This fall McMaster students, staff and faculty will have expanded access to Microsoft software products through a central university-wide, funded program.

Students will receive access to Office 365. As well, faculties and departments will be entitled to install specific Microsoft operating systems and applications, such as Microsoft Office 365 at no charge. The agreement will begin this September with information sessions beginning in August for IT staff and people who purchase computers.

The agreement covers a range of Microsoft products. For most users, two items will be of particular interest.

First, the agreement allows any McMaster computer which was purchased with Windows (or Mac OS) to install the newest, professional or enterprise version of the Windows operating system. Second, all McMaster computers are eligible to install Microsoft’s Office products. Instruction for accessing this software will be available in late August.

These two benefits have money saving implications for purchasers of computer systems. First, there is no longer a need to purchase Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) with a computer. Second, when purchasing a new computer, the buyer can select the least expensive version of Windows (typically Windows Home edition). Once they have the computer they can upgrade to Windows Professional at no additional cost via the McMaster Microsoft agreement. This should reduce the cost to a department or researcher of buying a new computer system.

Work to implement this agreement is underway and additional details and instructions will be provided as they are developed. Questions should be emailed to swlic@mcmaster.ca.

This initiative is a first step in implementing the recommendations of last year’s IT Services Review, which identified software licensing as an enhancement opportunity at McMaster.