The MU Bookstore is offering students a chance to purchase Microsoft software and updates during their stay at MU for $65.

The Microsoft “Up-To-Date” program is available for students through Tiger Tech in the bookstore.

Students who participate in the program will receive Microsoft Office 2010 for Windows, Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac and Windows 7 operating system. They will also be eligible for free upgrades as long as they are enrolled at MU.

The program has been available for about two weeks, but the Division of Information Technology hopes to inform students about the program.

“Not all of the marketing has gone out yet,” Director of Desktop Technologies Kevin Bailey said. “We’re working with (the Missouri Students Association) to get a mass-mail-out to students.”

The option is currently listed on Tiger Tech’s website.

The program is very cost-effective, Bailey said. Office 2011 for Mac is $75.

“If someone wanted to keep up to date with that, it would be another $75,” Bailey said. “It’s cheaper in the long run.”

Although the MU School of Journalism requires students to use Apple products, Bailey said he doesn’t think Apple users will hinder the program.

“When Office 2011 for Mac came out, the sales of that through the bookstore were pretty high,” he said.

In [a previous Maneater article](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2011/12/9/possible-microsoft-student-option-supported-msa/), MSA Senate Speaker Jake Sloan was not concerned that MU’s Apple-loyal student body would affect the productiveness of the program.

Bailey said he expects even Apple users to see the “Up-To-Date” program as more cost-effective.

Before the program was launched, DoIT considered offering a graduated price scale, in which freshmen paid more for the program than a senior.

“We went back and forth,” Bailey said. “What we’re trying to do for the initial period is to offer all students that are here now the same price.”

Bailey said he hopes to see sales rise during Summer Welcome.

“We are going to market it pretty heavily to the incoming freshmen at Summer Welcome,” he said. “Every year thereafter we’ll make sure that all the incoming freshmen know about it.”