Tech Trends on Campus

Student - Summer 2025

The Latest With OIT

OIT is thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new website. Designed with you in mind, our new site features a modern design, improved navigation, and enhanced functionality to provide a better user experience. Whether you're looking for resources, support, or the latest updates, our new website makes it easier than ever to find what you need.

Incoming Freshmen

Whether virtual or in-person, you have access to free software and technology that will make your time here a breeze. Review the check list before you arrive!

Graduating Seniors

Your IT services are transitioning to a new chapter just like you! Click the link above to review all the steps you should take as you graduate.

New Strategic Plan

OIT will be launching our next 3-year strategic plan this summer. Check out our current plan on the OIT website.

Follow Us on Social

Our social media pages post updates about outages, useful tips and tech news. Follow us on X, Instagram and YouTube!

Student Positions and Co-Ops

OIT offers a variety of student positions and select co-ops throughout the organization. 

Blackboard Ultra

Get ready for a transformative learning experience with Blackboard Ultra, the latest version of UA’s learning management system! Designed by educators, Ultra enhances teaching and learning with its intuitive interface and powerful features. 

By Spring 2026, all University of Alabama courses will transition to Blackboard Ultra, leaving behind Blackboard Original after Fall 2025. Students will still have access to their Original course contents as per UA's LMS Course Retention Policy.

Ultra prioritizes accessibility and offers advanced analytics and reporting to make life easier for faculty and instructors. Students can enjoy seamless access to course materials anytime, anywhere, thanks to its mobile-first design. Visit cit.ua.edu/ultra for more information. 

Copilot is Here to Stay

OIT has been hosting Copilot education sessions throughout the spring semester led by Microsoft educators. Every single student, faculty and staff member have access to Copilot's enterprise-grade data protection completely free. Microsoft Copilot is based on GPT-4 language models and is a safer, smarter alternative to ChatGPT. Keep an eye out on the UA calendar for our next session!

High-Performance Computing

The University of Alabama is making remarkable progress on its High Performance Computing (HPC) Center and Data Center. From engaging with over 100 faculty members to hosting vendors, UA is on track to revolutionize its research infrastructure. Discover how OIT and ORED are shaping the future with strategic partnerships, a new Enterprise Data Center project, and more!

Onward and Upward for Mike Tierney

OIT is excited to share that Mike Tierney has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at OIT. Mike has been a dedicated member of the OIT team for 12 years, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership to his new role. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of IT Operations, where he played a pivotal role in driving operational excellence and innovation. Mike's promotion is a testament to his hard work, vision, and commitment to advancing OIT's technological capabilities. Congratulations, Mike!

Have a suggestion for the Fall newsletter? 

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