Summary
How to print to a Bowdoin campus printer from off campus using the Bowdoin VPN. Covers connecting to the VPN, sending a print job, and releasing it through the PaperCut web portal when you return to campus or release remotely. Applies to all Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff on Bowdoin-issued computers.
Body
Questions
- Can I print to a campus printer from off campus?
- How do I print from home to a Bowdoin printer?
- Do I need a VPN to print to a campus printer?
- How do I use the Bowdoin VPN to print?
- My print job won't send when I'm off campus — why?
- How do I install a Bowdoin printer when I'm off campus?
- Can I access papercut.bowdoin.edu without being on campus?
- How do I release a print job remotely?
Environment
This article covers printing to Bowdoin campus printers from off-campus locations.
- Who: All Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff
- Device: Bowdoin-issued MacBook Pro or Windows 11 computer
- Requirement: Bowdoin VPN — required for all off-campus printing and for accessing the PaperCut portal remotely
Important: The Bowdoin VPN is required to send print jobs and to access
papercut.bowdoin.edu from off campus. Without VPN, print jobs will fail to send and the portal will be inaccessible.
Resolution
Step 1 — Connect to the Bowdoin VPN
Before sending any print job from off campus, connect to the Bowdoin VPN:
- Open the Cisco Secure Client application on your Mac or Windows 11 computer.
- Connect to
vpn.bowdoin.edu using your Bowdoin username and password.
- Complete any multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompt if required.
VPN not installed? Contact the Service Desk or visit the Tech Hub for help installing Cisco Secure Client on your Bowdoin-issued computer.
Step 2 — Send your print job
Once connected to the VPN, print as you normally would from your computer:
- Open the document and choose File > Print (or press Command + P on Mac, Ctrl + P on Windows).
- Select Find-Me-Print (or another campus printer) as your destination.
- Click Print. The job will be sent to the PaperCut queue and held for up to 48 hours.
Printer not installed? If campus printers don't appear in your print dialog, you may need to run Print Deploy while connected to the VPN to install them. See How to install or delete a Bowdoin printer in the Related Articles section.
Step 3 — Release your print job
You can release your job in two ways depending on your situation:
- Release when you arrive on campus: Walk up to any campus MFD, sign in with your OneCard or Bowdoin credentials, and release the job from the Print Release screen. Your job will be waiting as long as it was sent within the last 48 hours.
- Release remotely via the PaperCut portal: While connected to the Bowdoin VPN, go to papercut.bowdoin.edu, sign in, click Jobs Pending Release, and select a printer to release to. The job will be waiting at that printer when you arrive. See Releasing a print job from the PaperCut portal in the Related Articles section for full steps.
48-hour hold: PaperCut holds all jobs for a maximum of 48 hours. If you send a job from home but don't return to campus within that window, the job will be automatically deleted and you will need to print it again.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.