As the energy of a new academic year returns to campus, I am excited to welcome our community back for the fall semester. This time of year is filled with possibility. Classrooms come alive, research activities accelerate, and our campuses once again buzz with the connections and discoveries that define the University of Vermont.

Over the summer, teams across the Office of the CIO and our partners throughout the university focused on strengthening the foundations that support teaching, learning, research, and operations while advancing strategic initiatives that will help enable UVM's priorities in the years ahead.

I am happy to share a few key updates:

Summer Investments and Technology Improvements

  • Enhancing learning spaces. Classroom technology upgrades were completed across multiple teaching spaces, improving reliability, instructional capabilities, and the overall classroom experience for faculty and students. Those locations include: Given E131, Perkins 102, Old Mill Annex A207, Lafayette L211, Lafayette L212, Innovation E102, E105, E204, Southwick 200B, and the UVM Horse Barn.
  • Strengthening connectivity across campus. Major wireless network upgrades expanded coverage and performance in residence halls and continued across academic and administrative buildings, helping ensure a more consistent and reliable experience for students, faculty, and staff.
  • Investing in infrastructure, security, and research support. Behind the scenes, significant work was completed to strengthen the resilience, security, and reliability of UVM's technology environment.
    • In partnership with the Larner College of Medicine, we connected our separate Microsoft 365 environments through Microsoft's Multi-Tenant Organization (MTO) capability, making it easier for colleagues across both organizations to find, communicate, and collaborate with one another.
    • We also continued investments in UVM's research computing environment, adding faster storage to the Vermont Advanced Computing Center (VACC) and expanding large-scale storage resources available through Netfiles to support the university's growing research needs. Learn more about research computing resources through Research Computing Services.

Launching IT Governance

We also launched UVM's new IT Governance Program, an important step toward more transparent, collaborative, and strategic technology decision-making. Being implemented in phases, the program will strengthen partnership, accountability, and shared decision-making across the institution while helping ensure that technology investments align with university priorities.

Operational Excellence and Digital Transformation

UVM continues to advance modernization and operational excellence efforts through Catamount LEAP, helping streamline processes, reduce friction, and create capacity for the future. These efforts represent an ongoing commitment to improving how we work and how we deliver services across the university. View our new project dashboard of 15+ projects that are activated across the university.

Artificial Intelligence and Modern Work

The AI Task Force continues to advance opportunities for the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across UVM. This work includes identifying ways AI can improve services, enhance the student and employee experience, and support teaching, learning, research, and administrative operations while remaining grounded in our Common Ground Values. The task force has also established priorities for the coming academic year, alongside new guidance and an expanded portfolio of AI services to support the UVM community. (link when available)

At the same time, interest in practical applications of AI and modern workplace technologies continues to grow across the university. This summer, we completed the second cohort of our AI and Modern Work Program, bringing the total number of participants to nearly 100 colleagues who have now transitioned into an ongoing community of practice. We look forward to launching another cohort soon.

Communities of Practice

Our growing Communities of Practice brings together colleagues from across UVM to share expertise, build connections, and advance new ways of working. Current communities focus on organizational change management, AI and modern work, and project management, providing opportunities to share best practices, develop new skills, and strengthen collaboration across the university. To learn more or participate, email UPMO@uvm.edu.

Office of the CIO Website

This summer we launched a new Office of the CIO website that provides a broader view of the technology, security, data, AI, governance, and transformation work taking place across the university. The site serves as a central resource for learning more about strategic initiatives and how technology supports UVM's mission.

Cybersecurity Reminder

As we welcome a new semester, a simple reminder: pause before you click. Most security incidents begin with a convincing email, text message, or unexpected authentication request. If something seems unusual, take a moment to verify before responding. A little caution goes a long way in helping protect our community, our data, and the university's mission.

Looking Ahead, Lead with Us

Technology continues to be a critical enabler of UVM's mission. As we look ahead, our focus remains on strengthening the student, faculty, and staff experience; modernizing core services and infrastructure; supporting research and innovation; and building the partnerships necessary to advance institutional priorities.

While technology enables what is possible, it is the people, relationships, and processes we create together that shape the experiences we deliver, define our future, and propel this university forward. We invite faculty, staff, and students to join us in this work, bringing your ideas, expertise, and leadership as we continue building a stronger and more connected UVM together.

Warmly,
Dr. Kellie Campbell
Chief Information Officer
University of Vermont