Software savings make life at the U more affordable

We get it — being part of the U community is an honor, but it often involves related expenses. From tuition and textbooks for students to office supplies for university organizations, affording the necessities may not leave a lot of wiggle room in your budget.

Maybe you already know about UCard perks, but were you aware you can stretch your dollars further by accessing costly software for little to no out of pocket expense?

UIT’s Office of Software Licensing (OSL) has negotiated campus agreements with several top software vendors to provide students, faculty, and staff access to certain products for free or a greatly reduced price. The software can be used at work or home for academic use, depending on the agreement.

We’ve rounded up some of OSL’s most popular free software options below. To access a more comprehensive list, visit the Software Catalog (login required).

Adobe

Adobe provides apps, web services, and resources for graphic design, photography, social media, user experience design, video editing, and more. All current students, staff, and faculty members can download the apps and access the cloud-based suite for university purposes, including 100GB of storage, for free. Popular apps include:

• Acrobat Pro
• Adobe Express
• InDesign
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Premiere Pro

MathWorks

MathWorks is a suite of mathematical, graphical, and programming software designed for engineers and scientists. The package, free for current students, faculty, and staff, includes well-known apps like MATLAB and Simulink, as well as more than 100 companion products and services. Other products include:

• Polyspace
• SimEvents
• Stateflow
• Various MATLAB toolboxes
• Various Simulink toolboxes
• Online courses and tutorials

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a suite of productivity software, collaboration tools, and cloud-based services free for all current students, staff, and faculty members. Each user receives 1TB of secure storage (safe for sensitive and restricted data like student records and personal health information) and instant access to the U’s internal contact directory, making it easier to connect with classmates and colleagues. Common apps include:

• Bookings
• Excel
• Forms
• OneNote
• Outlook
• PowerPoint
• SharePoint
• Teams
• Word

UBox

UBox is an online cloud storage and collaboration tool that provides users with the ability to store, access, and share files and folders anywhere on any device. All current students, staff, and faculty members are eligible for UBox accounts at no cost. UBox also is approved for sensitive and restricted data (login required). Other features include:

• 1TB secure storage
• 50GB file size limit
• Permission levels
• Internal and external collaboration
• Version history

Zoom

Zoom is an all-in-one communication and collaboration tool for audio and video calls/virtual meetings and classes, chats, digital whiteboards, and events. All current students, faculty, and staff may use Zoom for free. Those interested in webinars, large meetings, and other special features may need to request or purchase additional licensing. Helpful features include:

• Breakout rooms
• Integration with Microsoft 365
• Live transcription
• File sharing
• Recordings
• Screen sharing

Other free and discounted software

• DocuSign (campus faculty and staff; University of Utah Health employees for nonclinical use)
• EndNote
• Grammarly (graduate students only)
• JMP
• LabArchives
• LabVIEW
• OriginPro
• Qualtrics Core XM
• SAS Education Analytical Suite (EAS)
• SPSS Amos
• SPSS Statistics Premium

University libraries also offer specialized software. Visit their websites or contact them to find out what’s available for purchase or use in their computer labs.

• Eccles Health Sciences Library
• Faust Library
• Marriott Library
• McKay Library

 

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