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Drexel will retire its institution-wide license for Maple, a mathematical software platform, on June 30, 2027. Maple will remain available to current users during the transition period, providing faculty and students time to plan for the change.
Drexel will continue to provide and support Mathematica and MATLAB as mathematical software platforms for teaching, learning, and research. Mathematica and MATLAB are widely used across current teaching and research.
About this change
- Maple will remain available through June 30, 2027.
- Faculty may continue using Maple in existing courses during the transition period. No immediate changes to course materials are required.
- Faculty developing new courses or projects are encouraged to consider Mathematica for symbolic and conceptual work or MATLAB for numerical computing and modeling.
- Drexel will continue to support Mathematica and MATLAB.
- Faculty interested in transitioning existing course materials may request guidance and consultation from our Academic & Research Technology team.
- After the institution-wide Maple license ends, individual Maple licenses will remain available to faculty and students at discounted pricing directly from Maplesoft.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Drexel retiring the Maple license and not Mathematica or MATLAB?
Mathematica and MATLAB remain widely used in current teaching and research. Maple usage has become limited and continues to decline, with use concentrated in a relatively small number of courses.
Is Maple obsolete?
No. Maple remains a capable mathematical software platform. This change reflects Drexel's current usage patterns and institutional priorities rather than a judgment about the software's quality.
Do I need to change my course materials now?
No. Existing Maple-based courses may continue unchanged during the transition period.
Is this change driven by cost?
Cost stewardship is a factor, but the primary drivers are usage patterns, overlap in functionality, and long-term sustainability.
What support is available if I want to transition from Maple?
Drexel provides access to Mathematica and MATLAB, along with individual guidance and consultation. For assistance with transitioning from Maple, contact artech@drexel.edu.
What happens after the transition period?
After June 30, 2027, Drexel's institution-wide Maple license will be retired, and Maple will no longer be provided as institutionally licensed software. Drexel will continue to provide and support Mathematica and MATLAB for teaching, learning, and research. Faculty and students who wish to continue using Maple will have the option to purchase individual licenses directly from Maplesoft.
Can I continue using Maple after the institution-wide license ends?
Yes. Individual Maple licenses are available directly from Maplesoft at discounted academic pricing.
Help and support
For questions about the Maple licensing change, transitioning from Maple, or available software options, contact artech@drexel.edu.