2023

From December 22 through January 1, the campus community can contact 847-491-4357 (1-HELP) to access support staff on-call for urgent matters. Before contacting 1-HELP, please consider visiting the IT Service Management Portal, which is designed to help users find the IT information, resources, and support they need.

Northwestern IT continuously seeks to improve the University's innovative technological environment and enhance the student, faculty, and staff experience through various tools and services. Our IT by the Numbers page demonstrates the scope of these efforts.

The University has released a new endpoint security standard outlining the minimum system, software, and process protections for managing University laptops, desktops, servers, and other endpoint devices.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential for new capabilities in research, education, and productivity. Understand what to look for when adopting these tools to ensure the intended use is met and University data is protected.

An innovative new exhibit at Northwestern’s Herskovits Library of African Studies offers visitors the unique opportunity to interact with objects with the help of both augmented and virtual reality. Digital renderings and 3D printed models of the curiosities were created through a collaboration between the Herskovits Library and Northwestern IT Media and Technology Innovation.

Northwestern IT recently launched the Research Data Management and Sharing website—a collection of web pages intended to assist University researchers with recent changes to federally funded research requirements.

On October 5, AI expert Casey Fiesler will discuss some of the pressing ethical issues surrounding AI, including questions of bias, misinformation, ownership, and privacy. Registration is open to all members of the Northwestern community.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Now is the ideal time for users to familiarize themselves with the tools and support Northwestern IT provides to keep cybersecurity and digital accessibility aligned and top of mind.

EDUCAUSE announced the recipients of its annual awards on Tuesday, September 12. Northwestern IT's Jackie Milhans was awarded the association's Rising Star Award.

First-year students, we are thrilled to have you in the Northwestern community. Northwestern IT offers tools to manage your information and resources to enhance your academic and research experience. Ease your technology transition by learning more about hardware recommendations, securing your computers, and reviewing a back-to-school guide in our Get Started" section.

The partnership between Northwestern IT, AccessibleNU, and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance that launched the Canvas Accessibility Project and the Mission: Accessible challenge last year is back for the 2023–24 academic year.

Annual conference sparks innovation, with topics ranging from AI to alternative grading to data integrity.

Northwestern IT completed its upgrade to the University’s Online Directory system. While the project’s primary objective focused on improving the back-end technology, the campus community will notice some subtle enhancements to the user interface.

Northwestern IT, AccessibleNU, and the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance have partnered to deliver the Canvas Accessibility Project, designed to equip instructors with the tools and knowledge they need to ensure that Northwestern’s learning management system meets the needs of the entire student population.

Congratulations on your success at Northwestern! Commencement will be here before you know it, and navigating all the final preparations for your life away from campus may seem overwhelming. Northwestern IT can help!

Spring is a time of renewal, clean starts, and Northwestern IT's annual reminder to take a fresh look at your devices. So, while tidying up your living environment, take some time to spruce up your digital surroundings, too. Here are a few tech tips that can lead to a better, more secure experience when using your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

In April, Northwestern IT applied two changes that impact Northwestern University Microsoft email security: all email forwarding rules to unaffiliated domains were disabled, and a ToolTip now indicates emails received in Outlook clients from an external source.

In February, Northwestern IT celebrated employee and project team excellence at its first Extended Staff Meeting of 2023 in the James Allen Center on the Evanston Campus.

February marks the beginning of an initiative to continue progress in making Northwestern's digital learning environment more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive. The next step includes focused attention on learning content, specifically increasing the accessibility of all course sites and learning materials and aligning them with the University's digital accessibility policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Northwestern IT has performed an update to GlobalProtect, the University’s Virtual Private Network (VPN), introducing a change to the login process. The update resolves login issues reported by users across the University and reduces the number of times necessary to authenticate to Web Single Sign On.

On February 4, 2023, Zoom implemented a Software Quarterly Lifecycle Policy requiring a new minimum version every three months—the first weekend of November, February, May, and August. This policy ensures all users have the required privacy and security updates and the latest features. As of this date, Zoom requires version 5.10.3.

The 2023 TEACHx symposium is accepting proposals through Monday, February 13. This year, TEACHx is asking participants to think about how instructors can continue to innovate and experiment with technology that expands teaching strategies while also asking individuals to consider the full impact of their approaches on the student learning experience.

One of the many ways Northwestern IT supports the University’s commitment to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment is a collaborative effort providing instructors the skills and tools necessary to create Canvas course sites that meet digital accessibility standards.

Are you familiar with the accessible software Northwestern offers and who can benefit from its use? Take a moment, and learn about resources all students can use to improve the academic experience. Find a tool that's right for you.

Securing data doesn’t have to be complicated. In recognition of Data Privacy Week, we are sharing news about information security office hours and essential steps to help you make the right decisions about keeping data private.