Vice President for Information Technology Status and Activity Report for October 2026 Prepared by Ilir Hasko, Interim Vice President for Information Technology (VPIT)
Key Items for Faculty and Staff Meetings Fall Cybersecurity Training due October 30, 2026: All State of Georgia employees, including University of Georgia (UGA) employees and student workers, must complete fall cybersecurity awareness training by October 30, 2026. This training is required twice each year, in April and October, per University System of Georgia (USG) policy and a directive from Governor Brian Kemp. The online training consists of three short courses designed to help participants recognize and respond to common cybersecurity threats. To complete the training, log in to the KnowBe4 Portal using your MyID@uga.edu email address, password, and Duo authentication. After logging in, you will be taken to UGA's training page; click on the training to start. If no training appears, open the dropdown menu under your name in the upper-right corner and select “My Training” to view your available courses. Automated email reminders will be sent throughout October until the training is completed. These messages will come from Ben Myers (bmyers@uga.edu) with the subject line “USG Mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness Training Due October 30, 2026.” Employees and student workers who have questions about the training should contact the EITS Help Desk. Fall Biannual Network Maintenance Scheduled for October 25: The University of Georgia's Fall 2026 network maintenance is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, from 4 a.m. to midnight. During this time, students, faculty, and staff may experience intermittent interruptions to internet-based services, websites, applications, and other university systems. Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) performs this maintenance each fall and spring to help keep UGA’s technology systems secure, reliable, and able to support the university’s growing needs. Additional details about services that may be affected are available in the article, Prepare for Fall Biannual Network Maintenance on October 25, 2026. For more information, contact Rayid Tartir.
Services for Teaching Faculty: Digital Accessibility Training and Resources Available Through DASH: Digital Accessibility Services (DAS) supports UGA content creators, instructors, and staff as they work to make digital materials more accessible for all users. The team offers guidance, VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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training opportunities, office hours, and online resources to help the campus community create and update documents, presentations, videos, websites, course materials, and other digital content in alignment with the UGA Digital Accessibility Policy and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Instructors and content creators are encouraged to review the resources available through DAS and the Digital Accessibility Services Hub (DASH) Events page, which includes upcoming training and virtual DAS Office Hours. Faculty and staff can attend office hours on Fridays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. to ask short, targeted accessibility questions or receive guidance on where to start. Additional training, including sessions on using accessibility checkers and applying accessibility best practices in common platforms, are also posted on DASH. Instructors should review these resources regularly and take advantage of available training before developing new course materials or revising existing content. For more information about Digital Accessibility Services, visit the Digital Accessibility Services Hub (DASH).
Services for Students: Adobe Express Available to All UGA Students: Effective Fall 2026, eligible University of Georgia (UGA) students now have free access to Adobe Express through funding provided by the Student Technology Fee. Adobe Express is an easy-to-use online and mobile design tool that helps students create presentations, graphics, videos, social media posts, digital portfolios, design resumes, flyers, posters, and other visual content without advanced design experience. The platform also includes ready-made templates, Adobe Stock images, PDF tools, and photo and video editing features. EITS will begin promoting the service to students in September. Eligible students can access Adobe Express by visiting the EITS Knowledge Base article, Adobe Express, and signing into their UGA account using their MyID@uga.edu email address and password.
Services for Researchers: Register for the GACRC Fall 2026 Webinar: The Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center (GACRC) will host a virtual informational webinar on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 2 p.m. to introduce UGA faculty and staff to the computing, data storage, artificial intelligence, and research support resources available through the center. Led by Dr. Guy Cormier and Dr. Jessica Kissinger, the session will provide an overview of GACRC services, explain how to request a Sapelo2 user account, and highlight how researchers across many academic disciplines use these resources to support their work. UGA faculty and staff interested in attending can register online through the GACRC Webinar Registration form. For questions, contact Dr. Jessica Kissinger. VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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GACRC Helpdesk Access and Support Services: Help with accessing and using GACRC resources is available through the GACRC Helpdesk. The GACRC Service Catalog directs users to the appropriate TeamDynamix page. There, users can submit requests for services such as lab group and user accounts, class accounts, software installations, and general support. Tickets may be submitted at any time and are addressed promptly by the GACRC Support Team. For more information, contact Guy Cormier.
