Profiles in IT: Erik Taipalus—Preeminent project manager
As a project manager, Taipalus uses good listening skills to find the right technology solution for customers.
Category Archives: Top Stories
Dearborn door screening improved
UM-Dearborn deployed a door screening system for Fall 2020 where live screeners checked student and faculty ResponsiBLUE screens, took their temperatures, and compared their Mcard swipes against schedules to ensure they had a class in the building on that particular day. This process was highly successful in keeping building densities low while ensuring compliance with public health guidelines.… Read More »
ARC, LSA support groundbreaking global energy tracking
How can technology services like high-performance computing and storage help a political scientist contribute to more equal access to electricity around the world? Brian Min, associate professor of political science and research associate professor with the Center for Political Studies, and lead researcher Zachary O’Keeffe have been using nightly satellite imagery to generate new indicators of electricity access… Read More »
Message from the VPIT-CIO
As we approach the one-year mark of living during a pandemic here in Michigan, I want to acknowledge each one of you not only for your contributions to the university, but also for your amazing strength in doing this through an uncertain and challenging time in our history.
STAC focuses on “red apple” projects
As part of their mission to improve technology collaboration across all U-M campuses, the STAC Advisory Committee met last December to propose high-value but low-effort technology ideas—what they term “red apples.”
Profiles in IT: Joe Braun—Adventurous administrator
A senior systems administrator at the Institute for Social Research, Braun finds joy in hiking and calls on his music degree to compose meaningful landscape photos.
2021 Hacks with Friends call for proposals
Mark your calendars and make plans to participate in the 2021 Hacks with Friends in May. Deadline for proposals is Friday, March 12.
2020 Symposium final report points to future virtual events
Driven by the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Michigan IT Symposium was reenvisioned to capture major facets of past symposiums in an online delivery method, with minimal costs.
Women in IT Community of Practice: Promoting professional growth and community outreach
March is Women’s History Month! In recognition, Michigan IT News invited the Women in IT CoP to provide an overview of their organization and work.
On-campus to online: Michigan IT supports summer and special programs
Virtual outreach programs develop the next generation of Leaders and Best at U-M, as well as opportunities for the Michigan IT community to get involved.
Student webinar introduces ViziBLUE
Student panelists shared their perspectives on privacy and introduced the new student guide to personal data—ViziBLUE—at the February 2 “Student Data, Privacy, and ViziBLUE webinar.
Message from the VPIT-CIO
Over the past year, we have learned incredibly valuable lessons about each other, working remotely, and the people who make up this amazing institution.
CrowdStrike Falcon deployment in the homestretch
Enhanced Endpoint Protection powered by CrowdStrike (Falcon) is a critical part of securing and protecting U-M systems and data, and we are relying on you all to complete deployment by the end of February.
Michigan IT Mentor Program now open
The Michigan Mentor IT program empowers and enables Michigan IT professionals from all levels to connect and learn from others with similar interests or experiences related to their goals.
New design for Michigan IT News
The Michigan IT News website and newsletter have been redesigned with input from the Michigan IT News Working Group and the ITS Communications Team.
Piazza Q&A available to all U-M faculty
Information and Technology Services has worked with Piazza to secure a universitywide license for Piazza Q&A, an online forum used by many faculty to manage class discussions and Q&A. Many faculty have used Piazza over the past several years to address teaching and learning challenges specific to their courses and extend student discussion beyond the classroom. The new licensing arrangement means that Piazza will continue to… Read More »
Collaborative learning projects connect staff, build skills during remote work
In February of 2020, just before Campus shifted to remote work, an interdisciplinary group formed to learn about creating web mapping applications using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. The idea: work on a project that meets the needs of a researcher, but also provides an opportunity to share and grow knowledge across teams, in turn allowing us to… Read More »
ITS Service Center enhances customer service with Amazon Connect Chat
On December 7, the ITS Service Center moved to a new chat tool to improve the quality of support their agents can provide to the community. Moving to the same platform for both voice and chat will give the Service Center the flexibility to innovate in the future, save agents time, and streamline management activities.
Hacks with Friends event, coming May 2021
Plans are underway for a first virtual Michigan IT Hacks with Friends event to take place over the first three Fridays in May 2021 (May 7, 14, and 21). Co-chairs Joe Lubomirski, UM-Dearborn ITS, and Kenny Moore, UM-Ann Arbor ITS, and the event planning committee are developing the framework for an event you are not going to want… Read More »
Host drop-in meetings virtually over Zoom with Remote Office Hours Queue
ITS recently updated the Remote Office Hours Queue (ROHQ) application to support U-M Zoom meetings. The ROHQ software allows users to create meeting queues that virtually simulate waiting in line to meet with someone. ROHQ can be used for in-person queueing, virtual queueing with a unique videoconferencing meeting for each attendee, and even hybrid (both in person and… Read More »