As of February 1, 2021, the University of Delaware’s licensing structure for the Microsoft Office 365 for Education program has changed. This new structure means new and different access to Office 365 applications for a variety of users at UD.
How these changes might affect your current setup
If you are moving to an A3 license, you will likely not experience any changes in functionality. Your applications will continue to act the same.
In the event your license is changed to an A1 license, any Office 365 desktop applications you've previously activated will become inactive at any point between February 1, 2021 and May 1, 2021. Office 365 desktop applications periodically verify your license type when your computer is online. When it is detected that your license can no longer activate Office 365 applications, as with A1 licensing, there will be an indication that the product is unlicensed at the top of the program window. There will also be a yellow banner underneath the program’s toolbars. This banner provides a warning and provides links to either activate the desktop app with an account that has an A3 license or use the web-based Office 365 applications at https://office.com.
When using inactive Office 365 applications, you will only be able to open existing files, but you will not be able to create new files or edit existing files.
Who is affected by this license change?
While everyone is moving to the new license structure, those moving to an A1 license may experience the most changes if they usually work through downloaded Office applications on their device.
Groups moving to an A1 license
- Non-University Employees
- Adjunct Faculty
- Visiting Faculty
- Visiting Professional
- Affiliates
- American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Groups moving to an A3 license
- Full & Part Time Faculty
- Full & Part Time Salaried and Nonexempt Staff
- Full & Part Time Professional Staff
- Matriculated Students
- Full & Part Time Limit/Term Researcher
- Full & Part Time Post-Doctoral Researcher
Why this change is happening
Microsoft has changed the terms of the licenses.