As students begin to settle into their class schedules and get reacquainted with what is expected from class assignments, a few summer changes become apparent. The plus/minus grading system has finally been implemented after long delay, but not every student may have noticed this because of an odd absence of paperwork normally distributed by the professors.
As Western Illinois U. has made note of in the past, concern over environmental waste has pushed the administration towards a concerted effort to save paper. Some professors have avoided a printed syllabus to pass out for the first class, instead directing students to where they can view it online.
Avoiding excessive use of paper and toner from the University’s overworked printers is an admirable agenda, but perhaps the method of conservation is a bit backwards.
It is understandable that in a time of economic uncertainty and cost-cutting that a department’s paper budget is subject to review in a world of decimals and spreadsheets. The University is not at fault for working towards solutions, however less paper handouts are not the answer.
In an academic setting students simply require paper. Whether it is books or academic journals, most students who must spend hours reading simply prefer generic paper to a headache inducting LCD screen.
This ushers in a problem that may not have a large statistical study behind it, but any student who has waited ten minutes for their pages to print can understand.
If the professor does not provide a printed copy of online material many students simply decide to do it themselves. The result often being a disgruntled academic realizing they didn’t print in the correct format and blowing through another gallon of toner by the time they rectify their mistake.
If the University is going to impose paper restrictions, perhaps they should take a look at the students before going after organized PhD-laden departments with class lists telling them how many copies they will need, as well as secretaries who understand the technology around them far better than frantic students trying to print out a ten page PowerPoint composed almost entirely of shaded pictures.
Cost awareness and environmentalism have their place, but sometimes the hidden costs of one policy do not become apparent until later.
Not to say that students do not display responsible paper use, but the faculty members are assuredly more adept at understanding precisely how many sheets of paper they will require.
After all, they are the ones who control the courses that require the paper in the first place.
Usually it’s better to give powers to a studied professional, instead of the lonely student sitting next to the printer.