The University of Illinois Chicago has released its 2024 Chief Information Officer (CIO) Report, detailing progress in technology infrastructure, cybersecurity measures, AI tools, and research computing. According to Chief Information Officer Matt Riley, “I am pleased to share a summary of the exciting achievements and forward-looking initiatives that Technology Solutions worked on in 2024 to propel us toward innovation and excellence in IT at the University of Illinois Chicago.” The report highlights the university’s ongoing efforts to improve digital services for students, instructors, and staff.
As part of recent updates, UIC is moving its phone system to Zoom Phone. Bala Ramaraju, director of IT Strategy and Planning at UIC Business, acknowledged the work of Mat Willis, Bill Sullivan, and Gerry Taylor: “The team’s exceptional planning, execution and support…ensured a smooth transition with minimal user issues.”
In an effort to streamline communications and enhance security, 710 Gmail accounts were moved over the summer to Microsoft Exchange as part of a university-wide email consolidation initiative.
UIC is also shifting from Blackboard to Canvas for its learning management system. The transition aims to provide a more accessible platform for students and faculty.
Technology Solutions completed an upgrade of network infrastructure at the Retzky College of Pharmacy. This move supports broader efforts across campus to modernize technology systems.
Responding to a new federal rule from the Department of Justice requiring all public universities’ digital content meet updated accessibility standards by April 2026, UIC has launched a Digital Accessibility Hub designed to help meet these requirements.
Improvements are being made across UIC’s printing network with changes aimed at supporting mobile device use while keeping costs low.
A forthcoming study will seek feedback from instructors, faculty, and staff about campus technology services. The results are expected to inform future improvements in tools and resources available through IT@UIC Services.
Faculty can access support through their college or unit IT teams as well as through Learning Technology Solutions—which manages teaching technologies including lecture capture and course design—and provides extended weekend hours for fall 2025.
Research computing resources are available through Advanced Cyberinfrastructure for Education and Research (ACER), which offers high-speed networking, secure storage solutions, advanced computing capabilities, and workshops on programming languages such as Python or R along with topics like Machine Learning or Generative AI.
Online safety remains a priority. Faculty and staff are advised about common scams such as fraudulent emails requesting urgent favors or containing fake links related to employment opportunities or account information. Suspicious messages should be reported promptly.