The Microsoft Imagine/DreamSpark programs are no more. They are replaced by a new program called "Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching". A new article will be posted under that name as soon as we figure out how it works.
"As of September 7, 2016, the DreamSpark name is being retired, but the program benefits will continue as the Microsoft Imagine program. Microsoft Imagine Standard and Microsoft Imagine Premium will replace the names of DreamSpark Standard and DreamSpark Premium.
Please note that the benefits your school receives today will not change."
What is DreamSpark?
DreamSpark is a collection of Microsoft programs to provide Microsoft software to individual students and educational institutions at low or no cost. There is one DreamSpark program for individual students, at https://www.dreamspark.com/Student/Default.aspx . There are two subscription programs for institutions, DreamSpark Standard and DreamSpark Premium, to which we have access through our Microsoft Campus Agreement. The primary difference is that Premium is only for STEM faculty and classes; compare the two here.
DreamSpark Standard provides some software for all academic use, in research, classes, and labs. DreamSpark Premium, formerly known as MSDN Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) or MSDN Developer Alliance, provides more software, and is described this way by Microsoft:
Put professional developer tools and software in the hands of your [STEM] faculty and students with low-cost subscription from Microsoft. Challenge and excite your students by teaching with the latest technologies.
Here are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from Microsoft. Be careful to distinguish between the individual student DreamSpark and the institutional DreamSpark Standard and DreamSpark Premium programs when reading the answers.
Here is Microsoft's definition of what qualifies as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
For Faculty: How Do I Get DreamSpark Software?
ITS is coordinating the distribution of DreamSpark software for institutions through its existing support for faculty, the Academic Technologists. A faculty member can request software from his/her Academic Technologist (AT).
The request should includes not only the name of each software product needed (e.g., Visual Studio), but also the version (e.g., Visual Studio 2012), the exact edition (e.g., Visual Studio Professional 2012), and the bitness (e.g., Visual Studio Professional 2012 32-bit). Omitting any of this information will slow the processing of the request.
Here are the DreamSpark Standard usage guidelines from Microsoft, and here are the DreamSpark Premium usage guidelines. The AT and faculty using DreamSpark software must read these guidelines and follow them. For more traditional license agreements (EULA), read this for Standard or this for Premium.
For ATs: How Do I Provide DreamSpark Software?
The AT will communicate the specific software requests (product name, version, edition, and bitness) to Sande Nissen in ITS. Sande will make sure the requested software is available, then create an account for the AT in the Carleton ELMS download portal, from which the AT can access the software and any necessary product keys. (Rebecca Barkmeier also has access to the ELMS download portal.)
The AT will download the software then make it available to the requesting faculty, keeping records of whom they provide the software product and product keys to, when, and for which computers.
ATs, please note that the number of downloads of each product for your login is limited (one download, and one more for backup), so keep a copy of the downloaded software for later distribution on other computers or to fulfill other faculty requests.
Here are the DreamSpark Standard usage guidelines from Microsoft, and here are the DreamSpark Premium usage guidelines. The AT and faculty using DreamSpark software must read these guidelines and follow them. For more traditional license agreements (EULA), read this for Standard or this for Premium.
For Students: What About Software for Me?
It is up to the AT and faculty to use the Microsoft guidelines (links above, soon) to decide when it is appropriate to provide Azure Dev Tools for Teaching software for student use, and on which computers. Please approach the faculty member under whose guidance the software will be used. Students can always use the free individual Azure for Students offer from Microsoft. Each student start with $100 of Azure credit for free, and no credit card is necessary to sign up.
MS-CASA EES Student option?