[Campus Notice] Important Update: Changes to How You Access Microsoft Office 365

[UCR Information Technology Solutions]

Dear Highlander,

This message is a follow up to my previous email regarding your Microsoft
Office access. Microsoft has announced the August 1, 2024 discontinuation
of its Office 365 A1 Plus license
<https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office-365-a1-plus>,
which you are currently enrolled in through your UCR student affiliation.

In response to Microsoft’s decision, UCR is providing students with a
complimentary Office 365 A1 license, which is now the standard license
offered to higher education institutions. The A1 license provides access to
Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) via office.com
<https://www.office.com>. However, it does not include access to the
desktop version of Office 365 applications.

If access to desktop applications is important for your studies, consider
upgrading to a different Microsoft 365 plan
<https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/college-student-pricing> for
college students. Detailed instructions on signing up for a Microsoft 365
Personal plan can be found in the ITS Knowledge Base
<https://ucrsupport.service-now.com/ucr_portal?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0012225>
.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your Microsoft 365 Education
license, please get in touch with the IT help desk at 951-827-4848 from
Monday to Friday, between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Thank you for your understanding.


Sincerely,

Lily Barger

Director of Campus Support

Information Technology Solutions

University of California, Riverside


On Thu, Jul 18, 2024 at 11:33 AM UCR Information Technology Solutions <
its at ucr.edu> wrote:

> Dear Highlander,
>
> I'm reaching out to provide some important information about your
> Microsoft Office access, which is currently provided at no cost through
> your UCR student affiliation.
> Key Change
>
> Starting August 1, 2024, you'll still have full access to the online
> versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office
> applications through your web browser, however, the desktop versions of
> these applications will no longer be included as part of your license.
> What This Means for You
>
>    -
>
>    If you primarily use Office online: You won't experience any
>    disruptions and can continue working as usual.
>    -
>
>    If you primarily use the Office desktop applications: You will need to
>    transition to accessing your Office tools online at www.office.com. If
>    access to desktop applications is important for your studies, consider
>    upgrading to a different Microsoft 365 Education
>    <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/college-student-pricing>
>    plan for college students.
>
> We're Here to Help
>
> BearHelp is available to answer your questions and assist you in
> understanding the different licensing options. You may reach BearHelp at
> 951-827-4848 from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more
> detailed information about the changes Microsoft is making to its education
> licenses, please visit the Microsoft website
> <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/products/office-365-a1-plus>.
>
> We understand that changes to tools can be disruptive, and ITS is
> committed to ensuring a smooth transition for everyone. We encourage you to
> reach out to the IT help desk with any questions or concerns you may have
> regarding your Microsoft 365 Education license.
>
> Thank you for your attention to this matter.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Lily Barger
>
> Director of Campus Support
>
> Information Technology Solutions
>
> University of California, Riverside
>
>
>
>
>
> *Please Note: This email account is not monitored by ITS staff. If you
> require technical support, please take one of the following actions:*
>
>    - Visit the ITS website at its.ucr.edu to find self-help articles,
>    submit and track support tickets, request IT services, and more.
>    - For live support, you can contact the BearHelp helpdesk during
>    normal business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm) at 951-827-4848
>
>
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