The ESRI Development Center (EDC) program provides recognition and special status to university departments at institutions with a campus-wide ESRI Site License 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 qualify for more than one EDC on a campus.
See details below for benefit, qualification, and application questions Please note that some provisions* may need to be modified for EDC locations outside of the United States. If you are a university outside of the US, please contact your local Distributor for questions about the EDC program.
Installation of ArcGIS ArcInfo and ArcGIS Server software on students’ personal computers while they are enrolled in the EDC program. Use must comply with terms of use as specified in Site License.
Creation of a lending library of media consisting of five EDN software subscription sets including ArcGIS ArcInfo plus 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]
ESRI provides a “Student of the Year” Award including a Certificate and US$500 scholarship for one Outstanding Student in each EDC program. In addition, two Outstanding Students will be chosen by ESRI from all EDC locations to attend the ESRI User Conference and be recognized during the Special Achievement Awards event and will be reimbursed for up to US$2,000 each for travel expenses.
A permanent plaque will be provided by ESRI to be displayed in the Center with a place for the Center to inscribe the names of Students of the Year.
One standard telephone ESRI Tech Support contact for the EDC manager*.
Two complimentary registrations to the ESRI Developer Summit (faculty or student) per year.
Two complimentary ESRI instructor-led courses per year for EDC faculty or staff at ESRI Redlands or Regional Offices within the United States*.
Special recognition for students completing the EDC program when applying for ESRI internships at the corporate headquarters in Redlands, California
Opportunities to build a close relationship with the ESRI Software Development team through activities and networking events sponsored by ESRI for EDC faculty and students.
Have or be part of an ESRI Higher Education Site License Agreement and agree to comply with the terms of the agreement. Secure a support letter from the Site License Administrator agreeing to the creation of an EDC.
Have sufficient faculty and staff with competence in GIS and computer science/IT who will actively participate in EDC and its goals.
Currently offer advanced level courses that provide education and training in the development of GIS tools, integration with computer science, support application development and workflows using ESRI platforms. 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 advanced GIScience and/or GI technologies.
Once approved, an EDC will be required to:
Submit a 500-word (maximum) yearly report describing the program, due 30 days prior to the end of the academic year (no later than June 1). The report should highlight activities, programs and any development work and may link to online materials or website created from activities by the EDC and be sent to highered@esri.com.
On or before April 1 of each Calendar Year, send a 250 work report about the EDC Student of the Year. The report should include the full name (as it will appear on the award Certificate), mailing address, phone and email address of the student, and should highlight the reasons the student was selected to receive the Student of the Year Award.
Request renewal of EDC status on a three-year cycle by updating the information included in the initial application. ESRI reserves the right to decline renewals if sufficient EDC activity has not been demonstrated.
Applications should include (within a 10-page limit) the information listed below. This document should be named "(institution name) EDC Application" (e.g., University of Redlands EDC Application) and be sent as a PDF to highered@esri.com.
Name of institution – Full Official Name
Full mailing address
EDC Program Coordinator – Name, title, 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 materials (not a Post Office Box), contact name, department, email and phone and FAX number
List of faculty who would 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.)
Number of students currently enrolled 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 (typically department chair)
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.
Deadlines for applications are February 1 and October 1 of each year. Applications will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt, and applicants will be notified of their status as soon thereafter as possible. 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 may take an additional 3-6 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 to allow for creation and mailing of the award Certificate. It will be the responsibility of the EDC to add (engrave) the name of each recognized student to the plaque.
While the EDC amendment allows for the creation of ArcGIS based applications as part of the university learning experience, such applications cannot be deployed in any conditions which violate the terms of the general university site license agreement. EDCs wishing to deploy applications will need to sign a different license agreement and obey those terms and conditions.
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. An online EDC community forum provides a space for EDC participants to chat and exchange ideas and help answer common questions. Finally, ESRI will endeavor to organize events designed to bring EDC participants and ESRI developers together, such as for example a special meeting at the DevSummit or at ESRI User Conference.
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. Furthermore ESRI’s intention is to help meet the growing need throughout society, for experienced GIS application developers.
Q: Is there a cost to participating in the EDC program? A: There is no Fee to ESRI to become 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, EDCs 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.
