Willamette University students pay for every page they print this fall after a $10 semester credit runs out.

The university replaced free printing with a per-page charge across all its colleges, as first reported by the Willamette Collegian. Students receive a $10 credit each semester, enough for about 125 black-and-white pages. The credit does not roll over. After it's gone, single-sided pages cost 8 cents and duplex pages cost 7 cents.

The policy covers Willamette College, the School of Computing & Information Sciences, the School of Law and the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. The Pacific Northwest College of Art had already charged for printing before its 2021 merger with Willamette.

Jeremy Lovato, vice president for technology and chief information officer, told the Collegian the change is meant to create one consistent system rather than maintain separate structures at each school. He said the policy is not meant to generate profit for Willamette Information Technology Services (WITS).

WITS estimated the $10 credit would fully cover printing for slightly more than half of Salem campus students. Associated Students of Willamette University (ASWU) President Katelyn Beissel Rosales tested that claim. She printed all readings for one class for one exam and ended up $2.50 in the red.

"My balance is at $2.50 meaning I have already blown through my $10.00 and owe my student account $2.50," Rosales told the Collegian.

Rosales said printing demands vary widely by department, with some programs requiring far more printed material than others. Lovato acknowledged that printing needs differ by course and encouraged students to talk with faculty early about expectations for printed versus digital materials.

The shift grew out of conversations that began after Provost Henderson arrived in June 2025, according to Teresa Christiansen, director of academic technology at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Christiansen said revenue from student printing at that college goes directly back into toner, paper and printer costs.

Tiara Johnson, director of IT projects and engagement, told the Collegian that reverting to free printing has not been discussed. WITS plans to review printing data at the end of the fall semester, including how many students exceeded the $10 credit.