Quota quandaries
By: Paladin Editorial Staff
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Opinions
Earlier this year we reported that the Furman library is considering imposing a semester quota on the number of pages each student may print without paying. Beginning next term, the library will begin collecting data on the number of pages students print from library computers, which it will then use to determine the appropriate structure of the quota.
The goal of the quota is to cut costs and extend the University's efforts to promote the sustainable use of resources. The Paladin supports both of these goals, and does not oppose restrictions on the availability of "free printing" for students (which, of course, is free neither to students nor the university). The current structure, which imposes no marginal cost for printing even in large quantities, has certainly facilitated unnecessary printing. The often-large piles of unclaimed print jobs show that some savings could be attained at essentially no cost to students. Many other schools charge students for the pages they print, and tools like Moodle have already reduced the need for printing in some cases. Indeed, in such difficult economic times, Furman would be remiss not to look for ways to use its resources more efficiently.
This said, we do have a number of concerns about the proposals currently under consideration. First, the library has cited the large quantities of paper purchased for student and faculty use as evidence of excessive printing. But heavy printing is not necessarily wasteful printing. Professors often ask that students print the presentations that accompany their lectures; many have replaced or supplemented the use of textbooks with electronically distributed readings. Most majors offer seminar courses or other opportunities for independent research, which may require the printing of dozens of often-lengthy academic articles.
This sort of printing is essential to intellectual development and academic success, and is not something the university should discourage. The trouble with the quota approach is that this sort of distinction - the difference between printing a fifty-page research paper and fifty fliers for an upcoming CLP or house party - is completely lost. Environmental sensibilities aside, we do not want students running cost-benefit analyses every time they wish to print an academic article, a reading assignment, or lecture notes. We suggest having professors estimate the number of pages their students will need to print, which will then be added to the quotas of the students in their classes.
Second, while moving to a quota-based system would save the university money, we are doubtful that these savings would be passed on to students, who would actually face increasing costs. If these new restrictions and fees were coupled with fee reductions elsewhere - in the form of reduced or forgiven library late fees, for example - we would be much more amenable to some form of a print quota.
In moving to a quota-based system, the university must attempt to balance cost savings and concern for sustainability with attentiveness to student finances and the university's mission. Any quota should be both generous and flexible, and most of the savings created should be passed on to the students who will pay for the change.
The goal of the quota is to cut costs and extend the University's efforts to promote the sustainable use of resources. The Paladin supports both of these goals, and does not oppose restrictions on the availability of "free printing" for students (which, of course, is free neither to students nor the university). The current structure, which imposes no marginal cost for printing even in large quantities, has certainly facilitated unnecessary printing. The often-large piles of unclaimed print jobs show that some savings could be attained at essentially no cost to students. Many other schools charge students for the pages they print, and tools like Moodle have already reduced the need for printing in some cases. Indeed, in such difficult economic times, Furman would be remiss not to look for ways to use its resources more efficiently.
This said, we do have a number of concerns about the proposals currently under consideration. First, the library has cited the large quantities of paper purchased for student and faculty use as evidence of excessive printing. But heavy printing is not necessarily wasteful printing. Professors often ask that students print the presentations that accompany their lectures; many have replaced or supplemented the use of textbooks with electronically distributed readings. Most majors offer seminar courses or other opportunities for independent research, which may require the printing of dozens of often-lengthy academic articles.
This sort of printing is essential to intellectual development and academic success, and is not something the university should discourage. The trouble with the quota approach is that this sort of distinction - the difference between printing a fifty-page research paper and fifty fliers for an upcoming CLP or house party - is completely lost. Environmental sensibilities aside, we do not want students running cost-benefit analyses every time they wish to print an academic article, a reading assignment, or lecture notes. We suggest having professors estimate the number of pages their students will need to print, which will then be added to the quotas of the students in their classes.
Second, while moving to a quota-based system would save the university money, we are doubtful that these savings would be passed on to students, who would actually face increasing costs. If these new restrictions and fees were coupled with fee reductions elsewhere - in the form of reduced or forgiven library late fees, for example - we would be much more amenable to some form of a print quota.
In moving to a quota-based system, the university must attempt to balance cost savings and concern for sustainability with attentiveness to student finances and the university's mission. Any quota should be both generous and flexible, and most of the savings created should be passed on to the students who will pay for the change.