Software Licensing for Microsoft Products

Environment

U-M Software Licensing for Microsoft (excludes Michigan Medicine)

Issue

Microsoft Product Licensing for University of Michigan

Resolution

There are multiple licensing options that differ depending on specific software title and University of Michigan affiliation.

NOTE:  Alumni and retirees are NOT included in the university's license agreement with Microsoft

• Microsoft Office 365 (does not include Windows OS)
  • Available at no cost to current University of Michigan faculty, staff, students, emeritus, and sponsored affiliates with regular (not temporary) uniqnames. 
    • Dearborn and Flint campuses are covered under this agreement as well.
  • See https://its.umich.edu/communication/collaboration/microsoft-office-365 for information and to obtain the software
  • Michigan Medicine
    • ​​​​​​​The Microsoft 365 service for Michigan Medicine is managed separately to meet their regulatory, contractual, and security requirements. News and updates can be found on the HITS website. The ITS-managed Microsoft 365 service for academic campuses is not permitted for Michigan Medicine business, education, patient care, or research use.​
• Microsoft Campus Agreement -- Covers Microsoft Windows OS (upgrade only) and Microsoft Office​​​​​​​
  • Available at no additional cost to current University of Michigan faculty, staff, and emeritus
    • Dearborn and Flint campuses are covered under this agreement as well.
  • Requires University-owned device
  • Requires regular periodic KMS activation***
  • WindowsOS upgrade requires commercial OS installation already be in place
  • See https://its.umich.edu/computing/computers-software/microsoft-campus-agreement/departments for information

Other Resources for purchasing Microsoft software for personally-owned devices:

• TechShop (previously Computer Showcase)
  • https://techshop.umich.edu/software.html
• OnTheHub
  • https://umich.onthehub.com
  • Requires Student or Faculty/Staff affiliation and Registration to the site

Additional Microsoft titles are available for purchase by University of Michigan departments:

• See the ITS Software Store at https://software.its.umich.edu/Portal
  • Login requires Faculty/Staff affiliation.
• Software must be installed on University owned devices. 

Additional Information

See https://its.umich.edu/computing/computers-software/software-services/software-titles/microsoft for more licensing details.

For WindowsOS upgrades, the commercial operating system can include MacOS (requires windows shell).

***KMS Activation (Key Management Service)

• Happens automatically in the background every 90 days or so
  • Requires the computer to be regularly connected to a campus network
  • Requires VPN when off campus
    • Intermittent disconnect is still allowed (as in when a computer is taken home overnight)
    • KMS will re-attempt when connection is restored

More information on KMS can be found at https://documentation.its.umich.edu/node/325