LSU Microsoft Campus License Agreement
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers


What’s new concerning licensing of Microsoft Products?
In October 2005, LSU entered into a new, expanded licensing agreement with Microsoft corporation, ‘upgrading’ to the broadest possible model for providing that company’s most popular software products to members of the LSU community. Now, LSU faculty and staff across campus can download the most current versions of the set of covered products, and for the first time, LSU students can also download the most current versions of a slightly different set of products. All this for no additional cost, and using LSU’s new online software distributor – TigerWare. Read on.

What is the Microsoft Campus License Agreement (CLA)?
It’s a licensing program from Microsoft targeted toward higher education institutions, designed to help them effectively acquire Microsoft products. Microsoft originally developed this model of licensing in 1998 and since then many universities have taken advantage of the program for faculty/staff use. The CLA program basically allows the university to pay a “per-head” amount and then be able to have any of its faculty and staff use the software, and then there are addendums to the program that allows universities to license their student populations as well. LSU now has coverage, under the new CLA, for faculty, staff and students.

What products are covered under the CLA and who can use them?
This varies by whether you’re a faculty/staff member, or a student. Generally, both subsets of the user community have access to the Basic Desktop – this includes an upgrade to the most recent operating system, the Office Suites (for both Intel and Macintosh systems), and client-access-licenses (CALs) which allow a computer to interact with a variety of server-based products – some of which are deployed already at LSU and some which may be in the future. Beyond the Basic Desktop: Faculty/staff have access to FrontPage (a webpage development tool), Visual Studio (a collection of programming tools), and OneNote (a note-taking tool). Students have access to OneNote only, as this was the choice of products the students selected to be paid for by STF at this time. The faculty/staff package is what has been deployed at LSU, for participating departments, for the past several years and ITS felt it best to maintain availability of this toolset as it was expanded across campus. The decision to add OneNote for faculty/staff is on a pilot basis for this year, to see if the tool has value to faculty/staff users as well, especially those who may interact with students who will use the software in their learning.

Why is broader/complete coverage important to LSU?
Broader and complete coverage of the entire LSU community ensures a common infrastructure across those who choose to use the Intel/Microsoft personal computing platform. Previously, there were ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ in terms of having needed software tools, and the most modern versions of those tools. Now, everyone in the LSU community will have access to these valuable tools which form the basis of a solid IT infrastructure.

What LSU campuses are participating in this CLA?
Baton Rouge campuses – A&M, Law, and AgCenter all are participating. Shreveport, and Alexandria are also participating to cover their faculty and staff only. TigerWare will distribute the software for the A&M, Law, and AgCenter campuses only.

Will having the CLA help with IT security?
Yes. Having the latest available operating systems on Intel desktops that use them will mean that we can ensure that all desktops are at the most current levels, and thus best positioned to secure the integrity of our environment and help minimize the impact of various worms and viruses that periodically appear on the internet. Had all systems at LSU been running the most recently available and patched versions of Microsoft Windows operating system this past August, the impact of the worm that hit campus would have been negligible. As it was, several machines in key areas (where the operating systems were not current) were impacted significantly.

Why did LSU pursue a broader licensing agreement for Microsoft products?
LSU pursued a broader licensing agreement for two basic reasons: First, building a solid, consistent software infrastructure across all users of Intel/Microsoft platforms is one key element critical to the ultimate success of information technology at LSU. Second, the students communicated a desire to see STF investments be focused in the area of software availability (responding to student requests) and to also provide something very tangible students could use and take with them from their experience at LSU.

When will the software be available?
The software will be available on TigerWare as of 12:01am on Monday October 24, 2005. It can be found with a host of other software products at http://tigerware.lsu.edu.

How does this differ from the licensing program from Microsoft that LSU used previously?
Previously, individual colleges/departments were able to ‘opt-in’ to the program and determine if they wanted to obtain licensing for their members, or not. Now, the entire campus is covered under the agreement. Previously, students were not covered under the agreement. Now, thanks to an investment made by the students from their STF account, students will be covered.

