UBC currently licenses Microsoft products in several ways. The most common (and most familiar way) is to purchase licenses on an individual basis using a perpetual model. A perpetual license means that you own the license forever once you have purchased it. If you wish to upgrade the license, you must buy another one, either the entire license or an upgrade version. UBC departments may purchase individual licenses at a substantially discounted price through the UBC Select Agreement with Longview.
Another way to license Microsoft products is to enter into an academic Campus Agreement. Most Universities choose to license their most commonly used Microsoft products this way. A campus agreement changes the ownership from a one-time purchase, perpetual license, to a leasing model, where you pay annually to use the software. This model has the benefit of being able to upgrade software when a new version comes out without additional cost. Savings occur because we license the software on a FTE (Full Time Employee) basis, not by computer or device.
UBC has implemented a UBC-Wide Campus Agreement as of April 1, 2010. The agreement will be centrally funded and thus without direct charge to departments. The following Microsoft products are offered through the Campus Agreement:
- Windows OS Upgrade Version
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Project
- Core CAL (Client Access License) Suite:
- Windows Server CAL
- Microsoft SharePoint Server Standard CAL
- Microsoft Exchange Server Standard CAL
- Microsoft Skype For Business Server Standard CAL
- Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Client Management License
- System Center Endpoint Protection
Many faculties and departments had opted into a Campus Agreement previously and reported the following benefits:
- Significantly reduced costs for core Microsoft products
- Full legal compliance for the core Microsoft products
- Staff and faculty have access to the latest tools including Home Use Rights and E-Learning benefits
- Significant reduction in the overhead of purchasing and distributing software
- Significant reduction of the management and administration of core Microsoft software
- All university owned equipment is covered, including research machines
Please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions below for more details about the UBC Campus Agreement. If you have questions regarding the campus agreement, you may contact the IT Service Centre .