{"id":57936,"date":"2017-02-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2017\/02\/01\/desktop-printers-fax-machines-to-be-removed\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T17:13:38","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T22:13:38","slug":"desktop-printers-fax-machines-to-be-removed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2017\/02\/01\/desktop-printers-fax-machines-to-be-removed\/","title":{"rendered":"Desktop printers, fax machines to be removed"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNMC’s chancellor, vice chancellors, deans and directors have given the green light to eliminate all desktop printers and fax machines on both the Omaha and Lincoln campuses.<\/p>\n

The recommendation, made in earlier January by UNMC’s Financial Stewardship Council, will yield greater campus efficiencies and savings, as well as better maintain the security of the medical center’s IT network. In addition, it provides sustainability benefits and is in line with the charge given 18 university-wide committees to find and recommend cost savings projects.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., kicked off the Printer Reduction Program last month by having his own desktop printer removed. However, the majority of devices will not go away overnight. Instead, Procurement Services has begun visiting departments with the task of transitioning — by July 1 — all desktop printers and fax machines to central multi-function printer\/fax\/scan machines for each floor or work area, as deemed necessary. <\/p>\n

“With the budgetary challenges facing the state and university system, UNMC is tasked with finding savings,” Dr. Gold said. “The Printer Reduction Program will provide immediate savings and better secure our IT network. We are committed to removing our desktop printers and fax machines going forward with a process that does not impede our progress but strengthens our data security system.”<\/p>\n

UNMC has an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 desktop printers across campus and spends more than $450,000 annually on desktop toner and maintenance. “It’s less expensive to use workgroup, multi-functional devices,” said Bill Lawlor, assistant vice chancellor for business and finance. “In many areas, we already have large copiers within 20 feet of employees so it makes sense to move in this direction.” <\/p>\n

Large copiers also have security advantages, said Sharon Welna, information security officer in UNMC’s Information Technology Services, including:<\/p>\n