Microsoft Campus Agreement Transition from CEA to CA Questions
What was the "CEA" and how is it different from the "CA"?
The Microsoft Campus Enterprise Agreement (CEA) was the agreement between The University of Texas System and Microsoft from September 1, 1998 through August 31, 2003. Microsoft changed this campus subscription program to the "Microsoft Campus Agreement" which became effective when we renewed on September 1, 2003.
The largest difference between the agreements involves the permanency of licenses. Under CEA, eligible licensees were permanently licensed for covered products. For example, if you were a student during this program you are permanently licensed for Office products of the current version at the time you left. Under the CA, however, license are "right-to-use" and are only valid while there is a current CA in place. Licenses only become permanent for students who graduate and are granted a degree.
Are UT's desktop licenses from the CEA still good?
Yes. Coming out of the CEA, UT System centrally holds a fixed quantity of permanent licenses for the desktop. Licenses obtained after August 31, 2002 are subject to the new agreement which gives UT the "right to use" these same products including all upgrades, during the term of the agreement. Note, however, that these licenses are not permanent.
