Framingham State College introduces

a print management solution for students

Over the summer, Information Technology Services implemented several changes intended to enhance the learning environment, accessibility and security for all students. These changes included the new Dell computer systems in the general computer lab and classrooms, setting up a new 24-hour lab set up in the College Center Commuter Lounge and networked printers in the Residence Halls. In addition, a less visible change will be the introduction of a new print management system.

This print management system (Uniprint by Pharos) is a software program that helps students monitor their print jobs, enables access to more printers, and increases document security. By increasing the ease-of-use with monitoring and controlling print jobs, Pharos will drastically decrease the amount of wasted paper around campus which, when coupled with the recycling of paper already taking place, will help to conserve paper and preserve the environment. Document security is also a valuable benefit that is now available to students through Pharos. Several "release stations" will be set up around campus in locations where there are network printers and in the computer labs. These release stations will display the documents the user wishes to print and he or she can then confirm which documents should be printed or deleted. This will help eliminate print jobs that are accidental or unnecessary. This feature will also provide extra security in that the jobs will no longer print directly to the network printer, allowing confidential information to be kept confidential.

Currently all college owned desktops in G20, G20a, The College Center Commuter Lounge lab and residence hall labs have the ability to print to the networked printers through this system. In the next few weeks we will be offering this print management program to laptops users. This program will give the ability to laptop users to print to networked printers around campus including the Residence Hall printers. With the download of a small file, students will be able to use the networked printers without even logging directly onto our network. For installation instructions please click here.

In the rare case of a printer jam a user can instead of waiting for the jam to be remedied, merely use Pharos to redirect the document to another printer situated in the labs or on campus instead of waiting for the jam to be remedied. These printers are located throughout Hemenway Hall, the Commuter Lounge Lab, the Library, CASA and the Residence Halls. Hemenway Hall G20 has been supplied with new HP Laser Jet 4300 series printers and Hemenway Hall G01, 208 and 301 have been given new HP 2300 series printers.

The implementation of this program will be rolled out in phases to ensure a smooth integration into campus use. Phase 1a (the week of September 20th) concentrated on the general lab located in Hemenway Hall G20 and G20a and the Commuter Lounge Lab. Phase 1b (the week of Oct 4th) added the print release stations to the Residence Hall labs and Residence Hall compites. Phase 2 will incorporate printing from laptops and is anticpated to begin installs the week of October 12th. Phase 3 will deal with computer classroom printing and is anticpated for Spring 2005.

We at ITS hope that the Pharos Uniprint Print Management system will enable all students of the FSC community to print with ease and will help make the growing technologies around campus more accessible. With print management in place, Framingham State College and ITS can ensure a safer, paper conscious, and more secure network for documents and printing across campus.