Users Asking to Print Applications

Rachel Kynhoff

Has anyone dealt with Opportunity Administrators or Reviewers asking for the ability to easily print (or mass print) Opportunity-specific applications for review when an Internet connection is unavailable and/or to help avoid eye strain from computer use? For example, we have users who typically review scholarships outside of normal business hours as a result of busy work days. Prior to switching to Blackbaud Award Management, users would take paper copies of the applications with them to review from home or when an Internet connection is unavailable, and/or would specifically print out applications to avoid eye strain using computer screens (users also mentioned that there is an assumption that everyone has constant access to WiFi/Internet services which may not always be the case). 


If anyone has experienced questions about mass printing paper applications from the Blackbaud Award Management platform, what were your solutions for the user(s)?


If you have not dealt with users requesting to print paper applications from Blackbaud Award Management, how do you communicate with your users that while printing is an option, it is not recommended, since the system was designed to reduce paper usage, and can become a cumbersome process since each application must be printed individual for each applicant on each Opportunity?


Any experience or guidance on this issue would be most helpful! 


Thanks, 

~Indiana University  

Kody Jackson

Howdy Rachel,


You've hit it right on the head with your last paragraph. While you can print out individual applications (by printing the web page), the whole system is designed to reduce paper use.


In talking to your reviewers, you could hit on the following advantages of keeping everything online:

• Security: Since your student information is protected by FERPA, it's actually a HUGE risk to print something out. What if a reviewer prints out an application and forgets it in a public place? Or accidentally leaves it in the faculty lounge? It's much better to keep everything within your scholarship system
• Better coordination (and less email): When reviewers do their assignments online, you can check in on their progress without bothering them. There are no, "Well, have you finished your reviews yet?" conversations because you can see whether applications are not started, drafted, or completed. Less badgering from you means more time to work on research and grading term papers

Hope that helps you convince some of your reviewers!


- Kody