Vendor Free

There are a multitude of open source options available today and nearly all of them are free.  Open Source Solutions are designed with a different motive than proprietary business products.  Open Source Solutions are designed to accomplish a task, not to make a profit, and more often than not the support comes free, directly from the developers of the product rather than a help desk consultant. These products are often designed to be custom tailored to fit your specific needs, anything from custom themes and templates to custom data fields can be added.   

During this presentation we will discuss the theory and meaning of Open Source, as well as discussing where and how best to obtain open source products. We will mention some of the big players in the open source community and their practical application in a university setting.  We will also talk about some the drawbacks of open source and how to determine if these products are right for your institution based on the type of technical resources you have available.