Adobe Creative Cloud

What is changing?
Named User License
Shared Device License
Installation Instructions
Work-At-Home Functionality
Online Training

What is changing?

Adobe has changed their licensing model from Serial number licensing (having a serial number on a TCU-owned computer) to either a Named User License (NUL) or a Shared Device License (SDL). Here is an overview of what each license is.

Named User Licenses – This is a license that gives you the ability to download and install Adobe CC products on your TCU-owned machines. This is currently assigned to the following individuals:
- Current Full-Time Faculty (this does not include adjunct faculty)
- Users that are part of our Adobe Exceptions group that have submitted a TCU-business case to request access to an NUL.
- Named License users can login to Adobe on both NUL and SDL machines while users with a Shared Device License can only login to Adobe on machines with a SDL version of Adobe.
Shared Devices Licenses – This is a license that gives you access to login to a pre-installed version of Adobe and is used on shared devices like lab computers, teacher’s stations, and conference rooms. This is currently assigned to the following individuals:
- Current Full-Time Staff (exempt and non-exempt), associates, adjuncts, temp staff employees, student workers and current students.
- You must request that an SDL version of Adobe be installed on your machine and you will not be able to manage install apps on your own or update the version without working through the IT Support HelpDesk.

Note: Named License users can login to Adobe on both NUL and SDL machines while users with a Shared Device License can only login to Adobe on machines with a SDL version of Adobe.

Keep in mind that Adobe Acrobat Reader has already been pushed out to campus machines and you can easily open/view pdfs, fill our pdf forms, and sign pdfs with this free version of the software. You do not need Adobe Acrobat Pro in order to do most of the basic things that people use a pdf viewer/reader for.

Named User License

Current Full-Time Faculty + those that have been granted access by exception are licensed under the Named User Licensing. The Named User Licensing ties the usage of Adobe apps and services to an individual user. Computers must connect to Adobe servers for initial activation, and then at least once every 99 days. End users can sign in with their credentials to access the apps and services.

Named licenses require periodic Internet connectivity.
Computers must connect to Adobe servers for initial activation, and then at least once every 99 days.
End users can sign in with their credentials to access the apps and services through Single Sign-On
Users can install/activate Adobe Creative Cloud software on up to 2 devices simultaneously

Named User Device Environments

TCU-owned computers assigned to current Faculty/Staff members (non-shared computers)
Personal computers (Work-at-Home functionality)

Warning – You are limited to using Adobe CC on two devices at the same time with a named user device license.

Named License users can login to Adobe on both NUL and SDL machines while users with a Shared Device License can only login to Adobe on machines with a SDL version of Adobe.

Shared Device License

Locations with shared computers (i.e. labs and classrooms) are licensed under the Shared Device License (SDL). Current students, associates, adjuncts, current exempt and non-exempt staff. are assigned the Shared Device license and can login to Adobe on these machines (see the note under the NUL section for student workers). The SDL is a huge leap forward in the experience that students and faculty/staff have when accessing Adobe products in shared-device environments. Once you open a Adobe CC product in one of these environments you will be prompted to login with your TCU credentials.

Note: These machines will prompt you every 90 minutes if you are using a Adobe product for that long to verify that you are still the same user.

Shared Device Environments

Computer Labs
Classroom Computers
Shared Laptop or Desktop Machines

Named License users can login to Adobe on both NUL and SDL machines while users with a Shared Device License can only login to Adobe on machines with a SDL version of Adobe.

TCU Owned Departmental Computers for Student Workers

- Note: This requires the student to use their SW account and that the account has had email added which is not done by default and may have to be requested.

Installation Instructions

Please, follow the instructions below to get a NUL or SDL version of Adobe Creative Cloud installed on a device.

Named User License (NUL)

These instructions will walk you through how to install the named user license on a windows or mac computer (TCU-owned or personal for work-at-home purposes).

Warning – You are limited to using Adobe CC on two devices at the same time with a named user device license.

Shared Device License (SDL)

Shared Device Licenses are already installed in labs, classrooms, and some group access areas. If you need a computer to have a SDL, please reach out to the IT Support HelpDesk to put in a request to have and SDL version of Adobe Creative Cloud installed.

Note: SDLs can only be installed on TCU owned devices.

Work at Home Functionality

Users that have access to an Adobe CC Named User License (NUL) can install this software on their personal devices at home to be used solely for TCU business purposes. This benefit comes at no cost but there are limitations to what this can be used for and in how many places it can be used at any given time.

Visit our Adobe Work-at-Home page to learn more about how you can take advantage of this toolset.

Note: Keep in mind that support for personal devices is limited so much of the work that you do on these devices will be on your own.

Get Online Training

Keep in mind that support for Adobe products is limited and learning to use the products requires that you invest time in training/research. Employees will be expected to learn how to utilize the products themselves.

Check out the following Adobe CC tutorials for additional assistance: