Student FAQs - Printing

How can I print at the public computers and campus printers?

Pharos is the name of the printing system that runs the CUMC campus printers. If you have a Columbia email account (UNI) you can select File - Print from any public computer to send your document to a Pharos print queue:

• CUMC BW - to print at any of the 18 black and white laserjet campus printers
• Color2NDFLR_3 - to print to the color laserjet printer on the 2nd floor of the Hammer building.

If you would like to print to Pharos from your own computer, you can configure if for Pharos by following the instructions linked on the Printing on Campus web site.

How can I get the free page quota? How do I know if I'm entitled to the free page quota?

If you are currently enrolled in classes on the Medical Center campus and are not affiliated (enrolled in a program) with Morningside as well, you automatically receive a printing quota for use at the Medical Center Library when you establish your Columbia e-mail account. If you experience problems with your printing quota please contact the CUMC IT Service Desk.

When do I get my page quota? How many pages do I get?

Page quotas run per semester; you receive 1000 pages per semester. Unused pages do not carry over into the next semester.

You must be enrolled in classes for the current semester to receive printing pages. If you are in a program on the Morningside campus, your semester's print quota may only be available there.

Fall and Spring Calendar
Summer Calendar

How can I check my page quota?

When you log in to any Pharos printer terminal or touch panel, your current quota is displayed in dollar amounts, with $100 equaling 1000 pages, $10 equaling 100 pages, etc.

• One side of a Black and White printed page = .05; Two sides = .10
• One side of a Color printed page = $1.00

Can I print double-sided?

All of the Pharos printers except for the color laserjet print double-sided by default. If you'd like to print single sided, select File - Print and then click on the Properties button once you've selected the CUMC BW printer queue. Clear any option to print double-sided ("Print on long edge" or Print on short edge") in the Layout window of the printer properties.

How can I save paper when I print? To cut back on unwanted blank space in a document or spreadsheet: Word - select Print Preview and click on the Shrink to Fit icon in the toolbar: Excel - if you see "#####" in a cell or column indicating that there isn't enough room to display the actual cell contents, just right-click over the individual cell or column header (Control-click on a Mac), select Format Cells, then the Alignment tab at the top and check off Shrink to Fit under Text Control. If Excel is printing more of the spreadsheet than you'd like, simply highlight the group of cells you want to print, and select File Print Area - Set Print Area. Using Shrink to Fit will change the document formatting slightly. If you don't like the change simply press the Control and Z keys on your keyboard (Command and Z on a Mac) at the same time to undo the change that was just made.

Can I use labels, transparencies or other special types of paper in the Pharos printers?

Labels, transparencies and other special types of paper cannot be used in the Pharos printers. The Photocopy Centers, located on Hammer building 2nd floor and the Physicians and Surgeons buildings 2nd floor room 2-466 can assist you with printing on non-standard paper.