Located across from the East Commons dining hall, Pub & Print, the university’s copy center has been named the 2013 Print Center of the Year by the national In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association. The award, given by the IPMA recognizes “a printing operation, and particularly its staff, that excels in efficient management practices.”
Historically providing services for mostly faculty and staff, Pub & Print was recognized for the award due to the copy center’s new emphasis on offering more services to students, as it became an auxiliary, or support, service for the campus.
“They have made huge strides in a very short time, adding new products for students and re-engineering their business process,” said Jane Bloodworth of IPMA.
Sally Roberts, director at Pub & Print, accepted the award, on behalf of her team, at the IPMA’s Annual Awards Banquet on June 5 in San Mateo, Calif.
“Publications and Printing has worked to reinvent itself as ‘Your On-Campus Copy Center’ to assist students as well as faculty and staff,” said Roberts.
Having never marketed their services before, they learned quickly. The staff began advertising in The West Georgian, attending meetings of student and faculty organizations, encouraging professors to remind students of their services, and posting banners and signs around campus.
Pub & Print has proudly reminded students that you save time and money by using their provided services.
Some of the new items for students include custom printed CDs and DVDs, magnets, self-stick wall art, bumper stickers, large-format digital printing, mounting and laminating, commencement invitations, outdoor signs and banners, and a computer work station, with print access, for students in the lobby.
“We’ve implemented several suggestions from students, and we’re always looking for new ideas,” said Roberts. New products such as the signs that are displayed inside the campus bus fleet were suggested by a UWG student.
Because of increased demand, the copy center is undergoing a renovation that will add twenty percent more floor space. Construction will be finished in early November and celebrated with a campus-wide open house.
Publications for ten campus departments have also been recognized recently by receiving the Print Excellence Awards from the Printing Industry Association of Georgia. The awards were given for printed materials designed by the University Communications and Marketing office for the various departments.
Pub & Print was also recognized recently by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia with its “Customer Service Recognition Award” based on the improvements implemented over the past year.
“We’re proud of the awards, but even more excited that so many students are bringing their projects to Pub & Print every day now,” said Roberts.
