January 2026

Book time with an IT Tech

Are you UBCO Staff or Faculty? Have an IT issue but don't want to wait in line?

You can now book a 15 or 30 min appointment at the Service Desk for up to 1 week in advance to discuss tech issues you are having. Note: This service is only available to staff/faculty at this time. Students can visit the Library desk Mon-Fri 9-5 or use Student Tech Support online.

UBCO IT Year-in-review

From smarter support and user friendly classroom tech to network upgrades and creative media projects, in 2025 UBCO IT worked to enhance experiences, security and support for UBCO students, faculty, and staff. And don't forget the IT Holiday Open House! VIEW REVIEW...

AI in Action: Custom AI

Curious about AI but not sure where to start? Join the Centre for Teaching and Learning for a hands-on demo of easy-to-use tools like OpenWebUI and Ollama. Run AI on your own device, craft better prompts, and explore real-world use cases—no deep skills required. Perfect for beginners and anyone looking to boost productivity securely. Join the event and Teams Channel.

UBCO Lightboard Demo

The Lightboard lets users face their audience—or the camera—while writing or drawing on a transparent, illuminated glass board. Join a live demo Tuesday January 27, 1:30-2:15 pm at the Innovative Teaching Community of Practice (CTL CoP) online or in person in SCI 331. Contact Ross McKerlich for more details.

 

Privacy Matters - January

In this month's newsletter: Learn how to spot and stop phishing attempts before they compromise your data, your accounts, or the university. And check out sessions happening during 2026 Data Privacy Week. LEARN MORE...

Data Privacy Week 2026

Data Privacy Week offers a series of informative sessions focusing on privacy and information security. From January 27 to 29, 2026, faculty and staff are invited to engage in discussions aimed at raising awareness about crucial privacy issues affecting our community. LEARN MORE...

Required Security Training

UBC has launched required online Information Security Training for Administrative Heads of Unit (AHoU). This self-paced course offers practical tools and clear guidance to help protect UBC’s data and systems. While mandatory for AHoU, it’s open to all staff through the Workplace Learning Ecosystem. Automated Workday notifications for AHoU will begin in March 2026, prompting completion within one month of notification LEARN MORE...

January M365 Training

These one-hour virtual workshops give an overview of M365 applications and their functionality, and offer live demos plus time to ask questions of UBC IT's M365 experts. M365 Tools covered include Co-Pilot Chat, Outlook, OneDrive & Teams. LEARN MORE...

Shared Bookings Available

Microsoft Bookings is UBC’s self-service scheduling tool that provides a web-based bookings page that connects to your Outlook calendar. Shared Bookings for pooled team scheduling is now available by submitting a request. REQUEST SHARED BOOKING...

Teaching With Technology

The Learning Technology Hub is a central resource where faculty and staff can explore the learning technologies available at UBC—for use in traditional classrooms, blended courses and fully-online learning. 

Learn about UBC’s core learning technologies by attending the CTLT’s workshops. Sessions are held regularly. LEARN MORE...​​​​​​​

 

 

UBC Extended Learning: AI

Did you know UBC Extended Learning offers courses on artificial intelligence? Registration is open for January courses including:

  • AI at University: Helping Your Teen

  • AI Foundations 1: Concepts and Tools

  • AI Strategy: Benefits of Personalization

  • AI Strategy: Interactive experiences

VIEW AI COURSES TO LEARN MORE...

Dell UBC Employee Deals

Need a new laptop for home or a family member? Start your holiday season with Dell's Holiday Sale with up to $500 off laptops and desktops. UBC employees get a 10% discount with the Member Purchase Program coupon and can shop online using the link in the coupon email. 

Get IT News in MS Teams

Join the UBCO IT Engagement MS Team for the latest news, advice and support on technology at UBCO. We share upcoming training, notifications of outages, and details on known issues that may disrupt your work. To join CLICK HERE.

Upcoming Maintenance

Please visit the Status Page for the most up-to-date information on planned upgrades and outages at UBC IT Status Page

Upcoming Events

  • AI-in-Action @ UBCO 2026 Workshops

    • Demo from CTL - Using AI Locally for more Customized and Secure Projects
      Wednesday January 14 | 11:00 - 12:00 PDT

      • Curious about AI but not sure where to start? Join Michael Ogden from the Centre for Teaching and Learning for a hands-on demo of easy-to-use tools like OpenWebUI and Ollama. Learn to run AI locally, craft better prompts, and explore real-world use cases—no deep technical skills required. Perfect for beginners and anyone looking to boost productivity securely.
        JOIN TEAM & ADD TO CALENDAR

