Update on Microsoft Software Campus Agreements

Posted: October 24, 2007

On July 1, Ohio State entered into two new agreements covering the use of Microsoft software. The Campus Agreement, which applies to university-owned equipment, and the Personal Use Program, which offers significant software discounts for personally owned computers.

The Microsoft Campus Agreement grants the use of certain Microsoft desktop products and Server Client Access Licenses (CALs) for departmental installations on university-owned equipment. In effect through June 30, 2010, the Agreement replaced the Buckeye Bundle 2 for desktop and CAL licensing. Student use, plus faculty and staff personally owned equipment, are not included in this license.

The Microsoft software licensed for use under this Agreement includes: FrontPage and Visual Studio Pro are no longer included in the campus-wide desktop suite that was licensed under the Campus Agreement. Therefore, users of those products under the Buckeye Bundle 2 license must remove them from their systems and/or purchase a new license. Software House International, the university’s official reseller of Microsoft software, offers special pricing for departmental purchases on these and other products. Order on the OSU Site License Software site.

Departments do not have to pay additional license fees for individual installations of the Microsoft software aforementioned on university-owned equipment. Therefore, new university computer purchases should include the minimal operating system because systems can be upgraded to Vista and Office at no charge through the Campus Agreement. Details are available on MS Campus Agreement page.

Departments on the Columbus campus can purchase copies of the installation media and license key by taking a 100-W to UniPrint at Tuttle Park Place, 2055 Millikin Way (ground floor of Tuttle Parking Garage). Regional campuses can contact UniPrint at 614-292-2000 or uniprintcustserv@osu.edu. A nominal fee for CD and DVD media also applies.

The Microsoft Personal Use Program gives Ohio State faculty, staff, and full- and part-time students the option to purchase Microsoft’s most popular desktop computer software and operating system products at significant discounts for personally owned equipment. Software products include the license and media kit, but do not include support, documentation, or version upgrades. Standard Microsoft product use and licensing restrictions apply.

Under the Personal Use Program, buyers keep the software license permanently, unlike the student Buckeye Bundle products, which  were licensed on a subscription/lease basis. Qualified users may purchase one copy of each licensed product through the Personal Use Program. For example, only one copy of Office Professional Plus 2007 is permissible and one copy of Office 2004 for Mac Professional is also permissible. New versions of Microsoft Office may also be obtained through the program.

To purchase any of the Personal Use software, students, faculty, and staff must show their valid BuckID and sign a license agreement. Cash, check, credit card, and BuckID are accepted.

Software prices

The Microsoft Personal Use software is available now. Faculty, staff, and students can purchase the software at UniPrint at Tuttle Park Place, 2055 Millikin Way (ground floor of Tuttle Parking Garage). For regional campus purchases, contact UniPrint at 614-292-2000 or uniprintcustserv@osu.edu. Details are available on the Microsoft Personal Use Program page.