Microsoft Program Allows Students to Download Office 365 ProPlus for Free

Thanks to an agreement between Pasadena City College and Microsoft, PCC students can now download and install the software giant’s flagship product – Office 365 ProPlus – on their desktops, laptops, or tablets – for free.

“Every company uses Microsoft products,” said Shelley Gaskin, a professor in PCC’s Business and Computer Technology department. “Students will now have these products for their class presentations and term papers at no cost.”

Microsoft’s 365 ProPlus is the company’s highest-tiered and most current version of its ubiquitous Office software suite. It is offered as an annual subscription and contains full, most-current versions of Office’s top-of-the-line applications.

“This software is much more powerful and full-featured than the expensive Microsoft Home and Student edition, which sells for $130 at some stores,” Gaskin said.

Through the Microsoft Student Advantage Program, currently enrolled students can download the software for free on up to five different computers (Mac or PC) or applicable mobile devices, including Windows tablets and iPads. In addition, students are given a terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage.

Paola Fernandez, a sophomore majoring in communications, said she wasn’t aware of the program and plans on downloading the software.

“I think it’s great and very helpful,” she said. “It’s a nice surprise and definitely something that students need. Some of us don’t have the software so they have to go to the library or use other programs to get their work done.”

The cloud-based software can be installed on PCs that run on Windows 7 or 8 operating systems, and Mac platforms that run on OS X version 10.5.8 or later.

The subscription will be active so long as the student is enrolled at the college and has an active LancerPoint email address.

PCC’s Information Technology Services developed the process so that all PCC student email addresses can access the free downloads. Gaskin said she has tested the process with many of her students in her Business Information Technology classes.

“This is an exciting opportunity, and I’m glad students will be able to use the latest Microsoft Office products as long as they are enrolled at PCC, especially considering the allowed licenses are cross-platform and students are given so many,” said Todd Hampton, manager of IT Support Services at PCC.

According to Microsoft, a similar plan for faculty and staff is scheduled to be rolled out nationwide in December, and Hampton said the college hopes to implement the program some time next year.

“Faculty and staff will also be allowed to install Office on five PCs or Macs, as well as unlock the editing functions in the Office apps for iPad. It’s really a great benefit,” Hampton said.

Microsoft initiated the Student Advantage program a year ago in an effort to make it easier for students to get access to the latest version of Microsoft Office and better prepare themselves for the tools used in modern-day workplaces. Today, Student Advantage is available to more than 35,000 educational institutions worldwide.

To learn more about the program, visit http:office.com/education.