter, if you don’t have the required ID card, you can get a new one from the Gateway Information Center in the Administration Building between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., and between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
UITS posted full printing instructions in their August/September newsletter, which can be found by visiting www.iusb.edu/uits/newsletter and clicking on the August/September newsletter link.