How was the agreement funded?
Campus faculty/staff licensing was funded through leveraging previous commitments from participating units with funds from the Office of the CIO; Purchasing negotiated deeper discounts which essentially allowed for faculty/staff use across campus at little additional cost above what LSU had previously been spending for partial coverage. Student licensing was funded through a commitment from the Student Technology Fee made by the STF Oversight Committee.

How was the decision made to pursue this agreement?
Negotiations began this summer based upon impetus from the Office of the CIO and Student Government. Once an agreement was negotiated, faculty/staff coverage was expanded from the existing agreement, and student coverage was based upon a commitment by the STF Oversight Committee in September.

How long will the agreement last? What will happen when it expires?
The agreement will run through June 30, 2006. At that time, it will be continued provided support from the campus and the STF continues.

Where can we get the software?
Software will be distributed electronically, via the web, from the new TigerWare software distributor. http://tigerware.lsu.edu.

What about Macintosh users?
Microsoft Office Suite products for the Mac (Entourage, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) will be available as well. However, since Macintosh systems do not use the Microsoft Operating System, this part will not be applicable.

What about Linux/UNIX users?
None of the Microsoft software runs on Linux/UNIX systems.

What about WordPerfect users?
LSU A&M is also finalizing an agreement for campus-wide licensing of the WordPerfect Suite of desktop software. This will be funded by the Office of the Chief Information Officer and will offer a choice in desktop application suites for users on the A&M campus. Watch for announcements on this software’s availability on TigerWare (http://tigerware.lsu.edu)

Does this mean I don't have to buy the Microsoft Windows operating system when I buy my computer?
No, you still must buy the operating system when you buy a new computer. The CLA only provides for upgrades to a previously purchased operating system license. Intel computers come bundled with an operating system, though users of Linux often request a "no operating system" hardware device. But if you intend to use a Microsoft OS on a computer you're buying, you have to buy this component. You don't need to buy the application products, such as the Office Suite.

Does this mean I don't have to buy Microsoft applications like Office Suite or OneNote when I buy my computer?
Yes, you need no longer purchase these products 'bundled' on your new computer purchase. In fact, this will save you a great deal of money! Simply order the system with only the operating system, and then download the Microsoft applications you want, covered under LSU's CLA, from TigerWare. If a computer vendor tells you that "these applications are bundled at no additional charge" press harder on them, as it is not the case that these software products are given away; their costs are rolled into the overall bundle price. Be a sharp consumer and take advantage of this new deal for LSU affiliates -- don't buy software you can get for free on campus! As mentioned above, however, the operating system from Microsoft must still be purchased on any computer 'bundle' you acquire -- just not the other products.

For products that aren’t covered under the agreement, can we still get them under the educational discounts?
Yes. Not all Microsoft products are covered under the agreement (e.g., Visio, FrontPage for students, etc.). LSU still has discounts available for other Microsoft products. Information about these products and how to get them under discount programs can be found on TigerWare as well. Also, Microsoft is exploring what other, additional software products available in their ‘free-ware’ product set that may be of use for broader distribution. ITS will communicate developments in this regard as they emerge.

Does this mean that LSU plans to standardize on Microsoft operating systems and products and discourage use of other products?
Not at all. The reason for acquiring the CLA is to allow for standardization WITHIN the Microsoft software toolkit, so that users that are using this company’s products can have access to the most popular ones, and get the latest versions/upgrades without paying an additional amount. By eliminating the problem of supporting multiple versions of Microsoft operating systems and applications, and facilitating the most modern software for users who choose this company’s products, LSU will gain significant support benefits. Strategically, the Office of the Chief Information Officer and ITS envision a diverse computing platform and software environment consistent with an “IT Abundance” model.

Can other products from Microsoft be added to the contract?
Yes, if demand exists and funding can be identified, other products may be added to the CLA later. For instance, FrontPage might be of interest to add to broader student coverage, as infrastructure that would support student web pages emerges in the future. ITS, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and Purchasing will continue to monitor trends in demand for products and help determine if broader licensing will be a cost-effective and IT-enabling option for LSU.

