Bridgewater, Va. – Students returning to campus have found that the printing process has changed. Bridgewater College no longer has the familiar WEPA stations around campus, leaving the usual spots they occupied empty.

All printing and copying has been moved to the Learning Commons and is now free for students. The cost of printing with WEPA was eight cents per page for black and white and 13 cents per page for color. Students will be able to print through the public access computer and printer, which are located on the main floor.

The change in printing availability reflects changes in how work is submitted on campus.

Covid policies have resulted in professors requiring work to be submitted online instead of printed and handed in. However, some professors had made the change to online submissions before the pandemic started. “In fall semester, 2019, I switched to all electronic submission for my courses,” said English professor Stan Galloway.

For classes similar to Dr. Galloway’s, many students are not noticing much of a change with regards to how work is submitted. However, professors who primarily used paper submissions now have to make a change to accepting work remotely. 

“I prefer to have hard copies of work. I’m an old-timer I guess, but I still like the feel of paper in my hands and to make comments with a pencil,” said English professor Scott Suter. Now that Dr. Suter’s preferred method of work submission is no longer an option, he normally asks students to email him the assignments.

With professors only accepting online submissions, the change from WEPA printing to printing in the Learning Commons could not have come at a more ideal time. Professors are no longer expecting students to submit printed assignments, so for the most part students do not have as much to print. The transition to submissions through Canvas or email has no doubt lightened the printing load for the college.

Students are adapting to the new printing process as classes are well underway. “Less paper used means a healthier planet,” said junior Tristian Connolly.

Both students and professors will find out in the future whether online submissions will stick or if the college will have to implement new printing stations.