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Remote Learning Guide: Microsoft 365 software

Microsoft Office 365 Installation Guides

Installation instructions for personal devices only. College-loaned Technology Access Program laptops for students will have these apps installed already, although it may take some time to load after initial setup steps are completed.

Check Compatibility and Uninstall existing Microsoft Office programs

Uninstalling previous versions is recommended by Microsoft. Keep your reinstall info for the previous version in case you ever want to reinstall it. This college Microsoft 365 is only valid while you are a student at the college.

How To Install Microsoft 365 - PC (Windows)

Latest version apps - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, Access, Outlook, and more. 

Log in to your Madison College student email account. Please note instructions may vary slightly depending on device and settings:

  • Click on the waffle menu in the top left Waffle menu select More apps in the menuMore apps in apps menu
  • Select the Home icon in the top left corner

Home icon

  • Choose Install and more then Microsoft 365 Apps and follow the on-screen instructions, generally choosing the default settings. Install and more
  • If a run/save box appears, ​select Run.  Step through the options, choosing Yes, Accept, or Next as prompted.
  • You may see a message - "Office is installing in the background" along with the percent complete. 
  • Do not turn off your computer or disconnect from the Internet until installation has completed. 
  • Sign In using your Madison College email address and password. 
  • Select "Organizational Account" or "Institutional Account" if prompted. Do not select Microsoft Account. 
  • When the confirmation message appears, your Office install is complete. 

Check Compatibility and Uninstall existing Microsoft Office programs

Uninstalling previous versions is recommended by Microsoft. Keep your reinstall info for the previous version in case you ever want to reinstall it. This college Office 365 is only valid while you are a student at the college.

How To ​Install Microsoft 365 - MAC 

Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, OneNote M365 apps on Mac

Microsoft does not have versions of Access or Publisher for MAC. Use your virtual desktop if you need those applications. 

You may see some different options depending on your MAC OS.  

  • Login to your Madison College student email account.
  • Choose the waffle menu in the top left. waffle menu icon
  • Select More apps in the app menu that appears.Outlook apps menu
  • Select the Home icon in the top left corner Home icon
  • Choose Install and more then Microsoft 365 Apps and finally Install Office to launch the download of the installer file.install and more 
  • When the download completes, launch the installer from your downloads.
  • You'll be guided through a series of steps - generally choose Continue, Yes, Agree, Next or Install if prompted. If prompted for an administrator's name and password, this will be your the admin name and password for your mac.

When installation is complete, you should see a screen that says the Installation was Successful. Select Close. ​

Choose Sign in to an existing Microsoft 365 subscription. Select Organizational account if you get a screen with that option - Important! 

To activate and sign in, select one of the Office apps from Finder - Applications.

Enter your Madison College email address and password.

You're now ready to use Mac versions of Office programs. 

If you are no longer using Microsoft 365 on a particular computer or device you can deactivate an installation. You can also check your installations. 

After adding apps

  • ​Sign in using your Madison College email address (username@madisoncollege.edu)
  • If prompted, select Organizational Account
  • Use your Madison College account password

Microsoft apps for Chromebooks

Using a compatible Chromebook, you can access Microsoft 365 apps for the web. These are web apps - not the "full" Microsoft software.

Sign into the app with your Madison College email address (username@madisoncollege.edu).

Options and Assignments

For some courses, you may be able to use Google Chromebook apps (such as Google Docs), online apps, or Microsoft apps to view files from your instructor or work on assignments such as papers, presentations or spreadsheets. Be sure to follow your assignment instructions.

Save as an acceptable format following your assignment instructions. You may need to download or save the file to a storage location before adding as an attachment in email or uploading to Brightspace. 

Business Software Courses (Word, Excel, etc)

Microsoftt 365 apps for the web are not the "full" Microsoft Windows software - so you cannot use the apps for a business software course at Madison College. For example, our Microsoft Word courses require the full software package on a Windows platform.

Workaround - option 1: Check out a laptop from the Technology Access Program at the College for the duration of your business software course to use the "full" versions of the software.

Workaround - option 2: Use the virtual desktops on a Chromebook (or MAC) to access Microsoft software Windows versions - choose quick browser / Omnissa Horizon HTML Access.

Free Office Apps for Current Students

Microsoft Office 365

  • FREE Microsoft Office programs for current Madison College students, faculty, and staff
  • PC/Windows, MAC, mobile
  • Full versions of software including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and more
  • Install on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 smartphones
  • Stays up to date with the latest releases from Microsoft
  • When you graduate or are not taking classes, your Microsoft 365 subscription will end and you will no longer be able to use the software for free. Your saved files will still be available. 

Virtual desktops have Microsoft Office already installed.

Use your Madison College email address to sign in to Microsoft Office 365 

If you previously used a version of Microsoft Office, even a trial version, or use another Microsoft account, you may need to sign out of that account before signing in with your Madison College account. The license for your subscription is tied to your College email.

Offline Access - You can use the software offline. However, you must connect to the Internet once every 30 days to verify you are still eligible for the program. 

Access after graduation or when no longer enrolled - When you graduate or are not taking classes, your Microsoft 365 subscription will end and you will no longer be able to use the software for free. You will not be able to edit files, but may still be able to view your locally saved files. You could choose to purchase a consumer version.

Existing Purchases or Subscriptions - If you purchased or subscribed to a version of Microsoft Office, you can continue to use that instead. Students are not required to install or use Microsoft 365 through the College. Refunds or reimbursements are not available.

Microsoft Office 365

Current students, faculty and staff get Microsoft Office 365 for FREE.

View download and installation instructions

Microsoft Office 365 apps

Adobe Creative Cloud Adobe Creative Cloud logo

Adobe also offers Creative Cloud at a discounted rate for students, if you prefer to purchase your own subscription.

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Edit PDFsadobe acrobat logo

Current students have access to Adobe Acrobat Pro DC through their virtual desktop.

Additional Software and Resources

Other retailers may have educational discounts available. You may be asked to show your student ID (OneCard) or supply a valid college email address.