In this edition of our UBC IT Employee Spotlight, we're thrilled to showcase the dynamic work and vibrant spirit of one of our exceptional team members. Meet Aisha Ismail, a dedicated 4th year co-op student on the Communications team at UBC IT. Her journey at UBC has been marked by a commitment to community, learning, and empowerment.
Live transcription is now available for users in Teams. This is a written record of spoken text for each speaker, which is available during and after the meeting. Live transcription can make your meeting more productive, accessible and inclusive. Participants in noisy places will also appreciate the visual aid.
In this edition of our employee spotlight newsletter, we're thrilled to introduce you to one of our outstanding team members who has played a pivotal role in shaping our new hybrid workplace agreement. Through her dedication and passion, she has not only championed the cause of employee flexibility but has also brought a unique blend of creativity and expertise to the table.
We are excited to introduce our next Employee Spotlight feature, where we shine a light on the incredible individuals who contribute to the growth and success of our university. Today, we're delighted to showcase Sarah Mair, a valued member of UBC, who has been playing a pivotal role in the University's ongoing digital transformation as a Community Engagement Partner (CEP) with the Integrated Renewal Program - Student (IRP Student).
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.
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.
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
“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:
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.
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.
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.
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 2024 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.
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.
What are your options for devices that cannot run Windows 11?
With the release of Windows 11, some hardware requirements need to be met to install the operating system.
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.