Do Your Part as a Student
Do Your Part...
As A Student
Millions of dollars (and millions of trees) are lost every year due to wasteful and inconsiderate photocopying and printing habits. Developing more efficient and sustainable habits not only saves money, it prepares you to be a better global citizen after graduation. Compare your printing and copying habits to the recommendations provided on this web site. Think about ways you can reduce the number of copies you produce (individually, in student organizations … anywhere you make photocopies and printouts), and adjust your practices wherever possible.
Resources
Examples
Here are some instances of wasteful practices on campus and recommended solutions.
Workshops and Seminars
The UFCN, University Relations, and the Green team are hosting workshops and seminars on these initiatives.
Tips
Reducing Copy Costs
Follow these simple steps to reduce the number of copies and printouts in your unit and reduce costs.
Students Plant the Seed
StudentsPlantTheSeed.com is a Web site aimed at reducing the amount of paper used during the college application process. ConnectedEdu, a curriculum, college and career planning information technology company, recently launched the site. The Web site provides paper-reducing methods for college admissions and a petition for high school administrators and higher education institutions to participate in the initiative.
Contact
For more information, contact your unit's Green Team representative or your communications professional.
What Do I Need to Do?
- Ask professors if they will accept printed papers that are double-sided or electronic submissions. Become familiar with campus services such as E-learning and turnitin.com. Use them, and encourage their use, wherever possible.
- Campus computer lab recycle bins are always full of wasted printouts. Edit your papers carefully and thoroughly online before downloading them to the printer. And if you do find a mistake after printing, only reprint the page containing the error.
- Printer cartridges are expensive. If you need multiple copies, print one and photocopy the rest.
- Get Creative. Consider unique ways to communicate your student organization information.
- Ask yourself and your peers if the "printed word" is really the best way to spread your message. Convert to electronic delivery wherever possible.
- Share your Success. Found a way to reduce your printing? Have an idea that could helpful to the campus community? Let us know at funemailaddress@ufl.edu.
What Are the Benefits?
- State budget shortfalls have required UF to reduce expenses. By saving money in areas like printing and photocopying, we help protect more critical academic and research budgets.
- Adopting more efficient and environmentally sustainable practices can not only reduce your expenses here at the University, it can help build positive lifelong habits. And by reducing the amount of material you print, you can help UF meet its sustainability goals.
The Road Ahead
Developing efficient and sustainable habits as students prepares us to become environmentally-friendly citizens. Awareness of the impact of our actions on everything from the environment to society to our own bank accounts is a critical part of our learning experience. Gators should always the best global citizens.
