Microsoft 365 Desktop Office Access for Staff and Faculty

Explains current Microsoft 365 web and desktop Office access options for staff and faculty after Microsoft deprecated the A1 Plus licensing model.

 

Microsoft has retired the A1 Plus licensing model, which previously provided desktop access to Microsoft 365 applications for some users.

As a result of this Microsoft licensing change, some staff and faculty accounts no longer have standalone desktop Microsoft 365 application licensing through their Microsoft 365 account.

This does not mean that Microsoft 365 access has been removed. Microsoft 365 web applications remain available online, and desktop Office applications remain available on supported ACC-managed devices.

 

 

Previously, some users had access to desktop Microsoft 365 applications through Microsoft’s A1 Plus licensing model.

Microsoft has since retired that licensing model. Because A1 Plus is no longer available, ACC cannot restore that same license entitlement.

Under the current licensing model, standard staff and non-adjunct faculty accounts generally have access to Microsoft 365 web applications rather than separately licensed desktop Microsoft 365 applications.

 

 

Staff and faculty can continue to access Microsoft 365 web applications online, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive.

Microsoft 365 online is available at:

https://www.office.com/

Sign in using your ACC Microsoft account.

 

 

If you need desktop Office applications, use an ACC-managed device.

ACC-managed devices include the installed Office suite as part of the standard ACC device image. This provides access to desktop Office applications without requiring a separate standalone Microsoft 365 desktop license on your account.

If Office desktop applications are missing or not working on an ACC-managed device, please contact the Service Desk for assistance.

 

 

Standard staff and non-adjunct faculty accounts may not include standalone desktop Office application licensing for use on personal or non-ACC-managed devices.

In most cases, users should use one of the following supported access paths:

• Microsoft 365 web applications through office.com

• Desktop Office applications on an ACC-managed device

 

 

Some employees may also be active ACC students.

If you are an active student, your student Microsoft account may provide access to desktop Microsoft 365 applications through student licensing. In that case, you may need to sign into Office using your student Microsoft account.

To avoid sign-in conflicts, it may help to use a private or incognito browser window when checking student account access.

 

 

Some ACC internal web pages may still reference Microsoft 365 or desktop Office access information from the previous licensing environment.

Those pages may have been accurate under the previous Microsoft licensing model but may no longer reflect the current licensing environment.

ACC is actively reviewing and replacing outdated guidance so internal web pages reflect the current Microsoft licensing model and supported access paths.

If you find conflicting information, please contact the Service Desk so the outdated page can be reviewed.

 

 

Contact the Service Desk if:

• You cannot access Microsoft 365 online

• Office desktop applications are missing from an ACC-managed device

• Office desktop applications are installed but not working correctly on an ACC-managed device

• You are unsure which access path applies to your situation