Microsoft has eliminated the Office 365 licensing category that previously allowed many affiliate and temporary employees to use desktop versions of Office applications at Cornell. After September 15, 2024, the regular A1 level licenses for these user roles will no longer provide access to the desktop apps. 

This will affect about 500 Cornell temporary and affiliate employees who were granted this license so that they could install desktop versions of Office apps on devices.

To help ease the transition from desktop to online app access, starting August 1, CIT temporarily assigned Microsoft 365 A3 licenses to the affected group. After September 15, 2024, however, the regular A1 level licenses for these users will only allow access to Microsoft 365 Online.

Answers to some questions that affected staff may have can be found at Troubleshooting: Temporary and Affiliate Employees Who Lose Access to Microsoft Office Desktop Apps.

Departments may choose to purchase a full license or direct affected users to the free online Microsoft 365 versions of some of these apps, as a replacement. Educational resources for Microsoft 365 online are available on LinkedIn Learning, including Learning Word Online, Learning Excel Online, and Learning PowerPoint Online.