One of the questions I hear often is: Why change something that’s working?
The truth is, technology evolves, and with it comes better ways to provide reliable, cost-effective services to our campus community. Printing is one of those areas where small frustrations can add up quickly, and where smarter solutions can make a big difference.
This month, I want to highlight a project that’s designed to simplify printing at UNCG while also making it more sustainable and budget-friendly: Managed Print Services (MPS 2.0).
MPS: A Smarter Way to Print at UNCG
What’s Changing
UNCG is rolling out the next phase of its Managed Print Services program: MPS 2.0. This new system makes printing more convenient, consistent, and fair across campus. Instead of tying printing costs to a particular machine in your department, costs will now follow the person printing. That means fewer small, unreliable printers and more access to high-quality, multifunction devices strategically placed across campus. Each building will continue to have convenient access to a printer, though the exact placement may vary based on need.
Why It Matters
- Convenience: Send a print job and release it securely at any MPS printer by swiping your Spartan ID.
- Reliability: These new printers are built to handle heavy use with fewer jams, faster speeds, and better support.
- Fairness: Departments and students will only be billed for what they actually print. No more footing the bill for someone else’s pages.
- Sustainability: Fewer, more efficient machines reduce waste, save energy, and lower costs across the University.
Who is Impacted?
Faculty and Staff: Departments will no longer manage their own individual printers. Printing costs will be billed back to the person or department responsible for the job.
Students: You’ll continue to pay only for the pages you print, with access to the same upgraded devices across campus.
Partnering on the Path Forward
Over the past year, ITS has worked with departments to build an accurate inventory of what printers currently exist on our campus. We have engaged an external partner with expertise in higher education printing solutions to assess our environment and recommend best practices for a sustainable future model.
The next step is to review these recommendations and discuss them with you to ensure we fully understand each area’s printing needs before implementation. Your input and engagement with ITS are critical to making sure the campus-managed print program continues to meet academic, administrative, and operational needs with modern, secure equipment.
What Do I Need to Do?
- Begin using MPS printers as they’re deployed across campus.
- Use your Spartan ID card to release print jobs securely.
- Contact 6-TECH if you have questions about locating printers or printing options.
Learn more about the rollout timeline and updates on the MPS 2.0 Tech Initiatives page.
Closing Thoughts
The MPS project is a great example of how small shifts in technology can bring big benefits, saving time, reducing costs, and making life a little easier for all of us. Thank you for being open to these changes and for helping us move forward together.
As always, I’d love to hear your feedback. You can reach me directly at cio@uncg.edu. What’s working for you? What can we do better? This newsletter is one way for us to stay connected and build the future of technology at UNCG, together.
In partnership,
Donna Heath, Chief Information Officer
