Paper Reduction

UW's Records Management Services is working to Fetch the Future and help prepare the UW to eliminate paper records by February of 2022. This April, Records Management is hosting a series of events to celebrate both Earth Day and Records Management Month, and to give staff across the UW opportunities to learn more and discuss challenges around move to all-digital records.

As the New Year approaches, there's a simple step UW employees can take to save time, energy and resources.

Opting to receive your tax forms digitally rather than on paper is more secure, and also means you can access them immediately when they are available. It also contributes to a more sustainable University of Washington. UW employees need to take action through Workday by Jan. 5, 2018 to go digital for the upcoming tax season.

The University of Washington is committed to reducing paper consumption at the university and using paper made from recycled content when necessary. Learn more about why that's important with this video, featuring staff and students across UW.

For more information on UW's paper reduction practices, or to become a Paper Reduction Pro, visit the UW Sustainability Paper Reduction page.

Join UW Sustainability for a Green Bag lunch talk on paper reduction and Green Offices with Lily Gebrenegus, UW Grant and Contract Accounting associate director, and Chris Toman, UW Sustainability Program Specialist, on June 30 from noon to 1 p.m. in HUB 337.

Are you committed to being "green" in your office? Are you the person who always turns off the lights in the conference room after people have used it? How about the one who goes through the trash and sifts out the compost and recycle? OK, you probably don’t take it that far. But if you find yourself thinking about small ways to reduce your environmental impact in your office you should take the initiative to certify your workplace as a Green Office and you can become a Paper Reduction Pro!

The UW Office of Admissions recently started a transition from paper-based applications to a digital process. On April 14, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions David Sundine joined us for a Green Bag talk on the process and the benefits of the new system.

Next month, several major University of Washington suppliers will help the UW move toward full use of 100% recycled paper for copiers and printers.

At Wednesday's Green Bag, event, we were lucky to hear from Tim Stetter, director of UW in the High School, who shared how the program implemented a major process reform which saved thousands of sheets of paper each year.

The UWHS program allows high school students to complete University of Washington courses in their own classrooms. Teachers in schools across the state teach the courses, using UW curriculum, activities, texts, tests, and grading scales, and students can receive UW credit for the course.

Right now, there's something missing at the UW’s Office of Admissions.

Tables, desks and floors are empty instead of being covered with stacks and stacks of paper applications. For the first time, most applications for admission at the University of Washington are being considered as digital files instead of pages of printed paper.