This semester the Library and computer labs introduced PrintSmart, a new printing system that allows students to print at any time.

Previously, students had to wait as much as 30 minutes to print their papers because of the congestion created by the fact that printing was only allowed every 20 minutes.

The new system has helped print papers at a faster pace and students no longer have to waste time waiting for term papers to print out.

This is especially beneficial for students who have to print papers at the last minute. The only delay is having the printer run out of paper.

“Even though this new system helps eliminate the printing system, we still have to check out and refill new paper,” said Marisoob Khan, one of the computer lab assistants in Mendocino Hall.

Scott McGown, information technology consultant, said the feedback to the new program has been positive.

“The response from students was very popular, in the fact that they don?t have to print a limited amount of pages each day or waste so much time for the finished product to be printed,” McGown said.

At the beginning of the semester, undergraduate students were given an allowance of $5, or an equivalent of 100 free pages, and graduate students received a $2.50 allowance (50 pages). The cost of printing is five cents a page and the credits were automatically deducted in the students? OneCard accounts.

The new system conserves resources and holds students accountable for wasting paper. If the allowance runs out, students must deposit money in their OneCard accounts to continue with the process.

McGown said that putting more money into the OneCard account was the only complaint. The system will also be in place throughout both the Summer 2001 and Fall 2001 semesters. The system operates in all of the computer labs at Sac State.