Microsoft to give out development tools to students | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

Historically, Microsoft's free development tool software program for students has been controlled by computer science departments.  This has probably been one of multiple reasons that comp sci students have disproportionately taken advantage of Microsoft's previous free software program for students.  Now, there's a new program, called DreamSpark, that seems like it will reduce the administrative burden for schools and students while also effectively extending the opportunity to get free development software to students in all types of college and university programs (something that was already allowed, but didn't get used as much as you might expect). 

If you've read my posts on computing as a liberal art, you can guess I think this is a great thing!  :-)

As a coincidence, I happen to sit right next to one of the guys on Microsoft's "academic team" who is intimate with this program.  We've chatted about it a couple of times over the course of the last few months, and one of the challenges he's mentioned to me revolves around the student verification process -- that is, how to verify who is a student eligible for the free software.  As with any ambitious program there may be some hiccups in the beginning -- especially around the student verification process since there's no real repository of "all students" -- but for most folks, the process should "just work".  Just in case, consider packing an extra helping of patience if you're planning to go get your software today.  :-) 

Also, you can see BillG talk about DreamSpark in this video here.