Take 5 Newsletter

The Northwestern IT Take 5 newsletter is distributed approximately every month to IT staff. Each issue highlights topics relevant to our organization as well as opportunities to connect with colleagues. IT staff are always  welcome to share their idea for future topics.

Missed one in your inbox? Check out our past issues below. 

2026

April

• Using AI to Support Everyday Work
• Project Team Excellence Award Honorable Mentions for 2025
• Save the Date
• TEACHx Celebrates Its Tenth Year
• Preventing AI Scams: Digital Defense in an Evolving Online Ecosystem

March

• Tobin Magle Receives 2025 Employee Excellence Award
• Celebrating Excellence: 2025 Project Team Excellence Award Winners
• Save the Date
• New AI Site Supports Teaching, Learning, Research, and Daily Work; Zoom AI Features Now Available to Enhance Meetings
• Behind the Science: A Conversation with Joe Mambretti, Director, International Center for Advanced Internet Research

February

• Software Development Collaboration Center Launches in 2026
• Search for the Next University President Advances
• Save the Date
• Enhance Your AI Skills – Getting the Most Out of Copilot Chat
• Professional Development Opportunity – Practical Accessibility Workshop

January

• Unlock New Possibilities: Professional Development Roundup
• New Year, New Benefits, and New Information Sources
  • Human Resources Newsletter
  • Benefit Provider Contacts
  • Schedule a Meeting with a Benefits Counselor
  • Well-being Options
• Save the Date
• IT Staff Come Together at the Winter Luncheon
• New Gathering Spot on Campus—Luna’s Pub and Grill Opens at Norris

2025

December

• Message from the VP/CIO: Grateful for All of You and What You Do
• Colleague Connection: Introducing Academic Infrastructure
• Save the Date
• By the Numbers: Our Campus-Wide Impact
• Where to Find Winter Whimsy and Wonder

November

• New Information Security Team Enhances University Protections
• Nominate a Colleague for the Employee Excellence Award by December 5
• Save the Date
• A Fresh Look for Research Computing Services
• Showcasing Our Next Step in Virtual Production

October

• Facing Forward—Sharing Priorities for the Year Ahead
• In Case You Missed It: Staffing Updates Across Northwestern IT
• Save the Date
• Tech Tips and Tunes: Northwestern IT Volunteers Connect with Evanston Seniors
• Fall Festivities Round Up

September

• Colleague Connection: Perla Ledesma
• Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Creeping Up– Big Ten Academic Alliance Weekly Events in October
• Save the Date
• IT Wraps Up the Summer
• Hosting a Meeting or Event in Your Area?

August

• Phishing Campaigns are Evolving—Brush Up on Your Phishing Knowledge
• 1Password Coming This Fall
• Save the Date
• RSVP for the IT Summer Picnic
• From Campus Pros to College Parents

July

• Accessibility Is the Baseline—There’s Help to Get You There
• Introducing Northwestern IT Together
• Save the Date
• Prioritize Your Well-Being—Resources at Your Fingertips!
  • Well-Being Resources
  • Well-Being Programs
• Sounds of Summer—IT Staff Playlist

June

• Colleague Connection: Steven Dal Santo
• CORE Concludes with CATConnect Launch
• Save the Date
• TEACHx Continues to Inspire, Educate, and Delight
• Screen Down, Shades Up: Seven Ways to Spend Your Summer

May

• Colleague Connection: Tobin Magle
• TDX Agents Get Ticket Assistance from AI
• Save the Date
• Northwestern IT Gives Back: Supporting the Purple Pantry
• Stop and Smell the Roses (and Other Flowers) On Campus

April

• Bea Jimenez and Nick Tiemersma Named Northwestern IT Employees of the Year
• Northwestern IT Honors Project Team Collaboration
• Save the Date
• How the Heck Do You Spring Clean Your Tech?
• Five Simple Choices You Can Make for a Healthier Planet

March

• Colleague Connection: On the Move with Betsy Faxon
• Generative AI CoP Invites Curiosity, Insight, and Participation
• Save the Date
• RCDS Goes Green, Becomes Green Office Certified
• Follow Us on Instagram for the Chance to Win IT Swag

