Accounts

When do graduate students have Open Access Lab (OAL) access?

Graduate students are automatically authorized if they're enrolled in the previous, current or a future semester.

When do instructors have OAL access?

Instructors are automatically authorized if shown as the "Instructor of Record" for a class in the previous, current or a future semester.

When do undergraduate students have OAL access?

OAL access for a semester in which a student is enrolled will begin the Monday after the graduation weekend of the previous semester. Access for a semester ends the Monday after graduation for that semester if the student is not enrolled in the upcoming semester.

What can I do if I am having problems with my account?

Persons entitled to automatic authorization who are having access problems should ask an OAL employee for help or call Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300

Printing

Do student fees pay for printing?

Student fees pay for much more than printing! They helps pay for equipment in the Open Access Labs. The fees also fund full and part-time workers, networking and other infrastructure costs that are part of providing an up-to-date computing environment for Texas A&M University students, faculty and staff. A small portion is allocated for student printing allocations. Each student gets $30 in printing per full semester and $15 for the summer.

How do I keep track of printing charges and print allocation?

All registered students can easily see their print account status from https://aggieprint.tamu.edu/.

How much does printing cost?

See the Print Rates page.

What happens if my print job fails?

If your print job becomes corrupted, or if the print quality is poor due to some malfunction of the OAL printers, you may request a refund for your print job. You will need to fill out a Print Refund Request form online (service.tamu.edu). If you are requesting a refund because your print job did not print, you can use https://aggieprint.tamu.edu/ to determine the information needed on the refund request.

What about the printing I do between semesters?

If you are registered for the next semester, your printing will be counted as part of your next semester's allocation. If you do not have enough allocation, you can add to your print allocation with a credit card via https://print.tamu.edu/.

What about double-sided printing (duplexing)?

The charge for duplex black-and-white pages will be slightly lower than that for single-sided pages. Duplexing conserves paper, but uses as much toner as single-sided printing. Additionally, their impact on printer maintenance fees is about the same as single-sided pages because duplex sheets must pass through the same printer path as single-sided pages.

What is my printing allocation for the summer? Is it split out per summer session?

The summer printing allocation is $15, one-half of the normal semester allocation. Everyone taking a class during at least one summer semester will get the $15 allocation. Those taking a class in both summer sessions will still get $15, not double the allocation.

What happens if I exceed my allocated funds for printing?

If you do not have enough allocation, you can add to your print allocation with a credit card via https://print.tamu.edu/.

Plotter

How can I make sure my plot will print correctly?

Using the Print Preview option is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your plot will print properly. You can send a test print to the normal printers. Never plot your file until you are completely satisfied with the way it looks.

What type of paper should I specify to plot my file?

There are two types of paper used by the plotter: Glossy or plain. The paper you choose is a personal preference.

How do I get my file to plot after I send it?

After you send your file, it will pause in the queue of the plotter you chose. You will need to ask the print operator at the Resource Desk to have your file released. Be sure to specify the paper you want to use.

Login Accounts

How do I help someone who forgot their password?

If the patron has set up "Self Service Password Reset, they should visit https://gateway.tamu.edu/ and click Forgot your password under the Log In button. If Self Service Password Reset has not been set up, they should call Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

Troubleshooting

What do I do when a computer doesn't work properly?

Try another computer to see if the problem is isolated to that computer. If the problem persists, call Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300 to report the problem.

What if a computer is locked so that nobody can log in?

Check for the patron that locked it. You would hate to log someone off if they were just getting a book or printout. If the patron cannot be located, click the "sign out" button located on the lower left of the screen.

Where do I check to see if a software title is installed on an OAL computer?

You can check on the Software List.

How does a patron save their work?

If a patron has a Home Drive, any work saved to their Desktop or My Documents will automatically be stored on their Home Drive. Files saved to the C: drive will be lost upon logging off the computer. Patrons may also use external storage options such as thumb drives, key drives, external hard drives, or cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive.

For patrons without a Home Drive (such as guests or unallocated staff), it is essential to save work to removable media (e.g., external hard drive, thumb/key drive) or cloud storage services (e.g., OneDrive, Google Drive) to ensure data is not lost.

Feedback

Where can I provide feedback about the OALs?

You may send an email to helpdesk@tamu.edu. If you would like to speak with someone in person, see the lab supervisor in any Open Access Lab.