Membership FAQ

How can I reset my password?

To reset your password, please go to My IBM registration.  You will need to have your user ID and the answer to your secret question. You must either reset your password online or go the IBM Registration Help Desk for assistance.

What should I do if I have forgotten my user ID or the answer to my secret question?

For all questions related to user IDs and secret questions, please go to the IBM Registration Help Desk.

If your country is not listed on that page, you can call the US and Canada number for help in English at  +1 888 426 4409  or  +1 303 262 5669.  You may also send an email to ERCHELP@ca.ibm.com.

Why do I need an Academic Initiative user ID and password?

Some valuable resources on the IBM Academic Initiative site are only available to members.  You will need a user ID and password to access these resources, which include software and courseware downloads.

Who can join the Academic Initiative?

IBM Academic Initiative membership is open to faculty and research professionals at accredited institutions of higher education and members of standards organizations, all over the globe. Membership is granted on an individual basis. There is no limit on the number of members at an institution that can join.

What is the difference between membership for faculty and for members of standards organizations?

The membership privileges are the same, but the applications are different. Faculty and research professionals must specify their academic institution and their plans for using our resources. Members of standards organizations must be working directly with a standards organization to develop standards, and must specify information about their project or subcommittee, how they plan to use IBM Academic Initiative resources for standards-related activities, and the expected results.

An accredited institution is one that is publicly or privately funded and can be defined by one the following:

• University or college that offers education leading to nationally-recognized qualifications or levels of academic achievement, and that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting council, commission, appropriate government agency, or board of education of the state or country in which the educational institution is located.
  
• Teaching hospital associated with an accredited institution.
  
• Research institution or consortia comprised of accredited institutions.
  
• Primary, elementary or secondary school, funded either publicly or privately, in which education is the principal objective leading to nationally-recognized qualifications or levels of academic achievement, and that is accredited by national or regional councils or agencies to deliver education.

Notes:
Individuals associated with non-profit research institutions may apply for Academic Initiative membership. These institutions must be predominantly research-oriented and must have demonstrable ties to the academic community. Some examples of qualifying institutions are those associated with teaching hospitals, non-profit think tanks that publish their works in publicly-accessible journals, or publicly-funded research institutions, etc. .

Individuals associated with standards development at select standards organizations are also eligible to apply for Academic Initiative membership. Applications will be evaluated based on information provided in the application, including subcommittee worked on, time period of the project, information on how IBM Academic Initiative resources are being used for standards-related activities, and a description of the results expected from this work, including how the results will be published.

In both cases, due to the unique nature of such institutions, IBM reserves the right to make the final judgment on whether or not an institution qualifies for membership.

What does it cost to join the Academic Initiative?

Our membership and the majority of its benefits are available at no-charge. This includes the ability to download selected IBM products, technology, and courseware, plus discounts on IBM Professional Certification tests, remote access to certain hardware systems, participation in technical webcasts, and much more.

What are the benefits of joining?

The IBM Academic Initiative provides its members with access to IBM software and courseware materials for teaching, learning, and non-commercial research. Members can download a wide variety of IBM and open source products and technologies, at no cost.  They can also access a wealth of information to learn about these products and technologies, incorporate them in their curricula, and connect with others members who are using them.

How can I join the IBM Academic Initiative?

You can join the IBM Academic Initiative by completing a two-step process.

** Step One 
In this step, you create your universal IBM user ID and password that will allow you to become a member of the Academic Initiative.

** Step Two
Next , you submit the IBM Academic Initiative membership application form that provides more information about you, your institution, and the courses you teach.  (You need to complete Step One and have an IBM user ID and password before proceeding with this step.)  After completing this step, most applicants will receive an email from IBM granting provisional membership.  Some applicants may receive a second email requesting further information.

Be sure to read and understand the IBM Academic Initiative Program Agreement for your country. You must agree to the Program Agreement as part of the membership application and terms of the program. 

How long does it take for my membership to be approved?

In many countries, after you submit your application in Step Two, you will automatically be granted provisional membership into our program, subject to validation of your role at your institution. If we need additional information from you to validate your role, we will contact you; otherwise your membership will be approved without further notification.

Some countries also require an additional review or require a hardcopy signed agreement. In these cases, it will take longer for your membership to be approved. If you are applying in one of these countries, you might be contacted by an IBM Academic Initiative representative for additional details. We have indicated which countries require hardcopy agreements with an asterisk (*) next the country name on the Program Agreement page.

The process for approving applications for standards members is different and might take up to 5 weeks

Is there a limit to how many members per institution can join?

There is no limit to the number of authorized members per institution that can join the Academic Initiative.

How long does the membership last?

Membership in the IBM Academic Initiative is active for one year. Twice a year, you will be asked to provide information to renew your membership and extend it for an additional 12 month period.

What if I applied for membership and am unable to access protected sections of the site?

One of two things might be causing this:

If you are in a country that requires further information before your membership can be approved, it might take several weeks.  Please be patient.

If you are NOT in a country that requires further information, you might not have completed both steps of the application process.  After completing both steps of our process, you should receive an email from IBM welcoming you to the program. If you have not received this email, it's possible that you have not completed the entire application process.  You must complete steps one AND two before you will have access to download courses or software.  For more information, refer to our membership details.

How do I renew my membership?

To renew your membership, please go to our membership renewal form.  After specifying your affiliation and logging in, you will be asked to provide information such as which IBM products and courseware you use, which courses you teach, ,and the number of students in your classes. You will receive an email reminder to submit this information every 6 months. Upon submission, your membership will be extended an additional 12 month period.

You can also renew at any time.  Look for the Renew membership link on our home page.

Can my Academic Initiative membership by cancelled?

You may cancel your membership at any time by notifying IBM by email.

IBM may cancel your membership if it is determined that you no longer qualify for the offering.  If you or IBM cancels your membership, you may continue to use the products you have received under this initiative according to the terms under which you enrolled. You will not be eligible for membership renewal, software upgrades, or technical support.