What about products from other companies like Adobe or Macromedia?
At this time, neither of these companies have effective broad-based licensing programs for their products. This has been the case in the software market for at least the past decade and these vendors continue to offer programs which better suit individual purchase/acquisition models. However, with the recent announcement of a merger of these two software companies, their marketing organizations have made tentative steps to open a dialogue with higher education about software marketing and licensing efforts. The Office of the CIO at LSU is actively pursuing discussions and potential opportunities for ‘pilot’ programs at LSU. One possibility would be an easy-to-use system for selling software (distributed online via TigerWare) from this company, which would at least resolve the many impediments currently faced by those who wish to buy their products. We will keep the community informed of developments that will likely not occure until later in 2006, if at all.

What other software products does LSU have covered with licensing agreements or special pricing deals?
There are a host of products spanning the spectrum of applications for which LSU has broad-based licensing, or for which there are free-ware/share-ware/open-source products. To see what all is available across a number of application areas, visit TigerWare online at: http://tigerware.lsu.edu.

Can faculty or staff members use these products on their home computers?
Yes. The CLA allows faculty & staff to use the products not only on their office computers, but for work purposes on their home computers. Shortly, a special form will be used to ensure that home-use downloads for faculty and staff acknowledge the ‘for work purposes’ only clause.

I’m a student – what happens when I graduate from LSU or otherwise leave?
Students who receive Microsoft software from TigerWare will be able to take the software with them when they leave LSU; to continue to use it, and to have a legitimate license for the product so that subsequent upgrades to new versions can be purchased at a reduced upgrade cost (as opposed to buying the software fully when a new version is released). Details of this will be made available soon.

I’m a ‘Katrina’ student who is only enrolled at LSU for this Fall semester – what happens if I leave LSU and return to my own institution?
Students who are enrolled at LSU this semester are entitled to download the software and use it, and as stated above take the software with them if they leave LSU. So even if you are a temporary ‘KTR’ student in designation, you can download, use, and then take with you Microsoft products available to LSU.

Are part-time faculty, staff, and students also able to take advantage of this licensing agreement?
Yes. Again, for faculty and staff wishing to use the software at home for work purposes, you will have to acknowledge understanding of the licensing conditions.

Can visitors to LSU, here for conferences or other temporary assignments, use the software?
No, only appointed or enrolled members of the LSU community can access TigerWare and download and use the software.

Do many universities have such an agreement with Microsoft? Is this a new thing?
Microsoft originally developed this approach to licensing their products in 1998, working closely first with Indiana University and then with the University of Texas system. Since that time, the CLA has become the standard licensing model for higher education. While perhaps as many as 4 in 5 of colleges and universities nationally have a CLA covering part or all of their faculty and staff use, a much smaller number (under 3 in 10) provide coverage for their entire student populations. In fact, of LSU’s Flagship peers, both regionally and nationally, less than 1-in-5 offer a total faculty/staff/student license. LSU is now among the leaders nationally in offering this key IT infrastructure capability. And LSU is one of only a handful of schools doing online distribution of software, and the only school that distributes licensed software 100% online.

Where can we learn more about OneNote?
Microsoft will be on campus Thursday, October 27, 2005, from 10am to 4pm, next to the Union, staging an event to raise awareness and interest in their newest product, OneNote. OneNote is a new application for better note taking and research gathering. From meeting notes to Web content, sound bites to action points, simply collate all the information you need in one place for easy access. You can take a short demo/tour of the product on Microsoft’s webpage at: http://www.microsoft.com/office/onenote/prodinfo/demo.mspx.

TigerWare
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers


What is TigerWare?
TigerWare is an advanced, award-winning web-based online software distribution that provides LSU with a key IT infrastructure advantage – a centralized ‘warehouse’ for distribution of licensed software and a ‘clearinghouse’ of information about access to software. TigerWare can be accessed on the web at: http://tigerware.lsu.edu.

Where did LSU get TigerWare?
LSU licensed the program from Indiana University, where it was developed to serve that institution’s >125,000 member community.

Why did LSU acquire TigerWare?
To provide LSU with a key IT infrastructure component necessary for a flagship-level institution. The driving force for acquiring TigerWare was to provide a mechanism to deliver products now available under LSU’s new Campus License Agreement with Microsoft; but TigerWare offers a ubiquitous platform for distributing all forms of software under licensing agreements or available freely, and to provide a central point for information about software products and how to get them.

