News Archives

UBC IT Employee Spotlight: Majid Siddique Mohammed

July 20, 2023

This article was published on Thu, 07/20/2023 - 11:38

We’re excited to take the opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of our team members who not only excels in their role at UBC IT but also embraces the challenge of continuous learning and professional growth. Meet Majid Siddique Mohammed, a key figure at the Automation Delivery Center, and an avid learner who has also recently taken on the exciting journey of learning Arabic. Majid joined the UBC IT team in 2018, initially for a twenty-month term that has since evolved into a permanent role that helps assess and deploy robotic process automation across the technology landscape at UBC.

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UBC IT’s Emerging Media Lab Wins the CUCCIO Collaboration Award

July 4, 2023

This article was published on Tue, 07/04/2023 - 10:39

Join UBC IT in congratulating and celebrating our incredible teams who have been nominated for the prestigious CUCCIO awards: UBC's Automation Delivery Team and UBC's Emerging Media Labs. We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding achievements of both teams and congratulate the Emerging Media Lab (EML) team in winning the CUCCIO Collaboration Award for their work on Collaborative Course Development. 

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Pride Season at UBC

June 27, 2023

This article was published on Tue, 06/27/2023 - 11:20

Pride season at UBC is a time to honor and celebrate the progress made in the fight for equality, while also acknowledging the work that still lies ahead. With a rich array of events and initiatives, UBC is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity and supports its LGBTQ+ community. Here are some upcoming events that are happening this Pride season:

2023 Pride Connect: 2SLGHTQIA+ faculty and staff reception
June 28th, 2023 | 3 pm - 5 pm

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UBCO IT Satisfaction Survey 2023 Results

June 23, 2023

“Honestly, the IT team is INCREDIBLE. I am so grateful to have access to such a supportive and knowledgeable team. 99.9% of all issues I connect with the team on are solved FAST and with such kindness and patience.”

Thank you to the over 145 people who took the time to complete our UBCO IT Support & Services Satisfaction survey. The goals of the survey were:

  • Determine if we are meeting the needs and expectations of staff and faculty
  • Benchmark satisfaction levels over time
  • Support continual improvement of our support and services
  • Enable us to identify issues or gaps as early as possible.

We’re happy to share the results of the survey, what we heard from the campus and what our next steps will be to address some of the concerns raised.

UBCO IT 2023 Satisfaction Survey Summary

Please reach out to Engagement Services if you have any questions or concerns about the survey or how IT can help support your needs.

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Windows 10 end-of-life and planning for Windows 11

June 22, 2023

Microsoft recently announced the end-of-life date for Windows 10 editions as October 14, 2025. After this date, no further feature updates or security patches will be available for Windows 10. UBC IT is now planning for the upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft’s current operating system offering.

The release of Windows 11 brings with it more stringent modern hardware support requirements as it introduces new security features. Older devices may not be compatible with an upgrade to Windows 11, necessitating a replacement of the device.

UBC IT will be approaching the upgrade cycle in the following phases. You may expect some form of communication depending on your device’s eligibility status, within one of these phases.

Why are we doing this?

These actions are being taken 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.

What is the timeline?

Phase 1: Immediate

UBC IT will be communicating directly with supported departments and individual staff if they own devices that are not compatible with Windows 11.  The intent is to begin developing a plan for hardware replacement and planning for budget cycles in FY 24/25 and FY 25/26 to address device replacement.

Further, all new devices deployed will be installed with Windows 11. Desktop Services staff will advise of this and provide orientation to the changes Windows 11 brings. No software compatibility issues are anticipated.

Any devices that require reinstallation of the operating system to support the upgrade to Windows 11, will be encouraged to move to Windows 11 with the reinstall process.

Phase 2: 2023-2024

UBC IT will begin planning and communicating the in-place upgrade of devices from Windows 10 to Windows 11 starting in August of 2023 on a phased schedule. This will happen in the form of a Windows update that can be installed without returning the device to IT.  It is expected to take slightly longer than a normal Windows update.

Phase 3: 2025

UBC IT will be following up on edge cases and other situations that require a more planned approach, and deal with any devices that require manual intervention.

The intent is to have all managed desktops and laptops running Windows 10 to be upgraded to Windows 11 by September 2025, in advance of the end-of-life date.

