Fall 2025 Welcome Letter

JMU Community,

Welcome to the new academic year! I trust everyone had a pleasant summer. Given the numerous changes since last fall, I would like to share some important reminders and updates.

As you may be aware, Governor Youngkin has issued executive orders that affect our community. Specifically, TikTok and other ByteDance and TenCent applications are prohibited on our network and should not be installed on university-owned devices. Additionally, the use of DeepSeek is also forbidden for use on university computers and the network. (Executive Order 46).  Furthermore, Executive Order 30 requires us to monitor and document the use of AI technologies on campus. While IT must review and approve all technology acquired by the university, additional requirements now apply to artificial intelligence solutions.

The technology review process is designed to safeguard university data, prevent duplication of existing or deprecated systems through Reengineering Madison, and ensure the continued security and privacy of our network and community members. To request a review, please submit a Technology Solution Request.

Information Technology remains committed to protecting our data and systems; however, this mission relies on the cooperation and diligence of our entire community. The recent implementation of Okta enhances our security, and we will continue to explore its features. Additionally, new security awareness training will be available this fall to support you in safeguarding both personal and university information. Please refer to the provided guidelines for appropriate storage and transmission of university data to ensure compliance with current standards.

As of August 1, eID folders on the N: drive have been made read-only as part of our File Storage initiative. This transition will migrate university storage from the N: drive, hosted in university data centers, to Microsoft 365 platforms. This change offers greater flexibility and enhanced security for your data. Our primary focus for this project during this academic year will be migrating shared files to Teams and SharePoint. Please watch future newsletters for more information on this initiative.

With the growing accessibility of artificial intelligence, there are many valuable ways to leverage these technologies. Please consult the guidance on appropriate AI usage and familiarize yourself with the newly established standards and the guidelines we’ve published for the university community. IT has vetted and offers the GenAI tool, Microsoft Copilot with Data Protections Chat for use by the entire university community. Also available for faculty/staff through purchase with departmental funds is Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Information on our Copilot offerings is available here. These are the only GenAI tools approved for use by our community.  The use of other tools requires review and approval by IT.

Finally, Reengineering Madison remains a central initiative, engaging both IT staff and key stakeholders. We look forward to embracing the opportunities presented by modern technology and remain committed to realizing improved processes and operational efficiencies.

IT is dedicated to supporting your needs and welcomes your input. Please feel free to contact me directly or provide your feedback through the Help Desk.

Robin Bryan

AVP for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer