Tech advances end Printing Services run

KU officials plan to close operation founded in 1902

Printing Services will close this spring due to decreased demand for services.

Marilu Goodyear, vice provost for information services, which oversees Printing Services, said the decision was forced by changes in technology such as Web publishing, e-mail and color copying, which offer customers alternatives to traditional printing and have eroded business volume for several years.

The exact date of closing will be determined as employees find other jobs and as arrangements for external service providers are in place.

“ Although this is the fiscally responsible decision for the university, it is a painful one,” Goodyear said. “Despite the best efforts of a committed, professional printing staff, we simply could not find an efficient, cost-effective way to continue this service for the campus.

“ For now, we are focusing on helping staff find other positions within the university or in the private sector where possible, and by providing placement assistance to ease the transition.”

The closure will affect the unit’s 20 staff members. Goodyear said that because job openings elsewhere in the university have been identified for some of the employees, the exact number of employees to be laid off is not yet known. The KU Department of Human Resources has begun helping employees with skills assessment and job applications.

Campus mail, a division of Printing Services with two employees, will continue operating under the supervision of information services.

In 2003 the university eliminated four Printing Services positions and scaled down operations.

Goodyear said the current print jobs of campus customers would be completed by Printing Services or contracted out, as needed. She said the university’s Purchasing Services would begin taking steps immediately to set up mechanisms to assist campus units with printing and mailing needs.