Resources

CED Student Fees

Computer - Shop - Lab - Printing

This page describes all miscellaneous CED student services and fees. Any Miscellaneous Student Fees (MSF) that are charged by CED are subject to campus policies and review procedures. In general, at CED all student-users of the Fabrication Shop, Digital Fabrication Lab, and Computer Labs must pay an MSF-approved use fee. Additionally, there are 2D and 3D printing and plotting services that are also fee-based (and are subject to sales tax).  

Links relevant to this page:
Current Fees
Payment of Fees
Refunds
Negligence

Fees -  School Year 2020-21

Computer Lab + Distributed Computing Access

  • MSF Fee- $98 per semester for: CED-Undergraduates, ARCH-MS, CED-PhD, and other UCB students
  • MSF Fee- No charges for: MArch, MCP, MLA and CED-GAP students (Fall-Spring Computer Lab access)
  • MSF Fee- No charges for: MUD and MRED students (Fall-Spring-Summer Computer Lab access)
  • $148 per semester for: any research use: CEDR or IURD users, current non-CED UCB staff, GSR, PostDocs, or Visiting Scholars

Computing fees include 24/7 access to CED's Computer Labs (excluding times reserved for scheduled instruction). For those students with desks in the Studios, a computer account also allows access to the computers/printers/plotters in the studios on a 24/7 basis. Additionally, computer accounts include the use of a server-based Rendering Farm, access to Cloud Printing in the studio areas, use of office equipment and desktop scanners in the labs as well as access to the large-scale scanner (located in 477). Please note: all research users must fill out the CED Research User Form and an IOC to transfer payments. Printing costs are extra and described below. Access starts at 9am the first day of the new semester and closes at 5om on the last day of the semester; in general there is no interim (between semester) access to the Computer Labs. 

CED Computer Lab fees are reviewed annually and are based on computing-related costs, such as: computer and peripheral hardware (scanners, paper cutters, etc.), warranties and ongoing maintenance costs, hardware purchases and depreciation, and software as well as the server costs used to operate the computer systems. Computer fees include the cost of staffing to maintain the printers, computers, and equipment. 

Print-Only Accounts

  • MSF Fee- Limited to PhD and ARCH-MS students $40 per year

Print-only accounts are only available to PhD and ARCH-MS students and provide access to Cloud Printing in the Ph.D. facilities and #477. PhD and ATRCH-MS students may choose to purchase Computer Lab use or the print-only account. In general, Ph.D. and ARCH-MS building and room access is given each Fall and expires each August before the next Fall semester.

Fabrication Shop Access

  • MSF Fee- $150 per semester for: CED-Undergraduates, ARCH-MS, CED-PhD, and other UCB students
  • MSF Fee- No charges for: MArch, MCP, MLA MUD or CED-GAP students (Fall-Spring Shop access)
  • $200 per semester for: any research use: CEDR or IURD users, current non-CED UCB staff, GSR, PostDocs, or Visiting Scholars

Please note that fees do not include the costs of base materials used for your build. There are no refunds for lost or damaged base materials used in the Shop as failure and mistakes are part of the activity. Please see the Fabrication Shop area for details on hours of operations. In general, there is no interim (between semester) access to the Shop. All research users must fill out the CED Research Form and an IOC to transfer the fund payments. 

CED Shop fees are reviewed annually and are based on all Shop-related costs, such as: supplies required to support fabrication related to wood (sandpaper, glue, nails, etc.) and metal (gas, protection, etc.), tool replacement and sharpening, equipment maintenance, hazardous materials disposal, and all staffing. 

Digital Fabrication Lab (DFL) Access

  • MSF Fee- $250 per semester for: CED-Undergraduates, ARCH-MS, CED-PhD, and other UCB students
  • MSF Fee- No charges for: MArch, MCP, MLA or MUD students (Fall-Spring DFL access)
  • $300 per semester  (any research use: CEDR or IURD users, current non-CED UCB staff, GSR, PostDocs, or Visiting Scholars)
  • $300 per semester for: any research use: CEDR or IURD users, current non-CED UCB staff, GSR, PostDocs, or Visiting Scholars

There are no refunds for lost or damaged base materials used in the Lab. Please see the Digital Fabrication Lab area for details on hours of operations. In general there is no interim (between semester) access to these facilities. Please note all research users must fill out the CED Research Form and an IOC to transfer the fund payments. We do not provide access to non-CED students or staff.

