V900.02 Faculty Materials Center (FMC) Policy
General Information
The Faculty Materials Center (FMC) is also known as Viking Print Services on campus. The FMC and Viking Print Services are the same entity.
FMC/Viking Print Services Staff include the following:
- Print Shop Assistant: Handles the day-to-day operation of the FMC and is the main contact.
- Manager for University Brand, Graphic Design, & Viking Print Shop Services: Handles direct supervision of the FMC and is the main contact when the Print Shop Assistant is unavailable.
- Director for Public Relations: The cabinet-level supervisor of the FMC.
Scope of Services
The FMC/Viking Print Services provides the following services:
- Graphic Design: FMC staff will offer basic design and production services needed to produce such items asbusiness cards, thank you notes, letterhead or other materials as assigned by the Manager for University Brand, Graphic Design, & Viking Print Services..
- Digital Print Production: The FMC will offer digital printing capabilities for basic jobs ranging from single color to full-color. These services may be limited by such factors as the capabilities of existing equipment and, the cost of new equipment. FMC staff may also work with 3rd party printers to complete individual projects when cost or capability considerations require help.
- Photocopying: The FMC will work with Technology Services to support the operation of photocopying equipment located on campus for use by authorized faculty, staff and students. This may include stocking and replacing toner and paper and working with the equipment leasing agent as necessary.
The FMC will be staffed and equipped to handle nearly all of the University's needs in these areas and therefore should be the preferred source for such services by all faculty, staff, students, student organizations, and campus organizations. However, customers with projects that exceed the capabilities of the FMC may direct these projects to third parties as necessary. Unless specifically agreed to, the FMC will take no role in managing these 3rd parties or the projects in which they are involved.
To keep the FMC focused on university business and student service, and to comply with current business practices outlined by the Vice President of Business Affairs, the FMC will comply with the following practices concerning print jobs that are not directly related to university business:
- Jobs for non-employees, including 3rd party businesses or individuals, are not accepted.
- Jobs for employees that are not personal in nature (i.e. requested by an employee on behalf of a 3rd party) are not accepted. Examples include print jobs related to employee personal businesses or volunteer work performed for non-profit 3rd parties such as churches or community groups.
Using a convenience exception, the FMC will still accept small personal copy/print jobs for employees as long as the job is limited in scope and infrequent in occurrence. Charges must be paid at the business office before the job will be released.
Operations and Levels of Service
Customers initiate FMC work by contacting FMC staff through email, completing a OneStop ticket, or in person. Emails and OneStop tickets should include as many details about the job as possible. FMC staff will follow up to confirm receipt of the request and share next steps in the process.
All work is scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. The customer is responsible for ensuring that all work is requested in a timeframe that allows the FMC to complete its work within the levels of service defined below. FMC staff may elect to alter the order of work to accommodate urgent jobs or other special circumstances. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Manager for University Brand, Graphic Design & Viking Print Services.
The turn-around for standard photocopying jobs will be one day.
For all other services (including graphic design, more involved print production services such as large quantities, binding, collating, folding or trimming), the FMC staff will provide an estimated delivery time at the time the order is placed. This estimated delivery time will reflect the requirements of the job being estimated and work currently scheduled in the FMC.
Upon request, the FMC Coordinator will also provide a cost estimate for the service.
If/when the FMC determines that the estimated delivery time or estimated cost for a project cannot be met, FMC staff will notify the customer and respond as appropriate.
Pricing, Billing and Accounting
The FMC will operate on a break-even basis and will set its prices only as high as necessary to cover its costs. Accumulation of surpluses will only be allowed as necessary to cover the costs of capital equipment.
The FMC will account for all FMC services by sending summaries of all charges (including all FMC services and charge-back for campus photocopiers) to the Business Office. The Business Office is responsible for settling charges by issuing a charge to the individual departments and crediting the FMC operations account.
Compliance
Requests for copying and printing will be in compliance with fair copyright guidelines.
All printed and electronic materials that represent the VCSU brand will comply with the current VCSU graphic standards. The Director for Public Relations and the Manager for University Brand, Graphic Design & Viking Print Services are responsible for defining these standards, and the FMC staff has the authority to enforce these standards on all work performed by the FMC or that uses FMC equipment.
Sponsor: Director for Public Relations
Revised: Winter 1996
Revised: Winter 2004
Revised: December, 2010
Revised: September 2017
Revise: May 2025