Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA)

As a member of the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA), the Computer Science Program of Kettering University distributes copies of several Microsoft development tools. MSDNAA has a search page which lists all products covered by this program.

This software is available to students who are currently enrolled in CS courses (regardless of major). While enrolled in these courses, students may either download the software electronically at no charge, or order CDs directly from Microsoft for a nominal fee that covers shipping and the cost of the CDs. The selection of CDs available from Microsoft is limited to only the most popular products, but the CS program can offer any MSDNAA product on-line if the need arises. For MSDNAA products that cannot be ordered or downloaded, the CS program has a limited number of CDs that students may check out.

The intent of the program is to provide Microsoft tools and technologies to students at little or no cost, subject to the terms of the program. In particular, note the following:

  • The software to be provided is for instructional and non-commercial research use only. (As a consequence, Microsoft Office and Microsoft FrontPage are not covered by MSDNAA.)
  • Windows is included in the program, but only to facilitate the use of other MSDNAA products. (For example, if you want to use Visual Studio .NET, which requires Windows XP, you may download and install Windows XP.)
The full terms and conditions are spelled out in the MSDNAA End-User License Agreement (EULA), which you are encouraged to read; Microsoft has also provided a Program Usage Guidelines document which explains the EULA more informally.

Each term that you enroll in a CS course, you will receive via email a password that will allow you to order the software online using E-Academy's License Management System (ELMS) at the e-academy web site. (E-Academy is a Microsoft partner who provides authentication, distribution of license keys, and record keeping for MSDNAA downloads.) Your login ID will be your Kettering University campus email address. Your password will be sent to you by email. To download software, to order CDs, or to reserve CDs for check out, visit the e-academy web site at http://msdn07.e-academy.com/ktru_scmt. When you place an order for an online download, the ELMS system will provide you with a license key and a small program which will download your order from an on-campus web server.

If you experience any problems with the system, please contact Professor Jim Huggins at jhuggins@kettering.edu. Professor Huggins administers the ELMS accounts locally for the CS program. Please do not contact Microsoft or e-Academy if you have trouble.

Note: This software is distributed from a web server located on-site at Kettering University. Some of the files are extremely large. If you are downloading from off-campus, a broadband connection is highly recommended. Otherwise, you may wish to consider downloading the software to one of the PC labs which have CD burners for your use. (PCs with burners may be found in 3-501/503 AB, 4-501 AB, 3-333 AB, 3-341 AB, and the Virginia Kettering Lab in Thompson Hall.) Alternatively, you may wish to consider ordering or checking out CDs.

Note: Subscribers to MSDNAA will periodically receive email from e-academy.com. If you use a spam filter, please add e-academy.com to your filter's whitelist.