You are rushing to class and realize you forgot to print your essay that’s due in five minutes. The library is too far and you will never make it on time. What will you do?
Thanks to the new WEPA (Wireless Everywhere Print Anywhere) printing system at Fairfield University, students can print from multiple locations on campus.
Representatives from the Computing and Network Services, (CNS) the DiMenna-Nyselius Library and the StagCard Office examined many different ideas to replace the current printing system at the University. According to Paige Francis, Chief Information Officer at Fairfield University, WEPA provided the most options.
In the past, many students at Fairfield printed in the library if they did not have another printing alternative.
According to Francis, WEPA kiosks have been placed in the following locations throughout the University:
• Bannow Science Center: on the second floor bridge to the School of Nursing, next to the vending machines (1 kiosk).
• Barone Campus Center: outside the Stag Spirit Shop (2 kiosks).
• Dimmena-Nyselius Library: lower lever near the periodicals (1 kiosk), main level information commons (2 kiosks), main level 24/7 lab (1 kiosk), upper level near the card catalog computers (1 kiosk).
• Dolan School of Business: in the classroom wing, outside of room 110 A&B (1 kiosk).
• Walsh Athletic Center computer lab (1 kiosk).
Although the University removed the original library printers, they placed the most kiosks there because of the large printing demand. Now, printing usage can be monitored.
Additional kiosks were spread out to try and “make printing as convenient as possible for the widest range of students,” Francis said.
Francis explained that the administrators are able to track usage and if needed, the kiosks can be moved to the “new high traffic areas.” There is a possibility that one or two kiosks will be moved by the fall semester.
After ending one system and implementing another, Francis explained that the new system is budget-neutral. A cost savings may even be seen because of the fact that “supplies and hardware are kept secure in the kiosks,” stated Francis.
“WEPA is a turnkey solution,” she explained. “It is able to manage everything from service calls to providing reams of paper and toner.”
According to Francis, students will benefit from this in a number of ways:
• High-definition printing, which previously was not available
• Wireless printing from mobile devices, USB jump drives the cloud and PCs
• High-quality printers and laser paper
Many student reactions to the new printing solution have been positive. “It is so convenient to only have to walk to the BCC now to print,” stated Hope Agresta ’16. “This is a great alternative to printing on campus!”
However, some students find the switch less convenient. Nate Abraham ’13 refers to the login process, saying, “It just takes a lot more time, where before you just had to write in your ID number.”
Francis reported, “The largest cost for campus printing comes from printers’ service, maintenance and supplies.” WEPA is able to take all of these costs and get rid of them. Moving to WEPA will now remove Fairfield University from the printer maintenance business.
She commented, “At the end of the day, a student still has to print from time to time and when a student needs to print, we’d like the print to be high-quality from the device of their choosing.”
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