Updated Remote Student Printing Procedures
Harper College Mega Labs (computer labs) and other printing locations have limited
access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please check the Mega Lab hours before coming
to campus. In addition to printing on campus, students can still access their 500
pages of free printing with on-campus pickup. To upload files to print, visit Student Printing.
As part of Harper College's ongoing green initiatives and to reduce costs, credit students receive a print allocation of 500 pages per semester for printing in the open labs and Library.
All students are required to use their network login and HarperCard ID to release print jobs.
Non-credit students and community patrons need to purchase a rechargeable Copy/Print Debit Card to print in the Library and the computer labs.
Vending stations for the cards are located at:
Answers to frequently asked questions about Harper's new printing policy are below or email questions to printgreen@harpercollege.edu.
Student copy machines accept coins or Copy/Print Debit Cards and are located in:
Book scan stations are located on the first and second floors of the Library and at our remote site, the Learning and Career Center in Prospect Heights. Book scan stations can be used to:
Submit print jobs from your personal device ON or OFF campus with Student MobilePrint. View all the details here or get started with Student MobilePrint right now.
A1: Reducing the amount of paper is part of the College's ongoing efforts to have a more environmentally friendly and greener campus. Also, as a not-for-profit, taxpayer supported institution, the College is committed to reducing costs wherever possible.
A2: The College has been monitoring campus printing in the student labs for over a year to determine the average and maximum print usage of students. 45% of students printed less than 50 pages in the open labs. Over 92% of students printed less than 500 pages per semester. The remaining 8% of students accounted for 45% of our print volume. By limiting excessive printing of those few students we can cut down on the overall print costs for everyone.
A4: Students will see their allocation balance when they swipe their HarperCard at the release stations. They can also see the prepaid balance on the Copy/Print Debit Card or added to the HarperCard (the thin magnetic strip on the back) when using the pay station.
A5: As a student, you may put additional money on your print/copy stripe (the thin magnetic stripe on the back of the HarperCard). The same machine used to dispense and recharge the generic Copy/Print Debit Card may also be used to recharge the print/copy stripe of your HarperCard.
A6: No. At the beginning of each semester the page count will be reset to 500 for all registered credit students. The page quota is paid from the college budget and is intended to save money and help the environment.
A7: If you have allocation remaining from the previous semester, you will be able to use it up until totals are reset for the next semester. Semester resets are based on the Academic Calendar and are done on the Sunday night one week before the semester begins. If the interim period between semesters is less than one week the reset occurs on the Sunday night before the semester begins.
A8: You can purchase a Copy/Print Debit Card from one of the vending machines. Credit students who have used up their allocated prints can either recharge the print/copy stripe on their HarperCard or purchase a Copy/Print Debit Card to pay for additional printing. Either card can then be used to release your print jobs at any of the print-release-pay stations.
A9: Yes, the same prepaid Copy/Print Debit Card used for the copy machines can be used to release print jobs. Your card will be debited $.10 per page for either print or copies. (Note: one printed side is counted as one page. A sheet printed on both sides counts as two pages.)
A11: Yes, a print job is charged at the time it is released to print. We will reimburse your account for printer malfunctions. You must log the problem with the staff at the desk. Be prepared to give them your login ID, ID number, date and time, printer name and name of print job (name of the file being printed). If the log confirms the problem you experience, you will have the charged amount restored to your print account. Contact the personnel at the desk to report the problem right away, so that we can service the printer immediately.
A12: You may talk to the personnel at the desk or email printgreen@harpercollege.edu.
A15: Each machine reads a different magnetic stripe on the card.
A16: The debit stripe on both cards allow you to print or copy. The first time you buy a print/copy debit card, you are charged $.50 for the card itself; after that you can add value at no extra charge. If you add value to your Harper ID, you are not charged $.50 for an initial debit card purchase.
A17: There are two stations attached to the wall nearest the printers in the Library, one on each floor. The Mega Computer Labs in the 'Y' and 'I' buildings also each house a Print/Copy Vending machine. Machines are also located at LCC.
A22: The cash pay station counts each side printed on a sheet of paper. A simplex (one side of the sheet) print is charged at $.10. A duplex (both sides of the sheet) print is charged at $ .20. You are only charged for the printed sides of the sheets. If 9 pages are printed duplex, you will see "5 sheets at a cost of $ .90". (Note that the unprinted side of the last page is not charged.) The number of pages charged is determined by the number of pages that the application sees. If you have a blank page in the application that will be counted as a printed page.
