Going Paperless at Hamline

University: A Feasibility Study

ENG 1800: Professional Writing
Allyson Opps
Jill Anderson

Overview
Introduction
Criteria
Methods
Research

Results
Conclusions
Recommendations

Introduction
Examined

the feasibility of going paperless at Hamline University.

Researched the average paper use of a student per year per class.
Acquired research of colleges/universities already going paperless.
Determined positive effect on Hamline and the community around
it:
Become a more progressive and socially-conscious school.
Help reduce the amount of waste the university creates with
printers and ink.

Criteria for Feasibility

Can

Hamline University function with a paperless

process?
Does

going paperless at the university save money?

Would

reducing paper usage at the university have a

positive effect on the community?

Methods

Searched

Hamline Bush Librarys database for peerreviewed articles with the key-word paperless
classroom

Modified

our search in Google Scholar with the keyphrase going green in the classroom

Identified

seven articles within the two searches that

were applicable

Evaluated

each of the articles to find the best range of

useful data

Results-Affordability

Comparison of students who live on or off campus

with where they use printing materials

Live on campus

Live off campus

Results-Affordability

Reported sheets of paper used in one average week

20 or above; 17%

Less than 5; 22%

5 to 20; 61%

Results-Functionality

Less

opportunity for plagiarism

Grading

would be more efficient

Communication

quality

with students would be of higher

Results-Community Effect

Reduce

university costs

Reduce

paper and printer waste

Positive

environmental effect

Results-Desire

Student responses to should Hamline go paperless in the

classroom

17%

44%

39%

Yes

No

Other

Conclusion

Increase

prestige of Hamline University

Grading

will become more efficient

Allows

for students to receive feedback faster

Reduce

opportunity for plagiarism

Reduce

costs for the university

Recommendations

Creating
More
Host

a paperless classroom at Hamline is feasible

research is recommended

a wider reaching survey

Look

into training for staff and faculty in regards to

online databases

Connect

with outside resources:

Administration

at Carlton College