CED DFL fees are reviewed annually and are based on all lab-related costs, including: all supplies and infrastructure costs required to support and repair equipment, tool maintenance, and all staffing. Fees do not include the base materials used by students or the cost of 3D printing.

Printing 

2D Printing 

Paper-based Printing (without sales tax)

  • B&W Letter-Sized Paper: Page $0.07, Duplex $0.10
  • B&W Tabloid-Sized Paper: Page $0.13, Duplex $0.20
  • Color Letter-Sized Paper: Page $0.34, Duplex $0.51      
  • Color Tabloid-Sized Paper: Page $0.67, Duplex $1.01
  • Epson Color Photo (214): small sizes (5x8, 4x5, 2.9x4) $0.96
  • Epson Color Photo (214): up to Letter-Sized (8.5x11) $1.91
  • Epson Color Photo (214): above Letter-sized up to Tabloid (11x17) $2.08
  • Epson Color Photo (214): above Tabloid to (17x22) $3.99
  • HP or Canon Plotting: $1.40/square foot
  • Plotting HP Photo Realistic: $3.60/square foot

Prices listed above do not include sales tax (currently 9.25%), however the prices shown in the PaperCut printing management system does include sales tax. Tax will be adjusted in PaperCut as it changes over time. 

Printing on a B&W (black and white) printer is cheaper than printing B&W on a color printer. Printing B&W on a color printer results in being charged "color printer" prices, so be careful and choose the printer that best fits your document. 

The actual price for duplex (printing on both sides of a sheet of paper) may vary as the print calculation for duplex is done by applying a percentage discount from the base cost for the second page, and these calculations introduce a rounding effect of plus-or-minus. Also, print jobs may have single pages in a series of duplex printing, which will change the expected printing costs as well.

CED 2D printing charges are reviewed annually and are based on printing-related costs, such as: consumables (paper, ink, print heads, drums, fusers,etc.), hardware warranties and ongoing maintenance costs, hardware purchases and depreciation, and related software or server costs used to operate the printing systems. (Print fees do not include the cost of staffing to maintain the printers, that is part of the computer fees.)

3D Printing 

Plastic-based Printing (without sales tax)

  • 3D Plastic Printers ($2 minimum)
  • Regular PLA: $0.10/gram

CED 3D printing charges are reviewed annually and are based on printing-related costs, such as: consumables (print media, nozzles, tape, print beds, print solutions, etc.) and printer repair or maintenance.(Print fees do not include the cost of staffing to maintain the printers, that is part of the DFL fees.)

2D and 3D Scanning

  • Tabloid-Scale Scanning (Computer Labs and Studio Satellite Areas) is included with Computer Lab access.
  • Large-Scale Scanning (477 Wurster Hall) is included with Computer Lab access
  • 3D Scanning is included with Digital Fabrication Lab access

Payment of Fees

Miscellaneous Student Fees

Miscellaneous student fees (MSF) are paid in person at the student technology center in #477 Wurster Hall (south tower). We accept MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. We do not accept  Cal1 "debit" Cards, checks, or cash. To purchase Computer Accounts only, you can pay through our Ecommerce site: https://ced.berkeley.edu/fees

Printing (PaperCut) Costs

Printing costs are paid from individual PaperCut print accounts. You can add funds to your print account directly in #477 or can use the on-line PaperCut print system. If using a credit card on-line to add funds directly to the print account, do not use CED computers as these machines are public and personal devices may be more secure. PaperCut print charges reflect sales tax and are higher than what is listed on this web page.

Inactive Accounts or Positive Balances (PaperCut)

Continuing CED students: Any unused funds still in PaperCut at the end of the school year will automatically roll over to the following semester or following school year.

Graduating CED students: Any unused funds in PaperCut must be reclaimed by 31 May in the school year you graduate. This process must be done in person at #477 since the funds are returned to your Credit cards. Non-claimed PaperCut funds from students who have graduated will be donated to the CED Undergraduate Fee Waiver program to assist other students in need and to help subsidize the CED Materials Store.

Waivers

Waivers are internal transfers of funds from CED or Departments to pay for certain student's facilities-use or printing activities. These funds are used to purchase Shop, DFL, or Computer access and/or placed into PaperCut for printing or CED Materials Store use. As these are departmental funds, they are not revertable to cash but can be spent for future printing and Store purchases.

