Discounted Microsoft software, available to WSU students for more than a year, is now available to WSU faculty and staff. And the free specialized developer software offering will continue for another five years.
What’s more, some of the software can be downloaded for personal use on home computers. And you can take it with you if and when you leave WSU.
“We would like more people to be aware of this generous Microsoft program,” said Jerry Gordon, planning coordinator for WSU Information Systems.
Faculty and staff can access information and download software from my.wsu.edu by clicking on Tech Tools in the navigation bar on the left.
WSU’s participation with Microsoft in this program came about partly through a WSU alumnus who works for Microsoft. For more on that, see a fall 2004 WSU Today article at www.wsutoday.wsu.edu/completestory.asp?StoryID=1116.
Cheap software for all
The discounted Microsoft Select Software includes programs like MS Office Pro 2003, Windows XP upgrades, Front Page 2003, Visio 2003 and more. Prices range from $23-$72. For example, Office Pro costs $70 compared with a discount retail price of $150. Front Page can be purchased for $50 compared to $100 or more elsewhere.
Purchases are limited to one license per version per product, and toll-free telephone technical support is not included. For more information on these and other terms-of-sale details, be sure to read the links from the myWSU portal site under Tech Tools and Microsoft Select Software.
Free software for some
The free Microsoft Developers Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) software also can go on home computers. Only students, teaching and research faculty, and staff directly involved in administering systems to support academic and research programs and providing support for MSDNAA software may use the programs, and only students have access for personal use.
More information on who may participate can be found on the myWSU Tech Tools site under Academic Alliance.
In addition to the free downloads, CD media may be purchased for some software titles at a very low cost.
To date, more than 13,000 downloads and purchases have been transacted, Gordon said. Since Microsoft recently extended the program offering through 2010, he hopes more members of the WSU community will take advantage of the offer.
“We want to make faculty aware that this software is available, and that they may find it has value for use in the classroom,” he said.
Among MSDNAA products are software titles that allow users to develop software and applications for a wide range of uses. Some uses include: creating databases to organize, access and share information; creating diagramming and drawing tools for technical and business applications; and designing, debugging and deploying secure applications for Windows and the Web.
Take home free antivirus
Antivirus software downloads also are available to the WSU community for free home use.
Students can download this from the myWSU Tech Tools site, while faculty, staff and graduate students should contact their local systems administrator, Gordon said. If you don’t have a systems administrator, contact the Information Technology Services Technical Assistance Center at tac@wsu.edu or 335-5396.
University policy requires all computers using the WSU network to be protected by up-to-date antivirus software at all times.