Other General Services: Duo Multifactor Authentication to Be Required for All UGA Single Sign-On Applications: To meet updated University System of Georgia security requirements, UGA will begin requiring Duo multifactor authentication (MFA), an extra step used to verify a user's identity, for all applications that use UGA Single Sign-On (SSO). While many applications already require Duo, some currently do not. This change will be introduced in the development (Dev) environment on October 9, 2026, the testing (Stage) environment on December 1, 2026, and the production (Prod) environment on February 5, 2027. Application owners should test their applications in the lower environments and inform their users about the upcoming change prior to the February 5 change. If an exception to this requirement is needed, application owners should submit an exception request to Information Security by October 7, 2026. No action is required from end users, and many people may not notice a difference because Duo is already required for other UGA services. Expanding MFA to all UGA SSO applications will improve security and provide a consistent authentication experience across university systems. For more information, contact Lance Peiper. Preparing for TouchNet MFA: Beginning October 2026, TouchNet, the online payment system used by the University of Georgia for services such as tuition and fee payments, will introduce its own multi-factor authentication (MFA) process for users logging in to the TouchNet application. This new security step will be required in addition to the existing Duo verification that students complete through UGA's single sign-on system. To help ensure uninterrupted access, students should be prepared to enroll in TouchNet MFA when prompted and are encouraged to use an authenticator app or a personal (non-UGA) email address as their preferred verification method. Additional communications, including step-by-step instructions and key deadlines, will be shared before the October implementation date. For more information, contact Kristi Wall. PowerBI Migration Deadline Set for November 2, 2026: In late 2024, the Office of Institutional Research (OIR) announced that UGA would transition from Tableau to Power BI as the university's primary enterprise reporting tool. This change supports UGA’s VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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broader use of Microsoft Office 365, which includes Power BI. Over the past year, OIR has worked to move reporting into Power BI, beginning with census reporting. Student reporting was completed this summer, and OIR is now working on the final phase of the project with HR and Finance reporting. Units that use the EITS-managed Tableau servers to develop and publish Tableau reports for their areas must migrate those reports to Power BI by November 2, 2026. OIR will provide guidance to these units as needed. For more information, contact Kelly Slaton. Submit Proposals for FY27 Student Technology Fee One-Time Funding: Requests for proposals for the FY27 Student Technology Fee (STF) one-time funding process were distributed to deans and unit heads on September 1, 2026. Units that receive base STF allocations are eligible to submit proposals for additional funding to support instructional technology projects that enhance teaching and learning. This one-time funding is separate from a college or unit’s regular STF allocation. To be considered during the current funding cycle, proposals must be submitted through the appropriate vice president, dean, or associate provost by October 9, 2026. Questions should be directed to Dr. Toby Graham, chair of the Student Technology Fee Advisory Committee, at tgraham@uga.edu or 706-542-0621. Update Duo Verification Methods for Department MyID Accounts Before November 5: Beginning November 5, 2026, SMS text message passcodes and phone call verification will no longer be available when logging in to Departmental MyID accounts. To avoid interruptions when accessing UGA systems, users should confirm they have another Duo verification method set up before the deadline. Recommended options include Duo Verified Push, which requires users to enter a four-digit code after approving a login request, as well as device-based methods such as Touch ID or Face ID on Apple devices, Windows Hello on Windows computers, fingerprint or face recognition on Android devices, approved security keys, and the Duo Desktop application. To add or manage Duo devices, visit ArchPass.uga.edu and sign in using the Departmental account, not a personal MyID account. Phone calls will remain available only for updating Duo device settings and cannot be used as a login verification method. These changes are part of EITS’ ongoing effort to strengthen account security and provide more secure, accessible login options. For more information, contact Lance Peiper. QuestionPro Training Sessions Begin October 2026: Beginning in October 2026, Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) will offer regular training sessions for QuestionPro, the University of Georgia's enterprise survey platform used to create, distribute, and analyze surveys for research, assessment, and feedback collection. The first training session will be held on October 13, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. EDT. Register VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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here for the October 13 QuestionPro training session. For more information, contact Jamie Davis. Quarterly TeamDynamix Technician Training Begins in October: Beginning in October 2026, Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) will offer quarterly TeamDynamix technician training to support staff onboarding and professional development. TeamDynamix is UGA’s service management platform, used by the EITS Help Desk and IT support teams across campus to manage technology requests, tickets, and related workflows. The training has been developed by the EITS Collaborative Tools team, the Tier 1 course provides foundational instruction on ticket management, TeamDynamix features, customer and technician processes, and University of Georgia (UGA) standard operating procedures. Tier 1 training will be offered in person on October 20, 2026, and online on October 22, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tier 2 builds on these fundamentals by introducing reporting tools, dashboards, and workflow management concepts and will be offered in person on October 27, 2026, and online on October 29, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Both courses include demonstrations and practical examples designed to improve service management knowledge, strengthen operational effectiveness, and help technicians provide consistent, effective support. Additional details about these trainings will be shared soon with IT professionals and TeamDynamix technicians. For more information, contact Cody Skipper. Biannual MyID and UGAMail Account Cleanup Scheduled for Fall 2026: This fall, EITS will conduct its annual review and cleanup of MyID and UGAMail accounts for students, employees, and affiliates who are no longer affiliated with the university but still have active accounts. Individuals whose accounts are identified for removal will receive two email notifications at their UGAMail address in September explaining that their account access is scheduled to be disabled and permanently removed in November. Accounts belonging to students currently enrolled in a UGA degree program will not