Paper is not yet passé, but a nationwide push to save trees by requiring students to use laptops is booting up. Southwestern College has not plugged in yet, but college leaders are looking toward sustainability to cut costs while supporting the environment.
Almost 300 colleges and universities have some form of notebook or laptop computer initiative, according to a study out of the Westminster College in Missouri. Many require students to own laptops as a condition of enrollment. South Bay schools are lagging the laptop revolution, but this year the Sweetwater Union High School District embarked on a pilot program to help students obtain laptops. Coronado High School and others in San Diego County already have extensive laptop programs.
SWC will likely not require laptops anytime soon.
“I don’t know if we can require students to do that because not everybody can afford one,” said Lillian E. Leopold, chief public information officer. “There are some efforts to have electronic textbooks. That obviously saves the environment because you don’t have to print all the books. A lot of times by the time they print, they’re already out of date.”
A full class load of 12 units at SWC costs $432, and that is before adding the cost of books, transportation, food and miscellaneous fees, which would add up to more than a $1,200 13-inch MacBook Pro.
In October former Interim Superintendent Denise Whittaker assembled the Sustainability Task Team, whose purpose is to advise college leadership on ways to save costs and generate more revenue for the college.
“They’re looking at posting all of the college agendas for the governing board through a software system called ‘BoardDocs,’” she said. “It could save up to a $100,000 in paper and duplicating costs.”
Among ideas discussed so far are reducing the use of colored ink and using both sides of paper. Water conservation ideas were also discussed.
“There will always be a need at some level to use paper here on campus,” said Environmental Club Advisor Alma Aguilar. “I think part of what needs to be taken into consideration is that there are different learning styles that some students do visually need to see something in able to learn.”
Culinary Arts student Dale Agpawa, 21, said that the paperless registration schedule helps.
“We can get access to it anytime,” said Agpawa. “Students will not misplace the information because it’s always on their e-mail.”
Not everyone agrees that paperless is a panacea. Green Biz’s “Going Paperless: Not as Green as You May Think” said it has been noted that digital media uses significant amounts of coal-powered electricity. Energy produced in this manner tends to rely on mountaintop-removal coal mining, a major cause of deforestation in the country.
“Community colleges are very cost effective already,” said Leopold. “The reason students come here is because it fits within their budget.”