What do you need to do?

UBCO CRP Provided Equipment

If you have a computer provided to you under the Computer Replacement Program (CRP) and your device is identified as being incompatible with Windows 11, please submit a ticket via the UBC Self-Service portal and IT Services will review it. With CRP lifecycle/replacement, your device will either already be compatible with Windows 11 or your device will be replaced with a Windows 11 compatible device.

Department Purchased Equipment

If you have a computer purchased by your department, it’s possible that it may not be compatible with Windows 11. Below under “Windows 11 Compatibility”, you can find some quick/easy ways to determine whether your device will be compatible. The recommendation is that if you have an older piece of equipment, you should consider budgeting a replacement device before October 2025.

Windows 11 Compatibility

Not all devices are compatible with Windows 11. For IT-managed devices, you will receive targeted notifications directly to those devices incompatible with Windows 11. If your device is not managed by IT, you can determine if your device is able to run Windows 11, by using the PC Health Check utility provided by Microsoft.

Additionally, Dell provides an updated list of devices they have tested that are known to work with Windows 11: Dell Computers Tested for Windows 11

For more technical details, see “Windows 11 Requirements” below.

Future Planning – Devices Unsupported by Windows 11

What are your options for devices that cannot run Windows 11?

  • Devices that can be retired should be retired before October 14, 2025
  • Devices that cannot be retired have two options:
    1. Devices can be removed from network access but will need to be assessed by IT. To discuss this option, please submit a request via the UBC Self-Service portal
    2. An extended maintenance agreement could be purchased to get continued security updates from Microsoft and to allow additional time to transition to new equipment.
      • IT will need to be consulted to assist with an extended maintenance agreement, please submit a request via the UBC Self-Service Portal
  • If new (Non-CRP) equipment is required, it can be purchased directly from Workday.
  • If you would like to consult with IT about equipment, please submit a request via the UBC Self-Service Portal

Windows 11 Detailed Technical Requirements

With the release of Windows 11, some hardware requirements need to be met to install the operating system.

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Ricoh Printing Fleet Inventory Audit

May 23, 2023

During the week of May 29th, Ricoh, our managed print services provider, will conduct an inventory and audit of our campus printing fleet.  

This inventory/audit aims to assess the current state of our print infrastructure, evaluate equipment utilization, and identify opportunities for optimizing our printing resources. Ricoh’s team will work directly with an IT representative during this assessment and will require temporary access to IT Fleet Printers near your workspace. 

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this process. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the upcoming activities, please contact the UBCO IT Service Centre.

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Inspiring Communities Grant 2023

May 11, 2023

This article was published on Thu, 05/11/2023 - 08:50

The Inspiring Community Grant 2023 is now open for applications! This grant, funded by UTown@UBC in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation’s Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG), provides up to $500 in funding to support projects that promote community building, collaboration, and engagement for UBC, UNA, and Musqueam community members. Whether you're a student, faculty, or staff, you're invited to submit your innovative and impactful project ideas.

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Days of Significance: Red Dress Day

May 4, 2023

This article was published on Thu, 05/04/2023 - 14:53

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S) in Canada, also known as Red Dress Day. The red dresses serve as a visual reminder of those who are no longer with us. This day is about raising awareness of the ongoing harm and honoring those who were lost and their families. Join us in remembering and supporting Indigenous communities on this important day.

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May is Asian Heritage month!

April 27, 2023

This article was published on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 09:11

May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to reflect and recognize the many contributions that Canadians of Asian heritage have made--and continue to make--to Canada. See what’s happening on campus and make this an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the many achievements and contributions of Canadians of Asian descent.

View the various featured events available to the public:
https://events.ubc.ca/asian-heritage-month-at-ubc/

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Celebrate Learning Week | May 2-9, 2023

April 27, 2023

This article was published on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 09:04

Now in its fourteenth year, Celebrate Learning Week will be hosted from May 2-9, 2023. The theme of this year’s showcase is celebrating the Power of Place in Teaching and Learning. Specifically, the connections between place, teaching and learning in relation to UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan. The Provost and Vice-President Academic from UBCO and UBCV will collaboratively present this week-long initiative showcasing teaching and learning at UBC through open lectures, poster sessions, panel discussions, workshops and more.

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