Instructors may request additional software, in support of teaching and learning, to be installed in our public classrooms and computer labs. Before requesting software installation, please review the following:
- Software List with currently installed software
- Software Installation Guidelines
Types of Software Requests
There are two types of software requests: General Use Software, which is software that is beneficial to many students in various curricula and is installed on all computers in all labs and classrooms, and Course Software, which is needed to teach a specific course in a specific classroom or computer lab.
Please review the various characteristics of these software requests.
General Use
- Beneficial to many students in different curricula.
- Installed on all computers in all labs and classrooms.
- Typically purchased and supported by Penn State IT or a sponsoring college or campus on behalf of the entire University.
- Usually a permanent addition to the software suite.
Course Software
- Software or plugins needed to teach a specific class/course.
- Installed in specific classrooms or in a limited number of computer labs (if freeware, open source, or unlimited site license, may be installed in all locations).
- Purchased by the department and supported by the requesting instructor.
- A request must be made each semester to keep our information up to date.
How to Submit a Request
To submit a software request, an instructor (or staff member working on behalf of an instructor) should complete the following steps.
Review Software Guidelines
- Review our Software List of currently installed software.
- Review the Software Installation Guidelines.
- Review the University Software Purchases guidelines.
Gather the Required Materials
- A completed PDF copy of the University’s Purchasing Software Request Form.
- PDF copy or link to the software’s Terms of Use and/or End User Licensing Agreement (EULA).
- If the software is purchased from a vendor, PDF copies or links to proof of purchase and licensing information (including any keys or license server information).
- Links to downloads of the software installers, preferably from the vendor’s website.
Submit a Request
After reviewing the various Software Guidelines above and Gathering the Required Materials, an instructor (or a staff member working on behalf of an instructor) may submit a request: