Microsoft Campus Agreement provides campus-wide licensing

by Susan Brown, ATUS Software Services Manager and Rick Nichols, Help Desk Manager

Issue 45, Winter 2010

Western has recently negotiated a centrally-funded Microsoft Campus Agreement that will enhance our already high quality teaching and learning environment by allowing installation of the latest Microsoft Office and Microsoft operating system software.

Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows or Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac may now be installed on all university-owned computers. MS Office 2010 will be available soon after its release scheduled for the first half of 2010. Windows 7 is currently licensed and is being tested by technical staff throughout the university. A collection of client access licenses (CALs) also provides access to server-based software including SharePoint.

Network services see changes too

As part of the Microsoft Campus Agreement, the university is migrating away from the File, Print, and Directory services that have been provided by Novell technologies for 12+ years. Information Technology Services is working to make this transition as transparent as possible to all campus users. Network file locations like P: drive, U: drive and other network connections will remain unchanged other than the fact they will be on Microsoft file servers instead of Novell file servers. Computer logins will remain similar other than minor color changes of the login screens.

Remote access mechanisms used to get to WWU file shares from off-campus will be changing.

There is one service that is not going to make this transition - it is called MyFiles. MyFiles was a mechanism that allowed use of a web browser for simple file uploads/downloads from network drives. Accessing files on network drives from off-campus locations can still be accomplished via WebDAV but will require minor (one-time) configuration changes.

If you access the P: drive or U: drive from your home computer, or any remote computer, you will need to make some adjustments in how you connect. We are working hard to minimize these potential changes.

ATUS will post new documentation if and when any off-campus connection mechanisms change at www.wwu.edu/atus/helpdesk/loggingin.shtml.

These changes have begun and will continue throughout the next few months. Further notifications will be sent out as appropriate.

Office 2007/2008 Home Use Program

In addition to installation on university-owned computers, the Microsoft Campus Agreement includes a new Home Use Program (HUP) for MS Office 2007 for Windows and Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. Each Western faculty or staff member can download one copy of Office 2007 or Office 2008 for a $9.95 fee, paid online by credit card. For an additional $12, an installation disk can also be purchased. This software is not limited to use by the licensee for work-related purposes, so it can be used by anyone using the computer for any purpose at home. It is contingent upon employment status, however, so the software must be uninstalled if the licensee leaves Western.

For more information on the Microsoft Campus Agreement, go to www.wwu.edu/computersoftware/mca or call Susan Brown at 650-7388. To request Microsoft Office software, simply email software.services@wwu.edu. For assistance with WebDAV, please contact the ATUS Help Desk at helpdesk@wwu.edu or 650-3333.[ Back to Top ]