Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did CSU seek out this contract?
2. What are the benefits of the Microsoft agreements?
3. What products are included in the Microsoft agreements?
4. Can students take the software home for personal use? Can faculty and staff?
5. If I owned an illegal copy of the software prior to the signing of the contract, is my software now considered a legal copy?
6. What are the implications of graduating or otherwise leaving CSU?
7. What if I just graduated?
8. If I already have my own CD can I make copies?
9. Can I make copies of the disks?
10. Can I make a backup copy of the disks?
11. How long will the contract last?
12. How much did this cost?
13. How is the university paying for this contract?
14. What if I need support?
15. What training is available?
16. What about WordPerfect?
17. Will this affect our E-mail?
18. What if Microsoft releases an upgrade?
19. What about products not included?
20. Can I install a new version of Windows on my office computer?
21. Do I have to use a Microsoft product?
22. Does this mean Macintosh systems are no longer supported?
23. What if I have more questions?

1. Why did CSU seek out this contract?
   Microsoft products are industry standard in nearly all categories: operating systems, desktop productivity tools, and developer tools. Support for these products is strong, as is demand for wider use. By signing this agreement, the university lowers the overall cost of acquiring this software for faculty and staff, simplifies licensing and provides a significant benefit to students.

   

2. What are the benefits of the Microsoft agreements?
   CSU is getting reduced pricing for the most popular Microsoft products, including operating systems, desktop productivity tools, and infrastructure server products. This pricing is available to all computer users at CSU.

   Further, these agreements give CSU the opportunity to provide all students with the complete set of often-used software products.  Having a standard set of tools available to faculty and students will give us a tremendous advantage in improving the ability of information technology to advance the teaching and learning process.

   

3. What products are included in the Microsoft agreements?
   Desktop Suite:
    

   Office Standard - Windows and Mac versions

   Office Professional - Windows and Mac versions

   
   OS Upgrades:
   Note, these are upgrades only. A previous version of the operating system must exist on the computer before installing these upgrades.

   Upgrade to the current Microsoft Windows version

   

4. Can students purchase the software for home and personal use? Can faculty and staff?
   Each student may take home one copy of all licensed software for use on a personally-owned computer. Students with both a desktop and a laptop computer may install it on both systems, however, the student must be the primary user of the system. The software can not be installed on the computers of friends or family members.

   For faculty and staff the rules are slightly different. Firstly, the CSU employee must have a computer on campus that they use and that contains the software. If the employee does not have a computer in their office, they are not eligible for the program. Alternatively, if they have a university-owned computer at home, they can have the software installed on it. Secondly, the software can only be used during the term of their employment with the university. If they leave the university or retire, all use of the software must end immediately and it must be uninstalled or otherwise destroyed. Finally, the software must only be used for work-related purposes.

   Software can not be distributed to retirees, alumni, contract employees not directly employed by the university, and those without a university-owned computer in their office.

   

5. If I owned an illegal copy of the software prior to the signing of the contract, is my software now considered a legal copy?
   As of the signing, all qualified CSU affiliates are legally entitled to use the software covered in the Microsoft agreements; however, your current software is still considered an illegal copy. To receive a legal copy of the most recent version, you must check out (Faculty/Staff) /purchase (Student) and install a copy from the CSU master CD's.

   

6. What are the implications of graduating or otherwise leaving CSU?
   Cleveland State students (full- or part-time) will own the license for the current product releases when they leave (or graduate from) CSU.

   Because faculty and staff home use is tied to use at work, faculty and staff (who are not also CSU students) will not have rights to use the software after they terminate employment with Cleveland State.

   

7. What if I just graduated?
   Sorry, you must be a currently registered student to be eligible for this program.

   

8. If I already have my own CD can I make copies?
   NO! It is important to note that only specially authorized media is covered under the Agreements. If a CSU faculty or staff member makes a copy of a standard, shrink-wrapped Microsoft CD and gives it to a student or installs it at home, they will still be in violation of copyright laws and will be using an illegal copy.

