The ESRI Development Center (EDC) program provides recognition and special status to university departments that have exemplary programs focused on educating students to design and develop GIS applications using ESRI's ArcGIS desktop or server technology. This can include programs that help students advance and extend ESRI's ArcGIS software or provide training in system integration and application development within a particular domain.
Students enrolled in EDC programs will be given special access to ESRI software and have opportunities to be recognized for their accomplishments.
An EDC can be housed in one department or be a multidisciplinary, stand-alone GIS center. Large universities may have a need for more than one EDC on a campus.
See details below for benefit, qualification, and application questions.
Subscription to the ESRI Developer Network (EDN) program through the institution’s site license agreement with the addition of five EDN media sets and 10 hardware keys (additional hardware keys can be purchased if required)
Permission to use the ESRI EDC logo on promotional materials (e.g., a Web page and marketing materials) and on materials acknowledging student achievements in the EDC program (e.g., certificates, awards) as outlined in the EDC Logo Trademark Guidelines. [PDF]
ArcGIS ArcInfo licenses for students enrolled in the EDC program for educational use on their personal computers
One additional faculty or staff designated telephone Tech Support contact for the EDC
Two complimentary registrations to the ESRI Developer Summit (faculty or student)
A Student of the Year award certificate for an outstanding student in the EDC program (including an ESRI Press Book)
A plaque to be displayed in the Center with a place for the name of the Student of the Year
Two complimentary ESRI instructor-led courses per year for EDC faculty or staff
Special recognition for students completing the EDC programs when applying for ESRI internships at the corporate headquarters in Redlands, California
Have or be part of an ESRI Higher Education Site License Agreement and agree to comply with the terms of the agreement.
Have faculty and staff with competence in GIS and computer science/IT.
Offer advanced level workshops or courses that provide education and training in the development of GIS tools, applications, and workflows using ESRI platform. These courses and workshops can be part of a degree program or offered through a tertiary-level continuing education program.
Offer a certificate, minor, or degree with curriculum elements that relate to advancing GIScience.
Once approved, an EDC will need to
Send a 500-word (maximum) yearly report about the program, due 30 days prior to the end of the academic year, including the name and mailing address of the student to receive the Student of the Year award.
Renew the EDC status on a three-year cycle by updating the information included in the initial application.
Applications should include (within a 10-page limit) the information listed below. This document should be named "(institution name) EDC Application" and be sent as a PDF highered@esri.com (e.g., University of Redlands EDC Application).
Name of institution – Full Official Name
Full mailing address
EDC Program Coordinator – Name, Department, address, email and phone and FAX number
EDC Tech Support Contact – Name, Department, address, email and phone and FAX number
Full shipping address for EDC (not a Post Office Box), name, department, email and phone and FAX number
List of faculty who will be part of the EDC (including a short bio of at least three faculty members)
Short description of the facilities available to the EDC (laboratory, hardware, software, data, support staff, etc.)
How many students are currently in GIS-related programs or anticipated to be served by the EDC
Short description of course offerings related to GIS and geospatial technologies (include URL, if available for current courses or programs)
Letter of approval/commitment from a university administrator
Letter of support from the ESRI site license administrator
Short narrative of why the university wants to have an EDC including plans about the center and promotion of the program
Applications (with copies of letters of support) in PDF format should be sent by email to highered@esri.com for review by ESRI. Applications from outside the U.S. will be reviewed by the appropriate ESRI Distributor.
The initial open application period for the EDC Program will continue until November 14, 2008. Applications will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt, and applicants will be notified of their status as soon thereafter as possible. After the initial enrollment period, applications will be accepted twice a year – in January and in June.
Approved EDC locations will have their ESRI Site License agreement amended to allow students to use the EDN Software Library and ArcInfo on their personal computers. The amendment will be sent to the Site License Administrator for signature.
After the amendment is received by ESRI, the software and other materials will be delivered to the EDC at the shipping address specified in the application. (The Student of the Year plaque will take an additional 6 months for delivery).
