Author: Brianna Kuhn

Share your ideas at the 2025 IT Professionals Conference

Submit a proposal today to share your insights with colleagues across campus. Proposals due Mar 28 at 5pm.

Support for Microsoft Office 2016 & 2019 to end Oct 14

If you’re using Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019, upgrade your device to a supported version as soon as possible. Using unsupported software can lead to potential security risks.

Help Desk reorganization: New team names, same great service

The Help Desk is moving away from “Level 1” and “Level 2” labels to team names that better reflect who they serve and what they do. This change will make it easier for the university community to connect with the right support team for their needs.

Meet Gemini, Google’s conversational AI chatbot

Google Gemini can help you draft text, summarize documents, create images, write code and more. Sign in with your UW Google Workspace account and start exploring what this smart tool can do.

Help plan the 2025 IT Professionals Conference

We’re looking for creative, enthusiastic people like you to help plan our next conference. Attend an informational meeting to learn more about the committee and planning process. Jan 29, 1pm via Teams.

Qualtrics default survey layout changing to improve accessibility

In early January, we’ll change the default to the “simple layout.” It’s designed for improved usability on mobile devices and enhanced accessibility when using assistive technologies.

UW–‍Madison blocks 3rd party AI services for enhanced security

This proactive move aims to reduce risks from unapproved AI bots, like otter.ai and meetrecord.com. If you need an artificial intelligence meeting assistant, please consider Zoom’s built-in AI Companion, which is approved for university use.

Microsoft Personal Bookings now available to faculty, staff & students

This new tool integrates with your Outlook calendar to make scheduling and managing appointments a breeze. Try it out and explore the service’s many features, including automated reminders.

Help Desk phone support offline Sep 28

Due to a VoIP upgrade, Help Desk phone lines will be offline Saturday, 5pm to 11pm. Help Desk agents will still assist via chat, email and online portals.

Increased email security helps spot imposter emails

If we determine an email is suspicious, it will arrive in your junk folder instead of your inbox. Learn why this matters and what you should do.