be affected, and retired employees remain eligible to keep their UGAMail addresses. For more information, contact Kristi Wall. October 2026 Unified ERP Project Update and Workday Wednesday Session: Visit the monthly recap to learn more about the Unified ERP and to see how the project is progressing, including updates on the implementation, change considerations, and USG’s Workday Wednesday series. Each Workday Wednesday session features a live demonstration of the USG Workday tenant followed by an interactive Q&A, led by the USGwide Unified ERP team. These sessions are open to all faculty and staff and are providing the first live look at the initial Workday prototype for many in the UGA community. Please feel free to share this information with colleagues in your unit who may benefit from VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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attending. Register or view session recordings here. For more information, please contact UGA’s Unified ERP team or sign up for future communications at the bottom of the USG Faculty and Staff Hub. Next AI License Request Cycle Opens November 1 for Spring 2027 Access: EITS launched the AI License Purchasing Program in fall 2025 to provide a centralized, streamlined way for UGA units to purchase premium versions of generative AI tools for faculty and staff, with the first licenses provisioned in February 2026. The program ensures these tools are covered under the university’s data protection and privacy agreements, offering enhanced safeguards not available in individual or consumer versions. It also simplifies procurement by eliminating the need for departmental CESS requests, UGAMart purchase requests, P-card transactions, and reimbursements, reducing administrative burden and improving efficiency. EITS will contact campus unit Chief Business Officers (CBOs) and IT Directors in early fall with information about the next onboarding cycle. The next opportunity to request new licenses will be November 1, 2026, with a deadline of December 1, 2026, in preparation for the Spring 2027 semester. This enrollment will include the M365 Copilot license, which offers native integration with UGA’s email, calendar and SharePoint, as well as access to Claude models in addition to the OpenAI models available in Copilot for all MyID account holders. For more information, please contact the AI Tools Team or visit the EITS Knowledge Base. Microsoft Office 2021 Support Ends October 13: Microsoft Office 2021 will reach end of support on October 13, 2026. After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, software updates, or technical support for the product. To help protect university systems and ensure continued access to supported features, EITS is working with departmental IT teams to upgrade affected computers to a newer version of Microsoft Office. For more information, contact Justin Sackett. Open Enrollment 2027 Overview: This year’s University System of Georgia (USG) benefits open enrollment will be held Monday, October 26 – Friday, November 6, 2026. A full summary of 2027 plan designs and premiums is available on the USG Benefits website. Complete your 2027 enrollment elections and certifications through OneUSG Connect – Benefits. Tobacco use and working spouse certifications must be completed each year. Join us for the UGA Benefits Fair on Thursday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education’s Mahler Hall. Registration for the event is not required. Those planning to attend can add this event to their calendar here. VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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The UHR Benefits Team will hold virtual office hours during the open enrollment period. Also, the USG will be offering live online Open Enrollment information sessions for active employees and pre-65 retirees. To learn more about this year’s open enrollment period, visit the 2027 Open Enrollment webpage. Electrical Service Maintenance at the Boyd Building Scheduled for November 7: UGA FMD's Electrical Distribution and S&C personnel will conduct an emergency power exercise that will include the Boyd Graduate Research Center on Saturday, November 7, 2026. During the exercise, crews will temporarily de-energize the building’s normal power circuit to test its emergency backup power system and verify that electrical service successfully transfers to an alternate circuit. After testing is complete, crews will return the building to normal electrical service. FMD personnel will be stationed at key locations throughout the exercise as a safety precaution. Building occupants may experience brief power interruptions during the testing period. For more information contact Steven Duffee. IT Strategic Planning for UGA Under way: Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) is leading efforts to draft the 2028-2032 IT Strategic Plan for the university. An advisory committee of faculty, staff and students, chaired by Dr. Toby Graham from University Libraries and Dr. Prashant Doshi from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, began meetings in September to help EITS develop strategic goals for information technology, supportive of the larger UGA strategic plan, available at University of Georgia 2031 Strategic Plan. Campus engagement may be requested throughout the fall as the committee works to draft a plan by February of next year. For more information, contact Sara Pauff.
Did you know? UGA Technology by the Numbers - The First Week of Fall Semester: During the first seven days of the fall semester, the University of Georgia's technology services supported more than 70,300 active Microsoft 365 users and delivered nearly 11 million emails. Campus users exchanged 260,000 Microsoft Teams chats, participated in more than 11,300 Teams meetings, and placed 16,600 one-to-one calls. Users also submitted more than 68,000 prompts through Copilot Chat and Gemini. Behind the scenes, UGA's single sign-on system securely processed more than 1.5 million logins, providing access to hundreds of campus applications and services, while the campus network transferred more than 2.5 petabytes of data across residence halls and university buildings. VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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How to Recognize and Report a Phishing Email: Phishing emails are fraudulent messages that attempt to steal personal or sensitive information by pretending to come from a trusted organization, such as a university, bank, or employer. Common warning signs include poor spelling or grammar, unexpected requests, urgent or threatening language, and links that do not match the website they claim to lead to. Before responding to an email or clicking a link, verify that the sender is legitimate by carefully checking the email address and message details. University of Georgia emails will never ask you to provide your 811 number, password, login credentials, financial information, or other sensitive personal information through email. If a message seems suspicious, do not click any links, open attachments, or reply to the sender. Instead, forward the email to abuse@uga.edu for review and verification. University of Georgia students, faculty, and staff, as well as interested others, may subscribe to this monthly report by sending an email to listserv@listserv.uga.edu with the phrase subscribe vpit-news as the body of the message.
VPIT Status and Activity Report for October 2026
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