University of Arkansas Plans to Phase Out Offset Printing Unit; Can't Compete with Outside Vendors

FAYETTEVILLE, AR—July 24, 2014—The University of Arkansas, located here, is planning to phase out its offset printing unit on July 1, 2016. As a result, 16 jobs will be cut in two years, reported The Washington Times.

David Martinson, the University of Arkansas' associate vice chancellor for business affairs, said that the university's offset printing service has struggled to compete with some of the larger printing firms.

By ending its offset printing services, the university said it will be saving the college several hundred thousand dollars per year, The Washington Times reported.

"While most people don’t want to hear their position is being phased out, our plan is to give ample advance notice to the 16 affected employees, giving them approximately two years to make an orderly transition to other employment or to plan for retirement," said Tim O’Donnell, interim vice chancellor for finance and administration. O’Donnell added that the university will help employees find other work at the university.

The university will use in-house services and outsource printed work to other vendors.