How was TigerWare funded?
The Office of the Chief Information Officer provided the funding to acquire this important tool.

Did TigerWare include all the software products?
No. TigerWare is simply a tool for distributing software, just as a vending machine is a tool for distributing products. Software must be licensed – or be freely available under its copyright – in order to be distributed. LSU will put all the software the institution licenses or can use onto TigerWare, and will add to it as more products are available under separate licensing agreements.

What other universities have something like TigerWare?
Indiana University, as the developer of TigerWare’s base software (IUWare) is the only other university to have such an extensive software distribution system. Other universities, however, do have more modest versions of software distribution systems; University of Texas is one such institution. However, only a handful of institutions distribute software in this manner – most rely upon distributing products on CDs (at an additional cost).

How long will we have TigerWare?
LSU has licensed TigerWare for three years. Anticipating that this product will be successful, LSU will likely renew the agreement with Indiana University for many years thereafter. Indiana University continues to invest in the development and upgrade of their base product – IUWare – and under LSU’s license agreement, we have access to all upgrades they produce. We also have the ability to make LSU-specific modifications and customizations (to meet our own unique needs and expand our own vision of its use here).

How do we access TigerWare?
Open a web-browser and go to this URL: http://tigerware.lsu.edu. Anyone can browse the software titles, but before downloading licensed software, you will be prompted to enter your PAWS ID and password – do so, and you’ll be able to download. Free-ware or share-ware software will not require entry of your PAWS ID and password.

What products are available on TigerWare?
A huge variety! Areas of application include communication software, database, document readers, e-mail, graphics, utilities, multimedia players, networking, operating systems, office suites, security, web browsers, and many more. Products are organized by application area, and individual products are detailed in each section. This selection will be updated constantly – so the best way to find out what’s on TigerWare is to go look at http://tigerware.lsu.edu

What about Macintosh and Linux users?
TigerWare is a full-service, diverse-platform software distribution tool. ITS is putting not only Windows-based software up onto TigerWare, but also Macintosh and Linux operating environments. In fact, TigerWare senses what type of device is trying to access it, and depending upon the system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) automatically presents the appropriate software set to the connecting user.

Can anyone use TigerWare?
Affiliates (faculty, staff, and students) of LSU’s A&M campus (Law and AgCenter too) can use the service. You must have a PAWS login id to get software, though anyone can browse.

How do I use TigerWare if I’m accessing the LSU network from off campus?
Same as on campus. Open a web browser, enter http://tigerware.lsu.edu and you’re off and running anywhere on the internet!

Is all the software listed on TigerWare available for download for free?
If the software has a ‘download’ button on its listing, you can download it for free. If the product isn’t licensed broadly, it is not available for download, but information about how to get it (and what it will cost) is documented on this site. At some point in the future, ITS may also be able to sell non-broadly-licensed software on a per-copy basis; ITS will announce such a service when/if it becomes available.

What if I know of a product that might be useful to the LSU community if distributed on TigerWare?
Simply contact ITS and make that known to us! We will soon have a feature that allows for direct feedback of such a request directly from TigerWare.

In my college/department, we have a license for a specific software tool – can we get that on TigerWare? What if it’s not a campus-wide license, but just for our college/department?
TigerWare can be set up to distribute software to limited audiences within the LSU community. ‘Departmentally Sponsored’ software is a category that can be added, and products that are limited in who can use it can be added to this category. This means that ITS can help departments with software distribution, so that users don’t have to remember all the places where software is distributed at LSU. One stop shopping is the concept. Contact ITS if your department has sponsored software you’d like to distribute via TigerWare.

Can ITS sell software via TigerWare?
ITS is currently investigating that option, including having discussions with some key vendors about becoming the first university nationally to be able to do this. While ITS believes in a strategy of IT abundance and broad provisioning of software tools, in some cases individual purchase of various special products will always make the most sense. However, it would be a powerful way to ease access to such software, if it could be sold via download from TigerWare. ITS will continue to investigate and announce any such service when it is available.

Who do I call for help if I have a problem with TigerWare?
Call the ITS Help Desk at 225.578.3375 or send e-mail to: helpdesk@lsu.edu