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How to Access Microsoft Office 365

Overview

McLennan Community College provides access to Microsoft Office 365 based on your current status with the college. Your access level will change automatically depending on whether you are a current, future, or inactive student or a current full-time or part-time employee.

Getting Started

Your Office 365 access level depends on your enrollment or employment status. Please review the access levels associated with each status listed below to determine if you can access Microsoft Office 365 via a web browser or use the installed desktop applications.

 After identifying your status, please refer to the Using Microsoft Office 365 section below.

Student Access

Current Students

If you are currently enrolled and taking classes at MCC, you will have full access to Microsoft Office 365 including both the online versions and the desktop applications.

  • Includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.
  • Can be installed on up to 5 personal devices.
  • Access is automatically granted once you are attending classes.
Future Students

If you are an incoming student who has registered for classes, but you have not yet started them, you will only have access to the web-based version of Microsoft Office 365.

  • Office Online includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in your browser.
  • Desktop installations are not available until you are attending classes.
Inactive Students

If you are a student who has taken a class within the last year, but not currently registered for a class, you will only have access to the web-based version of Microsoft Office 365. Make sure to save any important documents elsewhere once you have completed your courses at McLennan Community College (see the Termination of Access section below for more information).

  • Office Online includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in your browser.
  • Desktop installations are not available until you are attending classes.
Former Students

Students who have not attended classes in over 365 days will no longer have access to Office 365.

Employee Access

Full-Time Staff and Faculty

Full-time staff and faculty will have full access to Microsoft Office 365 including both the online versions and the desktop applications.

  • Includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.
  • Can be installed on up to 5 personal devices.
Part-Time or Adjunct Instructor

Part-time and Adjunct instructors will only have access to the web-based version of Microsoft Office 365.

  • Office Online includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in your browser.
  • Desktop installations are not available. 

Using Microsoft Office 365

Using Office 365 Online

Office 365 Online lets you access your files and applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint from any device with the Internet, so you are never stuck at one location. Your work is automatically saved in the cloud, so you do not have to worry about losing anything. It is also easy to collaborate with others in real-time and since everything updates automatically, you always have the latest features and security.

  1. Go to www.office.com on any device or computer.
  2. Sign in to www.office.com on the device with your MCC email address (e.g. ab0123456@students.mclennan.edu) and current MCC password.
    • Note: If your MCC password is not allowing you to sign in, try resetting your MCC password to force a sync to the account.
  3. Click Apps.
  4. Click OneDrive to view your files or other applications like Word or Excel.
  5. Need to upload a document to upload a file from Office 365 Online to Brightspace? Check out our Downloading Office 365 document to upload to Brightspace article.

Using the Office 365 Desktop Apps

If you are a current student and already have Office 365 programs like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint installed on your computer, you can activate them by signing in with your MCC email address and current MCC password. To install the desktop apps (please note the install option will only be available with the current student license), follow the steps below:

  1. Sign in to www.office.com on the device with your MCC email address (e.g. ab0123456@students.mclennan.edu) and current MCC password.
  2. Select 'Apps' on the left menu bar.
  3. Click the Install apps button at the top right to start the download/install.
  4. Sign in to one of the apps using your Microsoft 365 account to activate the license. If asked to Allow my organization to manage my device, uncheck the box on personal-owned device before clicking OK!
Compatibility
  • If you are on a Mac and do not see the Install apps button on the home screen, navigate away from the page and then go back to it. It may take a few minutes and a refresh for the button to appear after initial sign-up.
  • There are also Office 365 mobile app versions that you can download from the App Store/Play Store.  You will sign into the apps with your new Microsoft 365 account. Unfortunately, the desktop/mobile app versions are not supported on Chromebooks.

License Agreement

Office 365 accounts are intended for active MCC employees/students.

Microsoft Office 365 accounts are active for employees while you are actively employed.

Termination of Access

It is not recommended to use this account for long-term personal use or to link it with third-party services such as social media, medical portals, banking, etc. 

  • Office 365 access and all associated data will be deleted based on the following:
    • For employees, upon the end of your employment. 
    • For students, after a 12-month period without any active courses.
  • Upon leaving MCC, be sure to update any account, associated with or linked to your Office 365 account, to your personal email address. You can find more information about saving your data at Former Student Account Deletion: What to Know and How to Save Your Data.

Help & Learning Resources

Search topics at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us

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