TCC Reducing Number Of Printers As Cost-Saving Measure

Some students at Tulsa Community College have noticed their printers are being taken away, causing some to worry they will have to find other ways to do their work.

But it’s all part of the college’s new initiative to make sure students can get into college and graduate successfully.

The decision to reduce the number of printers might seem like an inconvenience to students, but it’s more about streamlining, and for administrators, the right move to make the college better prepared to serve students.

Fewer printers mean more frustration for Madison Patton, a student who works as an office manager for the school newspaper.

“It makes it really difficult for us to be able to print off the layout, get them edited, stuff like that,” she said.

For vice president of administration, Sean Weines, state budget cuts and being in line with best practices nationally has prompted some major changes at TCC, but their goal remains - to get as many students to graduate each semester.

“The more resource allocation, the more resources we can invest in areas that impact that, the better for us,” he said.

So, the school has been restructuring.

Since 2015, TCC has cut more than 200 positions through retirement, reallocation and attrition, focusing the cuts on positions that aren’t ‘student facing positions.’

Weines said, “So, we’re investing resources in those areas that has the highest impact towards that goal.”

Like increasing the number of advisors to help students graduate on time with the right knowledge.

“Choosing the right classes and charting a course for on-time graduation,” Weines said.

But TCC is also reducing the number of printers from 1,100 to about 200 school-wide.

Weines said, “The highest impact is for employees, faculty and staff.”

Meaning many faculty and staff are losing their personal printers.

The school is moving towards having more multi-function printers in common areas, as well as changing contracts and leases to save money.

“We’ll take this year to really assess, to look at utilization reports, to see which printers and devices on each campus and where they are most used,” Weines said.

It’s a change that Patton says she can handle as a student.

“As a student, it really hasn’t impacted me nearly as much. I haven’t seen any major changes,” she said.

Saying the quality of her education is more important than her instructor’s printing convenience.

Patton said, “Education always come first for me, so being a student here is my first priority.”

Once the schools print management initiative is completely rolled out, it could save almost $300,000.

Right now, the school does not charge students to print on campus, but it is looking into what a fair price would be in the future.

Still, administrators want input and feedback from students as to where printers should go for best use.