    • Using AI and UBC's M365 Tools to Automate Projects
      Thursday February 26 | 10:00 - 11:00 PDT

      • See how AI and automation can save you time! Mark Montgomery from UBC IT Communications will share live demos of real projects—like automating newsletters and streamlining signage—using Microsoft tools and Canva. Walk away with practical tips to make your workflows faster and smarter.
        JOIN TEAM & ADD TO CALENDAR

  • January Innovative Teaching Community of Practice (CTL CoP): Lightboard Demo
    Tuesday January 27 | 1:30 - 2:15 PDT

    • Each 50-minute session will focus on a different innovative teachingtechnique and/or tool. In the first half CoP members will highlight one technique/tool through their experiences (including a short demo of the innovative teaching technique and/or tool) and insights (including any relevant scholarly literature). In the second half everyone will engage in a collective inquiry and brainstorming of how to apply techniques/tools to their own contexts.

      The UBC Lightboard is an innovative teaching and presentation tool that lets users face their audience—or the camera—while writing or drawing on a transparent, illuminated glass board. It’s a dynamic way to create engaging, visually rich videos.

      Please reach out to the CTL Coordinator for this CoP, Ross McKerlich,ross.mckerlich@ubc.ca to be added to the email list and to receive the Zoom link to join virtually.

  • M365 Training: Productivity Tips for CoPilot, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and more!
    Various dates & times

  • Privacy Matters Monthly Phishing Workshop

    • During each session, the Privacy Matters team provides insight into our featured privacy & information security topic while reviewing recent phishing campaigns that have targeted the university and individuals within our community. We aim to increase privacy and information security awareness through education, training, and hands-on learning.

      Visit the On Demand page to stream recordings of select events (CWL login required).

    • January 2026 Phishing Workshop
      January 14, 2026 | 11:00-11:30 am, ONLINE

    • February 2026 Phishing Workshop
      February 11, 2026 | 11:00-11:30 am, ONLINE

  • Privacy Matters Online Events for Data Privacy Week 2026
    January 27-29, 2026 | Various dates and times

    • What's New in Privacy at UBC?
      January 27, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PDT

      • Celebrate Data Privacy Week with a special session featuring opening remarks from BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, followed by an inside look at the latest advancements in UBC’s privacy landscape, led by the PrISM SRS team.
        REGISTER

    • Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests
      January 28, 2026 |11:00 - 12:00 PDT

      • Get a clear overview of FOI requests at UBC—what they are, how they’re handled, and how to balance transparency with protecting sensitive information. Learn practical tips for navigating the FOI process and supporting accountability across the university.
        REGISTER

    • AI Privacy & Information Security: Same Game, Faster & Smarter Players
      January 29, 2026 1:00 - 2:00 PDT

      • As artificial intelligence use accelerates, it's reshaping the privacy and information security landscape - but not inventing new problems. This session explores the key risks that AI amplifies and how these challenges are rooted in long-standing privacy challenges.
        REGISTER

  • Generative AI in Teaching and Learning Series

    • This year, AI has emerged as a significant tool in education, and faculty at UBC are grappling with its integration in the classroom. The UBC Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) has introduced a new educational series, GenAI in Teaching and Learning. This series aims to help educators transition from concerns to understanding to seeing the opportunities generative AI presents.This series offers:

      • Weekly GenAI Support Clinics: One-hour drop-in clinics on teaching and learning topics to do with the use of tools such as ChatGPT, Stability AI, Google Bard and others, every Wednesday.
      • Integrating GenAI in Education at UBC 30+30 Workshops: 30-minute interactive presentations followed by 30-minutes of discussion designed to assist faculty and staff in navigating this new landscape.
      • AI in Teaching and Learning website: A hub for ongoing support and up-to-date tools and resources for leveraging Generative AI for teaching and learning.
    • View all sessions and register HERE
  • UBC Extended Learning Courses in Artificial Intelligence
    Various Dates & Times
    • UBC Extended Learning Artificial Intelligence courses and programs are designed to provide the in-demand skills and expertise to plan, integrate and optimize AI technologies within cloud solutions and digital media. Through relevant content and expert instruction, gain key competencies to make critical decisions and consider the ethical implications of incorporating AI to position your organization for success.

      The courses offeedr in this area can be taken separately or taken in succession to complete a credential. Plus elgible UBC employees can use Tuition Waivers towards the cost. 
      LEARN MORE...

QUESTIONS?

UBCO IT Engagement Services offers a single point of contact for departments and faculties at the Okanagan campus to access the information technology support and services they need to enable exceptional learning and research. 

Learn more about our team HERE or send us an email or submit a ticket via the UBC Self-Service Portal.