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Tag: computing labs

ID Center phases out “smart chip” technology on Wildcat ID cards

by Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, Union marketing sales manager

The K-State ID Center and Information Technology Services announces the conversion of the “smart chip” technology to the prepaid Cat Cash system effective Monday, Oct. 5. At the start of every fall and spring semester, $10 in funds is placed on each student’s eID to be used for limited free printing at participating university computing labs ($5 during the summer). Once those funds are exhausted, the student will now use Cat Cash rather than reloading at a “smart chip” station.

“Transferring this service over to Cat Cash has allowed for a significant savings in technology expenses as well as the consolidation to one standard payment system on campus,” said Craig Johnson, assistant director of the K-State Student Union.

Continue reading “ID Center phases out “smart chip” technology on Wildcat ID cards”

InfoCommons, labs printing to require Wildcat card Oct. 5

Starting Oct. 5, students, staff, and faculty wanting to print in the K-State InfoCommons and the university computing labs will be required to swipe their Wildcat ID card for both limited free printing and pay-for-print.

Print station in the K-State InfoCommons (photo by Betsy Edwards)

Pay-for-print will be moving away from using the smart chip on the Wildcat ID card and will use the magnetic strip on the back, which is attached to student, staff, and faculty Cat Cash accounts. Continue reading “InfoCommons, labs printing to require Wildcat card Oct. 5”

$10 limited free B/W, color printing in labs, InfoCommons, MDC

On Aug. 20, limited free printing in the university computing labs and K-State InfoCommons was reset to $10 for the fall semester. This service is available to all students with an active K-State eID, and is available via printers in those facilities as well as the Media Development Center (Hale 213).

Double-sided (duplex) black-and-white printing is the default in the labs and InfoCommons. Duplex printing costs 18 cents, and single pages are 10 cents.

This summer, all computers in the InfoCommons were updated to provide access to color printing, through the color printer in the Media Development Center. Color prints cost 75 cents per page for 8.5″ X 11″ or 11″ X 17″ sheets. Continue reading “$10 limited free B/W, color printing in labs, InfoCommons, MDC”

Spotlight: Using technology to cut costs

Below is a short list of suggestions to save money using technology. If you have other suggestions on using technology to cut costs, send to TellTuesday@k-state.edu.

  1. Set the default on printers (when possible) to print double-sided instead of single-sided pages. (This one change to printers in the K-State InfoCommons and university computing labs resulted in a reduction of more than 400,000 fewer sheets of paper used, which is equivalent to 800 fewer reams of paper or 32 boxes.)
  2. Send communications including memos, notices, and updates via e-mail, thus eliminating paper.
  3. Purchase an inexpensive scanner such as a ScanSnap and connect it to an administrative assistant’s computer. Any information on paper that needs to be shared with staff can be scanned, quickly converted to a PDF, and then e-mailed as an attachment. Continue reading “Spotlight: Using technology to cut costs”

What’s new in the InfoCommons, university computing labs

A large-screen collaborative technology cart in the K-State InfoCommons
A large-screen collaborative technology cart in the K-State InfoCommons

This summer, the university computing labs and K-State InfoCommons had several updates, including:

New Q-Center computer studio classroom in Cardwell Hall

In February, Information Technology Services staff completed the addition of technology to the new Q-Center in Cardwell Hall, Rooms 144-145. The lab officially opened Monday, April 13, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Q-Center ribbon-cutting ceremony April 13, 2009
Q-Center ribbon-cutting ceremony April 13, 2009 with (left to right) Dean Zollman, department head of Physics; Provost M. Duane Nellis; and Louis Pigno, department head of Math

This new lab has 20 computers with space for 60 students.  A partition in the middle of the room allows it to be divided in half so that two different classes may be held simultaneously.

Continue reading “New Q-Center computer studio classroom in Cardwell Hall”

Winter-break projects in university computing labs, InfoCommons, tech classrooms

The Information Technology Assistance Center (iTAC) will be working over the winter break refreshing technology in K-State’s technology classrooms, and updating software and computers in the university computing labs and K-State InfoCommons. Here’s a list of some ugrades and projects that will be undertaken over the break:

  • Install 22 iMacs in the InfoCommons and university computing labs
  • Upgrade 11 projectors in technology classrooms
  • Install a new course-capturing system in Justin 109
  • Upgrade media link technology in 15 technology classrooms, bringing mobile media player compatibility to these rooms
  • Install a new software image on all computers in the university computing labs and InfoCommons
  • Install technology in the Quantitative Center (Q Center) studio classroom in Cardwell Hall (estimated completion is early February 2009)
  • Install new computers in several locations:
    • the Cardwell Physics Studios
    • both of the Union computing labs
    • the Math/Physics and Architecture libraries

Macs to be in InfoCommons, Union labs; software suggestions needed

During the winter break, 22 new Apple iMac computers will be installed in the K-State InfoCommons (located in Hale Library) and the K-State Student Union computing labs. Feedback is sought from the campus community as to what software should be included on these computers. The current plan is to offer: Continue reading “Macs to be in InfoCommons, Union labs; software suggestions needed”