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Message from the VPIT-CIO
In the year since I introduced ITS’s five areas of focus, we’ve refined and made progress towards our goals—thanks to partnerships with many of you.
All in a day’s work: HITS’ COVID-19 response
COVID-19 turned all of our personal and professional lives upside down. For Michigan Medicine, the HITS team has proved they are up to the challenge, coming together to solve problems, support customers, launch ingenious solutions, and take care of one another. Innovative service In the first two weeks of remote work, the Service Desk fielded over 4,000 telework… Read More »
UM-Dearborn WiFi is moving to MWireless
Cross-campus network infrastructure teams have been working together to activate MWireless as the primary wireless network at UM-Dearborn, effective April 1.
Introducing Trio 3FA
We all know that two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to computer systems, applications, networks, and servers. It combines something you know, like a password or PIN, and something you have, like your 2FA token (either a physical item or a smartphone app). Well, if two-factor is good, then three-factor must be better! U-M has… Read More »
Profiles in IT: Caitlin Dickinson—Mapping maven
Caitlin Dickinson, mapping expert LSA Technology Services, finds joy in learning and discovery, and in using tools to create maps that solve problems. In this MITN interview, she offers tips, tools, and best practices for researchers and fellow map enthusiasts. Tell us about your role as a Geographic Information System (GIS) consultant at LSA. I assist LSA faculty,… Read More »
Technology for the win: How MARI met the needs of clients and staff in a time of coronavirus
If organizations are learning one thing in this time of coronavirus, it’s that necessity remains the mother of not just invention but also innovation. U-M’s Mary A. Rackham Institute (MARI) has been quick to adopt technological tools amidst coronavirus chaos. MARI, an organization that provides mental health, testing, and language and literacy services to the U-M community as… Read More »
UM-Flint supports campus community in working and learning remotely
The University of Michigan-Flint is helping its campus community work and learn remotely in a wide variety of ways. Office of Extended Learning director Nicholas Gaspar and Information Technology Services director Scott Arnst shared an update on support services in a Q&A with University Communications & Marketing. For example, the Office of Extended Learning (OEL), in conjunction with… Read More »
Michigan IT helps faculty to “Keep Teaching @ U-M” during COVID-19 response
In a matter of days, the coronavirus forced everything to change at the University of Michigan. To promote public safety and to “flatten the curve,” the university determined all courses needed to move online for the remainder of the semester, and faculty had two working days to make that happen. The response from faculty, students, and staff was… Read More »
Using machine learning to detect disease before symptoms manifest
Alfred Hero, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, has been working on predicting health and disease of people exposed to infectious viral pathogens since early 2007. His research uses machine learning to help discover genes in whole blood that can be used to detect early signs of acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), as well as improve the… Read More »
Big data, small footprint
At a time when we’re relying on the internet to an unprecedented degree in our daily lives, a team of U-M researchers led by Mosharaf Chowdhury and Harsha Madhyastha has found a way for tech companies, banks and health systems to squeeze more capacity out of our existing infrastructure. A change to the design of big-data software tool Apache Spark could enable the… Read More »
Student-centered events at Dearborn are getting a reboot online
As classes moved online last week and most UM-Dearborn staff started working from home, one vital part of campus life was left mostly on the sidelines in the wake of new social distancing measures: in-person university events disappeared from the calendar. Dean of Students Amy Finley says that was a particularly big blow to students and student organizations. But… Read More »
Beware of COVID-19 coronavirus scams
Scammers are taking advantage of the fear and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus. Some of the most common scams include: Fraudulent cure and treatment offers Fake charities Misinformation from scammers posing as experts Phishing Tracking maps that trick you into downloading malware See Coronavirus Scams on Safe Computing for more details. ITS Information Assurance is keeping the page… Read More »
ITS ready to help with “homework”
As the U-M community adjusts and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are working from home and connecting online with colleagues, often for the first time. Information and Technology Services is available to answer questions about how to host lectures, access university resources, collaborate with colleagues, and continue to support the university from home. Need a summary… Read More »
Tech Tip: Temporary software upgrades
This month, I am sharing information on some providers that have extended their services and are offering free upgrades to help users being impacted by COVID-19. As you know, each day is different and companies are doing their best to keep up with demand. This list only covers some services that I am currently aware of, so keep… Read More »
New video: How to report IT security incidents
It is vital that you report actual or suspected IT security incidents as soon as possible so that work can begin to investigate and resolve them. This applies even when you are working from home. A new ITS Information Assurance (IA) video tells you where to report them (security@umich.edu), and describes how IA responds. For more detail about… Read More »
Data security for a safer world
9/11 changed everything for U-M computer engineering alum Kurt Rohloff. Having grown up in the metro New York City, 9/11 felt especially close to home. It set him on a path to a career in security and U.S. defense. “I got really interested in the areas of data science, analytics, privacy and how one could use privacy technology… Read More »
Hangouts Meet: Premium features, expanded audio options
At the beginning of March, Google announced they would extend temporary access to some premium Hangouts Meet features until July 1, 2020. These features are now available within the U-M domain: Increased participant limit of 250 participants per video call Livestream a video call (up to 100,000 viewers) Record a video call Important: U-M Google is not HIPAA-compliant. Review the Sensitive Data Guide for types of data permitted… Read More »
Work securely while working remotely
Across the world, working from home has become a necessity. When you are working from home, follow IT security best practices to protect yourself and U-M: Secure your computer, smartphone, and other devices. Secure your connections to protect data you send and receive. Beware of phishing, scams, fraud, and other tricks and traps. Protect sensitive U-M data by… Read More »
U-M awards six XR projects under new initiative
U-M has awarded funding to six extended reality projects under the its new XR Initiative, announced in the fall. The three-year funded initiative calls for the Center for Academic Innovation to seed new projects and experiments that integrate XR into residential and online curricula, and to create innovative public/private partnerships to develop new XR related educational technology. “The… Read More »
Undergraduate laptop program expands, supports low-income students
The Michigan Undergraduate Laptop Program has moved from LSA to the Office of Enrollment Management (OEM) where it will have broader impact to support students in U-M schools and colleges across the institution.
Hangouts Chat now available
To better accommodate the need for team-based chat and collaboration, Google Hangouts Chat is now available for use at U-M. Hangouts Chat is a G Suite for Education core service. It is free and covered under U-M’s agreement with Google and also can be used for certain kinds of sensitive data. It should not be used for protected… Read More »