   If you wish a copy of any of this software installed on a university-owned computer, please contact IS&T at (216) 687-5050 to arrange for an installation.

   For students, they must purchase or check out the copies of the CDs available at CSU Bookstore. Only these CDs will provide them properly registered licenses for the software.

   

9. Can I make copies of the disks?
   NO! Again, this is a violation of the agreements. Only authorized university personnel can make copies of these disks and strictly for university use. Those found illegally copying CDs may be in violation of copyright laws and subject to legal action.

   

10. Can I make a backup copy of the disks?
    Again, the answer is no. Only authorized university personnel can maintain copies of the software for distribution.

    

11. How long will the contract last?
    The ELA runs for three years, ending in June, 2007. At that time the IUC consortium has a right to renegotiate a new contract.

    

12. How much did this cost?
    There is no charge for work at home rights for faculty and staff.  Students should check with the Bookstore for current pricing and availability.

    

13. How is the university paying for this contract?
    CSU is centrally paying for Office installs and Operating system upgrades for faculty and staff. Departments are responsible for any other software they wish to purchase.  Students are responsible for their own software purchases.  These agreements just provide the software at the lowest available pricing.

    

14. What if I need support? The contract does not include Microsoft phone support for the university or for student, faculty or staff home use. However, the IS&T Call Center offers some basic support on all recommended software. The Call Center can be reached at (216) 687-5050 or via email.

    

15. What training is available? Students may use the online training available free at http://www.csuohio.edu/training

    Staff and faculty may:

    1. Attend the special upgrade classes for Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint
    2. Attend the full course for each product, or
    3. Use the online training
    Staff and faculty can view the training calendar or email Training@csuohio.edu

    

16. What about WordPerfect?
    WordPerfect, sold by another vendor, is not a part of our contract with Microsoft.

    

17. Will this affect our E-mail?
    No. We will continue to recommend and support the use of Eudora and other email products (Email details).

    

18. What if Microsoft releases an upgrade?
    Students may re-purchase Office or an Operating system upgrade when they are released.  Faculty and staff should contact the IS&T Call Center if they need to upgrade their operating system or office product. Faculty and staff may re-purchase other products as newer releases become available.

    

19. What about products not included?
    Any products not included in these Microsoft Select Agreements may be purchased at standard academic pricing through the Bookstore.

    

20. Can I install a new version of Windows on my office computer?
    IS&T recommends consulting us before performing any such significant upgrade on any system attached to the campus network. Installing an operating system upgrade may interfere with the proper function of your network connection and various software.  We also need to ensure that your computer system has enough horsepower to operate the new operating system.

    

21. Do I have to use a Microsoft product?
    No, you can select the software program that best meets your needs. The decision to use or not use a Microsoft application is up to you and your supervisor.

    Practically speaking, the university is investing in Microsoft products that cover a broad spectrum of need for software. It is true that there will be the economic incentive to use Microsoft products since they will already have been paid for by the university. It is also practical to say that the university's support resources will be proportionately devoted to the suite of products acquired under this contract. These two resource-dependent factors will provide a strong incentive for CSU to make use of the Microsoft products.

    However, competition in the market will continue to exist and Cleveland State is free to use other resources to acquire and support a wide variety of vendor products. Again, we've had experience with institutional licenses before; while their presence does lead many users to adopt products covered under the licenses, there is no requirement or dictate that competing products which meet specific needs cannot be acquired and used.

    

22. Does this mean Macintosh systems are no longer supported?
    Absolutely not! Macintosh systems are still fully recommended and supported by the university. We encourage everyone to select the computer system that best meets their needs, whether it be a Windows, Macintosh or Unix system. Many of the Microsoft software products are available for use on Macintosh systems.

    

23. What if I have more questions?
    Please contact the IS&T Call Center at (216) 687-5050, or via email.