Printing credits passed by Senate, funding unclear

By Hongtao Hu     4/8/25 11:38pm

The Student Association passed a resolution urging Rice University to implement a $10 student printing credit April 7. The resolution passed 22-4. 

It remains unclear where the funding will come from. The SA presented three different funding plans to Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman: one where the Office of Information and Technology provides funding for all students, a joint plan where OIT funds those on financial aid and the SA subsidizes all other students and one where the SA funds students entirely. 

Trevor Tobey, the SA President, said the third plan was a last resort, as it is unprecedented across other universities and could reach a cost of $50,000.

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“That’ll be 100% usage from every student spending the $10, which I don’t see happening,” said Tobey, a Hanzen College junior. 

Tobey suggested tabling the resolution for a week or two as the OIT has not provided the SA with data regarding student printing.

Tobey also floated the idea of a pilot program where the SA would fund the $10 printing credit from the SA surplus for one year, then pass the funding requirements onto administration for the fall 2026 semester.

“I think it would be a lot easier once students have the programs,” Tobey said. “It’ll be a lot harder to take away.”

Cedric Lau, a Duncan College freshman, said that the SA should obtain more data regarding funding from the OIT before continuing the conversation to see what a realistic expense would be for this project.

However, after Martel President Nathan Horton said that the resolution did not commit the SA to a final agreement for funding decisions, the SA voted upon and passed the resolution.

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