Computer Center at CCIS has signed an agreement for MSDN Academic Alliance with Microsoft. The MSDN Academic Alliance is the easiest and most inexpensive way for academic departments to make the latest Microsoft software available in labs, classrooms, and on student PCs. The program, which is available in more than 160 countries worldwide, has two primary goals:

• To make it easier and less expensive for academic institutions to obtain Microsoft developer tools, platforms, and servers for instructional and research purposes.
• To build a community of instructors who can share curriculum and other learning resources to support the use of these technologies.

Under this agreement, software and product keys can be downloaded from the MSDN download area. In addition, software can also be distributed with retail product keys to staff members and students.