Software licenses provided through the EDC program will have license terms that coincide with the institution’s Site License renewal date. Software keycodes and authorization files will be issued by the EDC Program Coordinator.
The Student of the Year award will be awarded at the end of the first academic year after acceptance into the program. The EDC site will need to submit names and addresses to ESRI at least 30 days prior to the end of the academic year for creation and mailing of the award Certificate. It will be the responsibility of the EDC to add the name of the recognized student to the plaque.
Q: What are the criteria used by ESRI in the approval process? A: While there is no check list of specific criteria that must be met to become an EDC, an EDC applicant should be teaching advanced courses integrating GIS, computer science and IT concepts that allow students to create, design or develop applications or extensions of ESRI desktop or server products, or to develop enterprise systems for the integration of GIS across an enterprise. An EDC must have faculty, staff, hardware and other support to allow students to do advanced GIScience research and development using ESRI platforms.
Q: What are the requirements for acceptance as an EDC? A: The Campus must have a campus wide Site License, obtain a letter of support from university administration, and obtain a letter of approval of the Site License Administrator. Once accepted, the Site License Administrator must sign an amendment to their ESRI Site License to allow students to install ESRI software on the students’ personal computers. The EDC must also make the EDN Software Library and the ArcInfo Install Kit available to students (check out and return to the EDC) to enable students to install software on their personal computers. Finally, the EDC must ensure that the students follow the software use terms of the Site License (use is restricted to non-profit, non-commercial educational use).
Q: What will ESRI do to support EDCs? A: The program includes two instructor lead training courses per year and two complimentary passes to the ESRI Development Summit. ESRI will also supply an award Certificate for the Student of the Year.
Q: Why is ESRI starting this program? A: Use of GIS is only limited by the ability of users to incorporate it into their workflows. This limitation is often due to the lack of well trained and educated students in the technology. ESRI wants to recognize and support programs that help expand the use of GIS technology.
Q: Is there a cost to participating in the EDC program? A: There is no Fee to ESRI to be an EDC.
Q: What does my university need to do to maintain its EDC status? A: EDCs should continue to offer advanced programs for education and training in GIS using ESRI software and integrating computer science and IT concepts to create applications and extend the use of GIS during the 3-year term. EDCs must provide an annual status report describing their activities. EDCs also will be expected to select a student each year to receive an award, and submit that student’s name to ESRI.
Q: I would like to contact other EDCs to share ideas. Is there a list of EDCs available? A: ESRI will be developing a list of EDC programs and link it from the EDC web page. It is also anticipated that special Tracks at the ESRI Developer Summit and UC will be devoted to EDC-related projects. ESRI encourages EDC programs to collaborate and looks forward to any suggestions on how to help facilitate these activities.
Q: If I need additional technical support, what are my options? A: The EDC program provides one Authorized Caller for ESRI Technical Support per Center. This is in addition to the Authorized Callers for the institution’s site license.
EDCs also have access to the ESRI Support Center, including the ESRI Knowledge Base and User Forums.
In addition, ECDs have access to the ESRI Developer Network Web site, which provides support resources for developers, including API documentation, technical articles, monitored user-to-user discussion forums, and sample code exchange.
In cases where additional support is needed, EDN subscribers can purchase a block of 10 developer support incidents/calls for a fee.
Q: If I create an application or extension, how can I distribute it? A: EDC software licenses are for development and testing purposes only, and no commercial use is allowed. In the event that a viable product is developed, commercial licenses must be acquired for commercialization and deployment of that product.
Q: How many licenses of EDN and ArcInfo can be distributed to students and what are the qualifications to be allowed access to the software? A: While there is not set limit on the number of EDN and ArcInfo licenses for students, each students must be registered at the university and be in programs (courses or research projects) overseen by the EDC. Faculty and staff must provide support for the students and advise them of the terms of the Site License (educational purposes only, no commercial use).
For more information on this program, please contact highered@esri.com.
