News & Alerts

Whether or not you like New Year’s resolutions, setting goals and pursuing self-improvement is an important part of personal growth. Here in Pitt IT, we know that a little bit of tech can make a big difference in helping to achieve your ambitions.

Winter break is the perfect time to unwind and recharge, but it can also be a great opportunity to check off some tech-related tasks. Whether you're looking to learn something new, organize your digital life, or just relax, we’ve got some tips to make your winter break both productive and enjoyable. 

Skiing and snowboarding at Seven Springs. Ice skating at PPG Place. Building snowmen or going sledding in the backyard. … Or shoveling the sidewalk, clearing off the car, and praying for roads that aren’t ‘slippy’.

Ah, the thrill of finals week—a rollercoaster of cramming, late-night study sessions, and an alarming spike in caffeine consumption. But fear not! Students can prepare for the final stretch using an array of cutting-edge technological resources that can greatly enhance efficiency and effectiveness. So stop worrying and start preparing!

At the University of Pittsburgh, technology isn’t just about making tasks easier—it’s about making them accessible to everyone. Copilot for Microsoft 365 (M365), now available for faculty and staff at Pitt, takes this mission to the next level.

Graduation is a pivotal moment for students, marking the successful completion of their academic journey. Ensuring that all graduation requirements are met is a crucial task for university staff, but it can be a daunting and time-consuming process. At the University of Pittsburgh, an innovative approach was taken to simplify and expedite this process, thanks to the collaboration between the Academic Records Office and Pitt Digital.

The Setting:Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday are all happening in the next week. Freshly recovered from their Thanksgiving food coma, people are logging on or heading out to take advantage of great deals on gifts for their kids, partners, friends, and family.

Since its rollout in November 2022, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has sparked widespread discussions about its potential impact on education and learning. Recognizing its growing use in academic settings, Pitt IT developed PittGPT, a version tailored specifically for the Pitt community.

Joseph Yun, a research professor of electrical engineering and an architect of PittGPT, said that the university did this because tech companies, like OpenAI, charge a large amount for their enterprise-designed versions.

As Thanksgiving rolls around, it's natural to start reflecting on all the things we’re grateful for, including the tech that helps us get through life a little easier. Whether it’s powering through late-night study sessions, connecting with family and friends, or just saving time, some standout tools make being a student, faculty, or staff member at Pitt that much better.

November is National Career Development Month, making it the perfect time to focus on building your professional skills and connections. As you reflect on your career, it’s important to adopt a holistic perspective.

This election season has been intense, sparking heightened conversations on campus and across social media platforms. While staying informed is important, protecting your mental health and well-being is equally essential.

At its monthly meeting on Oct. 28, the Senate Computing and Information Technology committee was briefed on a transition from one business intelligence report-writing tool to another as well as a pilot artificial-intelligence service being tailored for the Pitt community.

At the University of Pittsburgh and in technology, innovation is a way of life. Recently, Pitt IT partnered with the Office of Budget Operations (OBO) within the Controller’s Office to transform their annual Target Letter process, which establishes budget targets for each University unit.

Phishing attacks can come in various forms—emails, texts, or social media messages. Click, respond, or otherwise give your personal information to hacker, and your system, data, and money are in big trouble. A successful phish can even give a bad actor access to Pitt systems and data, potentially risking the whole University and its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners! But you can stop phishing attempts before they can do you any harm. Learn to spot the signs of a phishing attack and know what to do if you get one.

Even with strong, unique passwords for every account — and let’s face it, many people just rotate through a handful of passwords while using standard security questions — hackers manage to break into people’s accounts. That's where Multifactor Authentication (MFA) steps in as your digital sidekick, adding an extra layer of security to protect your accounts.

Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel and Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian celebrated Pittsburgh’s role as an AI Tech Community by signing a ceremonial memorandum of understanding with NVIDIA at AI Horizons Pittsburgh on Oct. 14. The summit included keynote remarks from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, discussing Pittsburgh’s global role in human-first AI innovation.

One of the easiest ways to boost your cybersecurity is to keep your software and apps updated. Every day, developers are looking for clues that hackers are trying to break into their systems. They are searching for holes where cybercriminals could sneak in, even if they’ve never been breached before. They then release updates to fix these issues and keep the bad actors out. All you have to do is install the latest updates for your devices, software, and apps — including web browsers — to get the latest protections.

NVIDIA’s Joint Center with the University of Pittsburgh for AI and Intelligent Systems will focus on computational opportunities across the health sciences, including applications of AI in clinical medicine and biomanufacturing.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is a great time to level up your security game! While we’re all familiar with the classic advice to "create unique and strong passwords," keeping track of all those passwords is a whole other story. Who can remember a different 20-character string of letters, numbers, and symbols for every account? Enter the password manager: your new security cheat code.

John Duska, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the University of Pittsburgh, has been recognized as a Top 100 Accelerated CISO Award Winner, a prestigious honor that highlights emerging security leaders with less than five years in the role. The merit-based program celebrates those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, innovation, and a commitment to advancing the cybersecurity industry.

Pitt has been affected by recent sextortion scams targeting students through their University email accounts.

Let’s be real — emailing professors or colleagues can feel like throwing a paper airplane into an abyss. Crafting a clear, professional, and respectful email can help ensure that people read and respond to your messages, while poor email etiquette can negatively impact relationships with colleagues and clients according to a study by the Journal of Business and Technical Communication. Fear not! Here’s a crash course on how to master the art of email etiquette.

Gotta love technology. It lets us study, meet, or work wherever we happen to be – whether it’s on campus, in a public space, or at home! Hybrid and remote environments are the norm for many people these days. But while it offers next-level convenience, it is crucial to ensure your remote setup is optimized for productivity and security. Here are five essential steps for working off-site.

Happy fall Panthers! My name is Grace Brignola, and I am a rising Junior studying Marketing and Business Information Systems here at Pitt. I serve as a Tech Ambassador for the University, which gives me the opportunity and privilege to train and promote all our technology resources to current students.