Microsoft Campus Agreement FAQs for UT System Institutions
Which Microsoft products are covered under the MSCA and should be made available for distribution?
All products covered under the Microsoft Campus Agreement are available to all campuses within the UT System. Please see our MSCA Products page for a complete listing of products currently available under the MSCA.
What is the difference between the Departmental media and Student & Faculty/Staff work-at-home media?
Departmental media is usually obtained under the Microsoft Academic Select Agreement (Select). This media can typically be purchased from your campus bookstore or directly from Dell, and typically requires a Volume License Key (VLK). Note: Under the terms of the current Microsoft Campus Agreement, VLKs are not to be provided to students, and should be distributed to staff only as necessary.
Student and faculty/staff work-at-home media can be purchased at each Campus' distribution point, and is individually-keyed. If a key for this media is lost or destroyed, it cannot be recreated or reclaimed. Students who lose their key will need to purchase new media.
Can departments purchase student media?
No. Departments are required to obtain and use the Select/Departmental media. Select media can be purchased from your campus bookstore or directly from Dell.
Can Faculty/Staff purchase Select volume license media for work-at-home use?
Under the terms of the current Microsoft Campus, faculty and staff work-at-home users must purchase the individually-keyed "student" media available at their campus bookstore.
Can the Student Windows Operating System Upgrade media be installed on multiple systems?
Products available on individually-keyed student media are for installation on one computer only.
When did Microsoft media change from volume keys to individually keyed media for students and faculty/staff work-at-home use?
Microsoft began producing student specific media that is individually keyed and may not be copied, beginning September 1, 2002. Microsoft began distributing individually-keyed media to reduce software piracy.
Can we provide the Volume License keys to Students or Faculty/Staff who purchased MS CEA media previous to September 1, 2002?
No. Under the terms of the current Microsoft Campus Agreement, students should at no time be provided Volume License Keys.
Obtaining Student and Faculty/Staff Work-at-Home Media for Distribution
Can Our site (UT System Campus) duplicate its own media for distribution to students?
No under the CA program, you canot duplicate media for distribution to students and faculty/staff work-at-home.You have several options:
- Your bookstore/reseller will need to purchase media for re-distribution directly from Dell, our Microsoft Large Account reseller.
- If your bookstore is an MS Authorized Educational Reseller, they can purchase student media directly from MS Student Fulfillment.
- Contact the UT Austin Campus Computer Store manager at manager@campuscomputer.com or (512) 232-2531 to arrange a media purchase for distribution at your institution. UT Component Institution students/faculty/staff may NOT make personal media purchases directly from the UT Austin Campus Computer Store.
Our campus provides imaging services for our students. Is this still permissible? Which media should we use for installation?
If your campus provides imaging services for your students, wherein the students do not receive media and will not receive a license key, you may use the Select volume media (not Student media) and the volume license key for this service.
Our campus makes CA software available to students via secure download, can we continue this practice under the new agreement?
If your Campus previously made CEA software available for students via secure download, please send e-mail to software@its.utexas.edu. We have not yet ascertained how this type of distribution will proceed.
There are several MSCA products for which Microsoft Fulfillment does not make keyed student media available for distribution. As we are licensed to distribute these products, what are our distribution options?
These products may be distributed using Select Volume Licensing media in the following manners:
- Controlled download from your secure network server(s) or other storage device(s). Please send e-mail to software@its.utexas.edu if you wish to pursue this method of distribution.
- Manual installation by you at a central location that you control.
- A system of controlled short-term checkout of applicable volume licensing media solely for purposes of individual user installation, provided that this option is available only for products for which a volume licensing key is not required. Such products include the Office Suite.
Obtaining Department Media for Distribution
What are our options for procuring departmental MS Select volume license keyed media for distribution to departments?
- Your bookstore/reseller will need to purchase media for re-distribution directly from DELL.
- Your site can purchase a Microsoft Select Fulfillment Subscription through our LAR and duplicate the media on-site.
- If you wish to duplicate your Select media using a third-party vendor, please send e-mail to software@its.utexas.edu
Server Licenses
How do I acquire server licenses that are not covered under the MSCA?
Server licenses that are not available under the Microsoft Campus Agreement can be purchased at greatly discounted prices under the Microsoft Academic Select Agreement.
Do departments have to purchase individual Client Access Licenses (CALs) for NT/2000 Server, SQL Server, Exchange Enterprise Licenses, etc?
Please refer to the information on purchasing Client Access Licenses.
What if I need CALs other than those covered?
Client Access Licenses for a variety of products can be purchased through Dell under the Microsoft Academic Select Agreement.
