A Conversation with CIO Mark Henderson

Technology never stands still, and neither does Pitt IT. Behind the scenes, the department is continuously replacing and upgrading infrastructure, hardware, and systems to ensure that the University is operating on the most up-to-date and secure technologies. Here's a rundown of some of the IT projects from the first half of 2022:

With the first day of summer just around the corner, you may be preparing to take a much-needed vacation. But completely disconnecting from work isn’t easy. In a 2022 poll by Qualtrics, nearly 50% of workers reported working at least an hour a day while on vacation, with about a quarter of respondents working at least 3 hours daily. The University of Pittsburgh encourages faculty and staff to fully rest, relax, and recharge while on vacation. You shouldn’t be working during PTO time … period.

With many students taking the summer term off, most faculty having a lighter teaching schedule, and some departments enjoying a less structured schedule, the next few months give many students, staff, and faculty a perfect opportunity to engage in personal learning and professional development. Here in Pitt IT, we recommend brushing up on your tech skills so you can work more efficiently and effectively in the fall and beyond.

It’s hard to believe there are only few weeks left in the spring semester. Time flies when you’re having fun and staying busy! We here at Pitt IT wish everyone luck as they hand in their final assignments and tackle upcoming deadlines. Whether you’re graduating at the end of the month, looking to land a good summer job or internship, or merely planning to relax for a few months, here are some tips and tasks we recommend you complete as the spring semester comes to an end.

When Microsoft Word was released, it made word processing easy. Now, most people can do basic formatting without a thought. If you aren’t a designer, editor, or creator of specialized documents, you have little need for the most advanced capabilities. But there are several lesser-known features that are life-savers in the right circumstances. Here are the top 5 tools you should definitely learn more about.

With the majority of us walking around with smartphones in our pockets, it’s easy to forget that the first personal computer (the MITS Altair) wasn’t developed until 1974 and that they didn’t start to catch on until 1977 with the release of the Apple, TRS-80, and Commodore Model 1.

Running a lab requires a diverse set of skills that go beyond mastery of the subject matter and designing a study. Data management, inventory management, and space/equipment scheduling are important, too. In the past, researchers used everything from sign-up sheets and inventory logs, to reems of notebooks and individual PCs to keep track of everything.

Cybersecurity is one of the most talked-about tech fields right now. As of late 2021, there are hundreds of thousands of open cybersecurity jobs in the United States. However, while the jobs are plentiful, diversity in cybersecurity is scarce. According to the Aspen Digital Tech Policy hub, only 4% of the IT security workforce identifies as Hispanic, 8% as Asian, and 9% as Black. On top of that, only 24% identify as women.

Some of the services provided by Pitt IT are hard to miss. When you visit Student Computing Labs, Pitt Print Stations or Drop-In Support on campus, call the Technology Help Desk, or have a Pitt IT consultant providing on-site support, it’s pretty clear you’re working with Pitt IT.