Printing Quotas

A printing quota of $40 per semester is granted to all active students, faculty and staff with Andrew accounts and a valid CMU ID card.  The purpose of the print quota is to eliminate waste and encourage users to be conservative in their printing habits. Based on research of other alternatives and the practices of other universities, our quota is generous and the cost per sheet is low. 

Following are guidelines for the use and replenishment of your standard printing quota. 

• When you press the Print button at the release station, your quota is debited according to the price list.
  
• Your $40 quota is good from the first day of classes for a given semester through the day prior to the first day of classes for the subsequent semester. 
• Summer session includes the first day of the first summer session through the day before the start of fall classes. 
• Any unused portion of your $40 quota is forfeited the day before classes resume for the subsequent semester - it CANNOT be carried over. 
• View your quota usage and balance, through the PlaidCa$h Account portlet in the Carnegie Mellon portal. From the main portal page, click the "My Accounts" tab, and then select "Financial". 
• No refunds will be issued for jammed or defective print jobs.
  

Purchasing Additional Print Quota

Printing quota may be purchased by guests, campus affiliates and/or departments as follows: 

• Campus affiliates who deplete their $40 quota, can pay for additional print jobs using Carnegie Mellon Card - Plaid Ca$h. See the Carnegie Mellon Card - PlaidCa$h web site for details on how to make a deposit to your Carnegie Mellon Card - PlaidCa$h. 

• Guests of Carnegie Mellon can purchase a PlaidCa$h card from the PlaidCa$h Value Transfer machines. PlaidCa$h machines are located in the University Center lower level elevator lobby near the Post Office and in Hunt Library near the circulation desk. Additional deposits to the card can be made at any time at the PlaidCa$h machines (in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10 or $20). Plaid Ca$h can be used for both printing or copy services at the University Libraries.
• Departments may use their campus Oracle string to purchase PlaidCa$h cards or to assign PlaidCa$h to an existing cardholder (student, staff or faculty) for departmental or research printing or copying. You must return a  completed  Plaid Ca$h Fund Request form [PDF] to the Carnegie Mellon Card Office. This PlaidCa$h assignment may only be used for copy services at the University Libraries or computer printing.  It may not be used for other purchases.
  Important: Departments should keep a record of the PlaidCa$h card number. This number is required by Enrollement Services if a departmental PlaidCa$h card is lost and must be deactivated.