UBC ARC: Supporting Aerodynamics at UBC Formula Racing
Matt Smith at PEARC 2024: Insights on Team Building within Advanced Research Computing
The Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing (PEARC) Conference 2024 is fast approaching, and we're thrilled to announce that Matt Smith, Manager of Research Systems for Advanced Research Computing (ARC), will be a plenary speaker at this annual event. In an interview with Matt, we had the opportunity to chat about his enthusiasm for participating as a keynote; the details about his presentation on building a successful research computing workforce; and what makes PEARC such an exceptional
July is Disability Pride Month – Find out how you can participate!
Celebrated every July, Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of those with disabilities. This month promotes visibility and awareness of the issues affecting persons with disabilities, advocating for equal rights and opportunities. Disability Pride Month is an opportunity to challenge stigma, encourage inclusion, and embrace diversity. This month, join UBC IT and
Windows 11 Automatic Update – August 5
Starting August 5, UBCO IT will enable an automated update from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on targeted IT managed devices. Impacted users in the Okanagan will receive an email with further details prior to the upgrade.
The upgrade will happen automatically, and you can continue working on your device as normal while the initial software installation begins. You do not need to take any action to initiate the upgrade.
After the software is installed, a notification window will open, instructing you to restart your device to complete the upgrade. The restart process will take an additional 10 to 15 minutes, and you have up to two weeks to restart. If you have not restarted within two weeks, your computer will undergo an automatic reboot to finalize the installation.
This upgrade is required to enhance the security and overall user experience of your computer. Upgrades are being completed in a phased schedule to ensure all devices comply with UBC’s Information Security Standard U7, ensuring devices are running a supported version of an operating system which continues to receive security patches and updates.
If you wish to upgrade your device manually before this time, please follow the in-place upgrade instructions available here.
If your device has any technical restrictions preventing the upgrade to Windows 11 or if you encounter any issues during the upgrade, please enter a support ticket and our IT representatives will review your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft has announced the end-of-life date for Windows 10 as of October 2025. After this date, no further feature updates or security patches will be available for Windows 10. Moving to Windows 11 will ensure that all devices comply with UBC’s Information Security Standard U7, ensuring devices are running a supported version of an operating system which continues to receive security updates.
The upgrade will happen automatically, and you can continue working on your device as normal while the initial software installation begins. You do not need to take any action to initiate the upgrade.
After the software is installed, a notification window will open, instructing you to restart your device to complete the upgrade. The restart process will take an additional 10 to 15 minutes, and you have up to two weeks to restart. If you have not restarted within two weeks, your computer will undergo an automatic reboot to finalize the installation.
You can manually upgrade to Windows 11 by using the self-service option in the Software Center application available in the Start menu of your UBC-managed PC. When opening your Software Center application, you will be able to select the Windows 11 upgrade under the Updates tab.
The upgrade process will take approximately 2-3 hours and can be downloaded and installed in the background while you work. For the upgrade to be applied to your PC, you will need to restart your computer. The restart process will take an additional 10-15 minutes.
For more details, please follow the in-place upgrade instructions available here: it.ok.ubc.ca/windows-11
Yes, a minimum of 25GB of free disk space is required for the upgrade to install.
To determine if you have enough disk space:
- Option 1: Open File Explorer. Click “This PC” in the left column. Under “Devices and Drives,” you’ll see your main system volume (C:) and any other drives in the computer. Windows shows the amount of free disk space on the drive directly below the drive’s name.
- Option 2: Open the Settings app and navigate to System > Storage. Alternatively, search for “Storage” in the Start menu or taskbar search and click “Storage Settings.” This will list your available drives and show you how much storage you have left.
If you require assistance freeing up space, please contact the IT Service Centre
Upgrading to Windows 11 will be mandatory for all UBC-managed PCs. If there is a reason that you cannot upgrade to Windows 11, please contact IT Service Centre or open a Self-Service ticket
Windows 11 has an improved interface, better security, updated built-in apps, improved collaboration features, improved accessibility features, and better performance than Windows 10.
In the search bar, type “winver” and run the command. A window will appear that will tell you if you are on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Making GenAI Integration Accessible for Interactive Immersive Teaching Tools
The annual CANHEIT conference brings together the community of IT professionals in higher education to promote best practices, innovation, and collaboration. This year, Daniel Lindenberger, Frederik Svendsen, and Saeed Dyanatkar from UBC’s Emerging Media Lab (EML) presented on the steps being taken by their team to make the integration of generative AI in interactive immersive teaching tools more accessible.
Mail Sentry Service – Email Security
We are excited to announce the launch of the new Mail Sentry service, designed to enhance visibility into emails filtered and quarantined by UBC’s mail-relays. This tool allows UBC faculty and staff to effectively monitor and manage emails caught in spam and policy filters, ensuring improved email security and communication efficiency.
UBC IT’s Laleh Mosadegh and PrISM Compliance Support Program Team Win National Awards
As we strive for excellence in our day-to-day operations at UBC IT and Privacy and Information Security Management (PrISM), there are moments when the value of our work extends beyond the campus, advancing the standards and practices in higher education. Recently, UBC IT's Laleh Mosadegh was recognized with an award for her work in IT as an emerging leader, along with the PrISM Compliance Support Program (CSP) team for quality and productivity.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Requirement for Campus VPN
To further strengthen your online protection, we are extending UBC’s Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to our campus VPN, starting the week of July 22, 2024.
MFA is already used at UBC for several services. It adds an extra layer of security, making it even harder for unauthorized individuals to access your account. You can find detailed instructions on how to set up MFA for VPN access here. The website provides step-by-step guidance to make this transition as seamless as possible. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the IT Service Centre or your local IT Help Desk.
Your safety is our priority, and MFA is a vital step in safeguarding your online presence. We appreciate your cooperation as we work together to ensure a secure campus network.
What to expect:
- When connecting to myVPN after July 22, add “@” to your username followed by your preferred authentication method (e.g. for the Duo app you would type username@app).
- You will receive a prompt on your chosen device for verification.
- Subsequent connections will recall your information for a seamless experience.
For more details:
- Visit the MFA on VPN Technical Support page
- Visit the myVPN Service Page
Understanding Indigenous Data Sovereignty
As I sit down to write this article, I want to first express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to live and work on the unceded lands and territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Subscribe to UBC’s GenAI Newsletter!
UBC’s Generative AI website offers guidance and resources on how to ensure the use of GenAI tools meets UBC’s guidelines and policies for secure, ethical and appropriate use. We’ve just launched a monthly newsletter so you can get the latest updates from the GenAI website emailed to you every month and keep up with everything GenAI-related at UBC.
Sign up at genai.ubc.ca/subscribe