In our recent discussion with the ICT Director Michael Barr, we highlighted faculty concerns regarding the restrictive nature of the current ICT policy, particularly around administrator rights to individual computers. While ICT aims to protect the university from security risks, many faculty members argue that research demands—including the use of specialized software or experimental equipment—require admin privileges. We have been informed that ICT is actively exploring ways to grant selected individuals admin access, though implementation details are still under review. Additionally, there are plans to reconfigure the network so that each department or unit eventually operates on its own subnet, improving local autonomy and security. The timeline for these changes is projected to extend into early 2026.

Another topic of interest involves the process for approving non-listed or specialized research software. ICT does not yet have concrete data on typical approval times; however, members have reported that recent experiences, such as requests for Adobe products or tailored Canvas support, have been smooth and relatively prompt. Moving forward, more transparency around timelines for specialized software and firmware approvals is desired, given the critical role these tools play in research and teaching.

Faculty are also questioning policies that restrict the use of certain tools such as Grammarly, which remains disallowed due to privacy and copyright concerns. These concerns stem largely from publishers who fear that their copyrighted materials may be uploaded to generative AI systems for summarization. ICT is working on a “data on cloud” policy to address how data—particularly publisher-protected content—can be shared with AI services. The hope is that once a unified policy is in place, some current prohibitions might be lifted or modified.

Another pressing matter relates to employees on parental leave or long-term disability (LTD). Existing labor regulations mandate that individuals on these leaves should not perform any work-related tasks, leading to revoked system access. This policy seems unlikely to change.

In the hardware sphere, faculty continue to request support for Mac computers, citing new Mac models that are powerful and cost-effective. However, ICT remains focused on Windows machines. For many faculty, the move to Windows 11 is a growing concern. Updates can occur suddenly, with the risk that older machines will become inoperable. To mitigate disruptions, ICT suggests ordering hardware well in advance and has extended the update deadline to October 2026, though older machines could be forced to update as early as 2025.

Finally, questions arose about data collection and retention from systems such as SharePoint, OneDrive, Canvas, and UniFi. While ICT confirms this data is stored—often encrypted in Azure—the exact retention policies and uses need clearer documentation. Article 10.5.11 specifies that Except where a serious allegation of misconduct involving computer use has been made against an employee, the employer agrees that computer, and electronic mail, and media of employees shall not be examined. As for the human-staffed helpdesk once located in the Arts building basement, there is uncertainty about its current status, underscoring the overall call for better communication from ICT.