Microsoft 365 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Microsoft 365 Student Advantage program?
Academic institutions that are Microsoft customers and already license Office at the institutional level are eligible to offer Microsoft 365 to their students at no additional cost. Students can take advantage of free Microsoft 365 by logging in to the Microsoft 365 portal. This includes the ability to download the full current version of Office.
I'm a staff or faculty member, does this apply to me too?
Yes, Willamette's Microsoft licensing also allow staff and faculty to receive the benefit of utilizing Microsoft 365 and its available software downloads on their personally-owned devices. Please do not install the Microsoft 365 versions of software on your university-provided computers or devices. The Office software for those is deployed and managed by WITS.
Do I need a Microsoft 365 account to get the software?
No. WITS synchronizes user account information with Microsoft and you can log in to their services using your Willamette email address and password.
How do I get free Microsoft 365?
1. Go to Microsoft Online
2. Log in using your Willamette email address and password
3. Click the Install button near the top right corner of the page.
Am I required to create a Microsoft account in order to get access to the software download?
No. Use your Willamette user name and password to log in to the Microsoft 365 portal.
Should I use my Willamette network account password for my Microsoft account?
Yes. Your Microsoft account uses your Willamette email address as your username and your Willamette password as your password. This is like your Google Apps for Education account, which is fully integrated with your university network account.
So does that mean I can download and install the full version of Microsoft Office?
Yes. Under the Student Advantage program, you will be able to download the full version of Microsoft ProPlus onto your computer, in addition to having access to the web app versions of the software.
Which programs are included with Microsoft 365 Student Advantage?
If you install Office on your computer, you will get the following programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, Publisher, Outlook, OneDrive for Business. There is no ability to install or uninstall these programs individually.
Versions of Office are available for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.
I'm an employee. Can I use my personal OneDrive to store my work files?
No. WITS does not support OneDrive for university business and we do not have extensive management tools. Please use OneDrive for personal file storage only.
What happens when I graduate or otherwise leave the University?
The Microsoft 365 subscription granted through the Student Advantage program ends when you leave Willamette. You may enroll in another consumer Microsoft 365 subscription if you'd like to maintain access to this service. Files stored in OneDrive will need to be transferred to another Microsoft 365 account or manually downloaded to a separate location.
Why can't I install just the programs I need like Word, PowerPoint, or Excel?
The Office programs area packaged together for faster download and installation. Once you've installed Office, you can delete the short-cuts to the programs you don't need.
How many devices can I install Microsoft 365 on?
The Student Advantage version of Microsoft 365 may be installed on up to five (5) total devices. Macs, PCs, tablets, and phones are all included in that total.
Can I install Office for iPad apps?
Yes. Install the apps through the App Store using your Apple ID, and then sign in to the individual apps with your new Microsoft account.
If I recently purchased Office and am now also be eligible for free Microsoft 365, will I receive any credit or compensation?
No, but you may wish to cancel your personal Microsoft 365 subscription while you are at Willamette. If you prefer to stick with the version you already own, you may.
If I have already purchased and installed Microsoft 365 on my computer, what will happen if I attempt to install Microsoft 365 through Willamette?
The Office software supports multiple accounts and you can stay signed in to both.
How does Microsoft 365 and OneDrive integrate with Google Drive?
Microsoft 365 and OneDrive do not integrate with Google Drive by default. OneDrive offers a similar cloud-storage service and similar collaboration tools. It is up to the individual student whether to use Drive, OneDrive, or both. Using OneDrive is not required to save documents in Microsoft 365—you can save files on your computer just like other versions of Office. WITS recommends using Google Drive or Willamette's Netfiles/Groupfiles services for cloud storage and document sharing. You can save files directly to Google Drive from an Office program by using Drive File Stream or the Google Drive plugin for Office.
I need help with Microsoft 365. Where do I go?
Call, email, or drop by the WITS Help Desk in Smullin Hall room 118.
Is there more I should know about OneDrive and other could-based storage services?
Yes. OneDrive is Microsoft 365's built-in cloud storage option. WITS recommends using Google Drive and Willamette's network file storage for all your digital materials for a number of reasons:
- OneDrive is provided by Microsoft as part of the Office service and is not directly controlled by WITS in any way.
- Similar to a personal DropBox account or any other free service, WITS is not able to help recover lost files and data.
- Faculty and staff may not store official University documents and communications on OneDrive.
- Netfiles/Groupfiles and Google Drive are fully supported by WITS.
- Google Drive provides unlimited storage for all types of files.
- Google Drive files can be easily shared with other Willamette community members and the campus directory is built in.