Reimbursements

Reimbursements, such as for Circus printing, are done via PaperCut and require that students seeking these reimbursements have a CED computer account. Students receive authorization for reimbursment-type printing, then after printing the funds are transferred into the student's PaperCut account as a reimbursement. As these are departmental funds, they are not revertable to cash but can be spent for future printing and Store purchases.

Refunds

Summer Refunds

Summer is handled differently than Fall and Spring. Any facility-use refund (Computing, Fabrication Shop, Digital Fabrication Lab) must be requested in-person in room 477. CED keeps with the Summer Sessions Refund Policy.

  • Computing fees will not be refunded if the student computers or printers/plotters have been used.
  • Fabrication Shop and Digital Fabrication Lab fees will not be refunded unless a) the original ticket is returned to room 477, b) the facilities have not been used, and c) orientation was not attended.
  • Printing refunds continue as outlined below.

Fall-Spring Computing Lab Refunds

Requests for refunds of computing account fees must be made in person at room 477 Wurster Hall within four (4) weeks of the start of instruction and you must have not used a computer, the Rendering Farm, Cloud Printing or had any other computer activity during that time. If your request is approved, the applicable fees will be refunded to your credit card. Refunds will not be given at the end of the semester, even if an account has not been used. Refunds are not given if payment was by grant or waiver, you will only be refunded funds personally put into the account.

Fall-Spring Fabrication Shop Refunds

Requests for refunds of Fabrication Shop access fees must be made in person at room 477 Wurster Hall within four (4) weeks of the start of instruction and you must not have taken orientation or used the facility. If your request is approved, the applicable fees will be refunded to your credit card. Refunds will not be given at the end of the semester, even if an account has not been used. Refunds are not given if payment was by grant or waiver, you will only be refunded funds personally put into the account

Fall-Spring Digital Fabrication Lab Refunds

Requests for refunds of Digital Fabrication Lab access fees must be made in person at room 477 Wurster Hall within four (4) weeks of the start of instruction and you must not have taken orientation or used the facility or its scheduling system. If your request is approved, the applicable fees will be refunded to your credit card. Refunds will not be given at the end of the semester, even if an account has not been used. Refunds are not given if payment was by grant or waiver, you will only be refunded funds personally put into the account

Printing Refunds

Refunds for print jobs must be requested in person at room 477 Wurster Hall within five (5) working days of the print job. You must submit the faulty print job to staff in room 477 Wurster Hall for verification. Refunds are generally made for mechanical problems only. No refunds are made for user-based mistakes. If your request is approved, the applicable printing costs will be refunded to your print account.

Examples of misprints that are not refundable:

  • Printed too many copies of your job. (For example: instead of printing just 1 page, you accidently printed all the pages in a job.)
  • Wrong orientation setting. (You meant portrait, but printed in landscape.)
  • You printed to the color laser with greater than: 300 dpi or 85% coverage; a jam is almost guaranteed and there is no refund.
  • Print jobs were cut off due to an orientation problem. 
  • Wrong user choice regarding color. (Suggestion: test colors first on a small print to be assured it is what you want).
  • A print job is torn, for whatever reason, after it has printed properly. (Suggestion: let heavily saturated ink pages dry before handling.)
  • Printing to a plotter and not waiting for its output, then moving to print on another plotter so that a job properly printed twice.
  • Accidently printing to a printer not intended (For example: accidently printing to room 477 or another studio floor.)
  • There are no refunds for paper-based errors if you use non-CED paper. The only exception is with Epson printers that require you to add your own paper.
  • Printing B&W on a color printer because color printers use color inks and B&W printers use black toner only. 

Negligence & Policy Violations

In cases of negligence, Users will be asked to pay for material and service repairs. Below are common examples of negligent use, and sample costs based on past events, but actual replacement and repair costs will be charged.

  • SHOP: Triggering the SawStop activation that saves the User from significant harm. Replacement of blade and mechanism is around $200.
  • BLADE CUTTER: Incorrect settings that cause a tool to cut or drill into the bed of the machine. Replacement cost of bed and service is around $1000.
  • LASER CUTTER: A fire in the Laser cutter machines which damages the equipment. Replacement cost of parts and service is around $800.
  • PRINTERS: Using labels or sticky-back paper in the laser printers where they get stuck in the mechanisms. Replacement costs and service is around $250.

In the event of policy violations, as stated in this website and posted in the Shop and Labs, and based on level of policy violation, access to Computer Labs, DFL and Shop access may be singularly or simultaneously revoked. How to loose access are clearly stated on the web, on posters in the facilities, and are described during the intitial Wurster Intro persented each Fall.