A Fall Update from our CIO, Dr. Sharyne Miller

As we begin a new academic year, I am excited to welcome our campus community back and share what lies ahead for technology at UNCW. We in ITS continue to strengthen our services, expand opportunities and explore new ways technology can support our campus today and into the future. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into how our work is taking shape across UNCW and what it means for our campus.

Exploring AI at UNCW

Your Hub for All Things AI

UNCW continues to expand the AI resources and opportunities available to our community, and the AI Hub brings them together in one place. Created in partnership with Julian Keith, professor of Psychology in the College of Science and Engineering, the Hub connects you with supported tools, learning opportunities, governance, news, events and more.

Be sure to check out the AI Showcase to see the creative ways our community is using AI. Then, join the conversation through AI Currents, a space to exchange ideas and resources, ask questions and connect with others exploring AI at UNCW.

Tap into the AI Hub Today

Take Part in the ChatGPT Pilot

Faculty and staff still have time to join UNCW’s ChatGPT pilot, which runs through April 1, 2027. With a limited number of licenses remaining, now is a great time to request access and get involved. Participants gain hands-on experience using generative AI for teaching, research, administration and everyday work while helping UNCW better understand its value across the university.

As participation has grown, new monthly credit allocations have been introduced to help manage resources through the remainder of the pilot. Participants can find information about their allocation and tips for making the most of their credits on the ChatGPT for UNCW Teams site (available only to pilot participants).

EXPLORE THE CHATGPT PILOT

Simplifying & Securing Your Sign-In Experience

Make the Switch to Microsoft Authenticator Today

Microsoft Authenticator is quickly becoming the new way to sign in at UNCW. Faculty and staff can switch today and take advantage of convenient sign-in options such as Face ID, Touch ID and device PINs. It also brings UNCW closer to a passwordless sign-in experience while reducing password resets to just once a year.

Switch to Microsoft Authenticator today

For an inside look at why we’re excited about Microsoft Authenticator, we turn to our featured subject matter expert this semester, IT Security Engineer Matt Gercak. Matt shares what sets Authenticator apart and the advantages it offers over Duo.

Meet Matt & See Why Authenticator Excels.

One more update to keep on your radar is that Microsoft is making security changes to SMS and voice authentication. As we prepare for what’s ahead, stay tuned for more information from us this fall.

Coming Soon: Windows Hello for Business

We are continuing to make signing in easier and more secure with Windows Hello for Business. Soon, faculty and staff will have the option to use facial recognition, a fingerprint or PIN to sign in to their UNCW-owned Windows device instead of relying on a password. More information and resources will be shared as we get closer to launch.

Resources Worth Rediscovering

Discover More with Percipio

Whether you want to strengthen a skill, explore a new topic or learn something just because you are curious, Percipio gives students, faculty and staff access to thousands of courses, books, videos and other learning resources, with new content added every month.

Start Learning with Percipio

A Creative Perk You May Not Know About

Adobe Express is free for students, faculty and staff, with easy-to-use tools for creating graphics, presentations, videos and more.

Get Creative with Adobe Express

A Microsoft 365 Perk Worth Knowing

Your UNCW Microsoft 365 benefits extend to your personal devices. Students, faculty and staff can install apps such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint on up to five personal devices for free!

Learn How to Install Microsoft 365.

Strengthening & Improving Campus Technology

Softdocs: What’s Next

The transition from Perceptive Content (ImageNow/WebNow) to Softdocs is underway, with planning, preparation, and early adoption efforts progressing this fall. The phased implementation will continue through spring 2027, expanding UNCW's capabilities for document management, online forms, electronic signatures and workflow automation.

See the latest Softdocs updates

A New Phone System That Works the Way You Do

We are moving forward with switching from our current phone system to a cloud-based one designed to integrate with tools already in use across campus. As the project moves forward, we will share more details, timelines and guidance to ensure you have plenty of notice before any changes are made.

A New VPN Is Coming

A new VPN solution is planned for rollout in early 2027 as part of our ongoing efforts to improve campus security. We will share additional information ahead of the transition, including rollout details, guidance and when you can start using the new VPN.

Celebrating Our People & Community

Say Hello to New Staff & New Beginnings

Technology may be at the center of what we do, but it is our people who make that work possible. We are excited to welcome Josie Banner, Devin DiMattia, Neil Stewart and Sam Hastings to ITS. Together, they bring experience and expertise across classroom technology, networking and technical support. 

Meet These ITS Team Members

Celebrating Our Team

There is a lot to celebrate across ITS! From university recognition and campus leadership to industry expertise and academic achievements, our team continues to make an impact at UNCW and beyond.

Join Us in Celebrating Our Team

Get Ready for Upcoming ITS Events

We’re looking forward to getting out and connecting with our Seahawks throughout the year! ITS events are a great way to learn, engage with our team and maybe even score a prize or some free swag. Take a look at what’s coming up and stay tuned for more details as each event gets closer.

• Fall: Cybersecurity Awareness Month and CyberBowl kick things off in October, followed by Techsgiving in November.
• Spring: Tech Xperience returns, bringing our campus together to discover technology, connect with ITS and see innovation in action.

Looking Ahead

As we move through the fall semester, we remain focused on building a technology environment that supports our campus community today while preparing UNCW for what comes next.

From modernizing the systems behind our everyday work to creating opportunities to explore emerging technology or helping our community get more from the tools already available to them, our work starts with supporting the people who teach, learn and work at UNCW.

Thank you for continuing to engage with ITS and for helping us shape the future of technology on campus. Have a great semester, Seahawks!