February

• Colleague Connection: Andrew Ludington
• It's a Beautiful Day in the "Neighborhood"
• Save the Date
• IT Staff Come Together in January
• Lights, Camera, Action! Predict This Year's Oscar Winners and Win

January

• Colleague Connection: Aditi Singru
• Navigating Our Shared Space
  • Hot Desking FAQs
  • Working Together Guidelines
  • Reporting Technology Issues
• Save the Date
• Northwestern IT Teams Enable Research Study to Improve Pediatric Heart Health
• Order Up! Coffee and Tea Spots to Warm Up at Near Campus

2024

December

• Message from the VP/CIO: Celebrating the Season and Preparing for Winter Break
• Giving Never Goes Out of Style
• Save the Date
• Measuring Our Impact
• Taking Reservations: New IT Conference Room in Chicago

November

• Colleague Connection: Driving IT Services and Support Excellence with Joe Paris
• Emerging Technologies Lab Making International Connections
• Save the Date
• 1800 Sherman Construction Update; Hot-Desking Plans Continue
• Our IT Staff Newsletter Turns One!

October

• Colleague Connection: Administration and Finance—Supporting Our IT Colleagues
• Preparing for November: Renovations and Hot-Desking Plans Continue
• Save the Date
• Northwestern IT Summer Picnic
• Share Your Fall Festivities

September

• Northwestern IT Gives Back: Cradles to Crayons
• Colleague Connection: Poojitha Yathiraju
• Save the Date
• Renovations Underway in 1800 Sherman
• Apples Galore: A Roundup of Nearby Orchards

August

• Space Planning: Key Dates and Changes Ahead
• Colleague Connection: Connecting Our Digital Backbone
• Save the Date
• Local Eats: IT Staff's Top Picks
• Puzzled by IT

July

• Colleague Connection: Champions of Data
• Clear the Clutter (in 1800 Sherman)
• Save the Date
• Tool Tips Redux: IT Staff Recommendations
• iCAIR Site Refresh

June

• Collaboration Plus Coordination Equals Success Under Pressure
• Colleague Connection: A Haven for the IT Perplexed
• Save the Date
• Northwestern IT Gives Back
• Enjoy Summer Activities On and Around the Evanston Campus

May

• TEACHx Explores New and Renewed Norms in Teaching and Learning
• Northwestern IT Gives Back: Purple Pantry
• Save the Date
• Colleague Connection: The Defenders of Digital Data
• The Trees of Northwestern and Other Ways to Enjoy the Outdoors

April

• CoDEx 2024 – A Celebration of Research Achievement and Discovery
• Colleague Connection: Navigators of Northwestern’s Digital Landscape
• Save the Date
• PEX Season is Here – Tips to Help Prepare
  • HR Performance Excellence Process
• IT Pets Strike a Pose

March

• Chris Fowler Named Northwestern IT Employee of the Year
• Colleague Connection: Guardians of Connectivity
• Save the Date
• Alumni Transformation Discovery Project Finds Wins in Support and Project Excellence
• Join or Create a Community of Practice

February

• DEI Steering Committee Leadership Updates and Programming Opportunities
• Colleague Connection: Keeping the Campus Connected
• Save the Date
• In Photos: Celebrating Another Successful Year in IT
• Meet the University’s Ombudsperson

January

• Take Care of Yourself (and Others)–Become a Volunteer
• Project Complete? Submit It for Recognition!
• Save the Date
• Serving Servers–Get to Know the Service Operation Center
• Tool Tips: We Asked, You Answered

2023

December

• Holiday Wishes and Winter Break Details
• Project Spotlight: CORE—Advancing Alumni Fundraising and Engagement Activities 
• Save the Date
• New IT Communications Web Presence
• Learn from Your Peers – What Tool Do You Use, and How? 

November

• The Power of Collaboration and Connection
• Who's Top on Your List? Employee Excellence Award Nomination Window Closing Soon
• Save the Date
• A Picture Perfect Gathering
• Colleague Connection: Jackie Milhans