This means that we handed over all our software licenses to them, and these licenses were added to those they already owned, creating a single pool of licenses. Our software users at LS&A and SI now have access to all these combined licenses. LS&A will manage the licenses, making sure that we have sufficient number to cover our use, and obtain additional licenses and new versions of software as needed.

2. How is this beneficial for SI?

It benefits SI in several ways:

• SI no longer has to pay for new software licenses and upgrades
• LSA, because of its size, can negotiate better licensing terms with vendors
• There is a much greater number of software titles available to our users from the pool, than what we were able to afford on our own
• Because we pay LS&A a flat fee based on head count, it makes the annual expenditure on software much more predictable and easier to budget

3. Who can use this software?

All SI faculty, students, and staff who use desktops or laptops owned by SI: desktops in offices and cubicles, laptops purchased for faculty and staff, checkout laptops, computers in the DIAD.

4. May any of the LSA/SI-licensed software be used on personally-owned machines?

No, unfortunately it may not, with very few exceptions, e.g. the EndNote program, for which we obtained very generous license terms allowing installation and use on personally owned machines, for as long as the owner remains affiliated with SI. Many software titles are available for personal purchases at steep discounts from the UM Computer Showcase in the Michigan Union.

5. What does one need in order to obtain and use LSA/SI-licensed software?

In most cases the software can be installed via NAL for Windows machines (those owned by SI) or is included in loadsets for the Mac. For certain titles (e.g. SPSS, NVivo), they have to be installed by SI Computing's staff. The computer must have a Keyserver client - all machines setup by SIC do have that. The Keyserver client obtains a key which gets renewed every few days, and allows the user to use the software application. Connection to the network is required to obtain the key. Keys can be checked out for longer periods of time, e.g. several months, for people who may be unable to connect to the network.

6. Where can I see the list of software titles that are available to us?

The lists can be accessed via http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsait/SWL/Default.asp You may search for a particular title, or click on the icon representing an OS (Windows, Mac, Solaris, Linux ) to get the listing of all the titles available for a particular platform.

7. Will the users notice any difference between current arrangement and the previous one?

No. Other than the greater availability of software titles, it should be completely invisible to the end users. However, later this summer we will ask all SI people who are using keyed applications to reinstall them (via NAL) or request reinstallation. This will replace the applications that still obtain their keys from our keyserver to those provided by LSA. In early fall we will turn off our keyserver, so any application that was not reinstalled will cease to work. (It will also be a good opportunity to obtain newer versions of the applications.)

8. Are all software applications licensed by SI or LSA tied to a keyserver?

No. Most of them are, but there are some exceptions, most notably the Microsoft Office bundle and SPSS, which have their keys entered manually at the time of installation. That's why the installation must be performed by SI Computing staff.

9. Are we the only school that entered into this partnership with LS&A?

No. School of Nursing and School of Natural Resources have also joined. Other departments expressed their interest, but for now the number of partners will be limited. At this stage this is largely an experiment - if successful, a campus-wide solution may be explored.

10. How can I get EndNote installed on my own laptop?

Bring your laptop to SI Computing's office at WH or SIN and we will install it for you or give you the media for installation. (The media can not be taken home.) You will have to sign a statement pledging to remove the software when you leave SI. Installations on desktops are possible, provided that you can bring the desktop to us.