Recent communications regarding NVivo licenses have raised questions several of you. We wish to update you on the situation in the advisory below.
Summary
An initial communication announced that the University of Ottawa would move to a chargeback model for new NVivo licenses on July 1, leaving professors, librarians and students to bear the cost of their licences. About a month later, a communication included an update that these changes have been pushed back to 2027. Accordingly, existing NVivo licences have been renewed, and new licence requests will continue to be provided free of charge until further notice.
More Information
A June 25 communication from the IT Department to IT workers across all faculties announced that University of Ottawa would be adopting a chargeback model for new NVivo licenses starting July 1. This move would download the cost of NVivo license to academic staff and students. The communication noted that the change resulted from NVivo’s price increases and decision to shift away from free institution-wide licensing.
Members contacted the APUO to share their concerns and we reached out to our colleagues at the University of Ottawa IT Professionals union (UOITP) for more information. We learned that changes to NVivo licensing would be delayed to 2027. This was confirmed in a July 31 communication to the Faculty of Health Sciences.
You are always welcome to share information and concerns with your union. It helps us organize, respond strategically, and build the power needed to push back. We cannot do this without you!