Dear York College Community,
As we move further into the spring semester, Information Technology remains focused on advancing York’s strategic priorities — strengthening operational resilience, modernizing service delivery, and positioning the College to lead responsibly in emerging technologies such as AI.
This month’s update highlights institutional progress and forward momentum across several strategic areas.
1. From Infrastructure to Experience: Strengthening the Digital Environment
While hardware deployments and system upgrades continue behind the scenes, our primary focus has shifted from installation metrics to service experience and performance outcomes.
February efforts have centered on:
Ensuring technology investments directly support student-facing operations
Aligning classroom, lab, and office environments with modern teaching and learning standards
Strengthening security protocols around equipment deployment and lifecycle management
Preparing for the final completion phase of our campus-wide refresh initiatives
The objective is not simply to replace aging equipment, but to ensure that York’s technology environment remains reliable, secure, and aligned with academic and administrative needs.
2. Student Experience Modernization: Service Transformation in Motion
February has been a pivotal month in preparing for the upcoming launch of the upgraded virtual queuing platform.
This initiative represents more than a system upgrade — it is part of a broader strategy to:
Reduce friction in student service interactions
Improve communication transparency
Enable data-informed service planning
Create a more predictable and equitable experience for students
With a March go-live target, departments are actively participating in structured training and validation. The goal is a unified, student-centered service model across key offices.
3. AI Governance and Institutional Readiness
Artificial Intelligence continues to be a central area of strategic focus, February activity has emphasized three parallel tracks:
A. Responsible Adoption
Conversations across campus are increasingly focused not only on how AI tools can be used, but how they should be governed. Discussions this month have addressed:
B. YorkGPT Maturation
YorkGPT has entered a stabilization and refinement phase. With foundational development complete, we are now focused on:
Expanding validated use cases
Increasing student engagement
Improving accuracy and production readiness
Aligning AI initiatives with institutional outcomes
C. AI Literacy
The Provost Office is taking the lead in moving this strategic focus forward with the Vison and Guidelines Working Group. IT will continue to host campus workshops and cross-departmental discussions for supporting a broader objective: Moving York from “AI curious” to “AI capable.”
4. Enterprise Security & Risk Management
As cloud adoption accelerates, February conversations have increasingly centered on governance and compliance.
Key focus areas:
Strengthening early engagement in cloud procurement reviews
Aligning vendor assessments with University security standards
Preparing for enhanced CUNYBuy cloud workflow alerting
Reinforcing Zoom meeting security best practices
Our approach is proactive: engaging departments earlier in evaluation cycles to avoid procurement delays and ensure compliance.
5. Systemwide Alignment: CUNY907 Student Email Transition
Preparation continues for the upcoming student email migration under the “one mailbox, one login” initiative.
February efforts have focused on:
Cross-department coordination
Student communication planning
Workshop development
Transition risk mitigation
This change will improve reliability of official communications and fully integrate students into the Microsoft 365 collaboration ecosystem across CUNY.
6. Expanding Access to Learning Tools
University-wide deployment of LinkedIn Learning and Adobe Express represents a major expansion of digital learning resources.
In February, IT has been:
Coordinating awareness messaging
Supporting account alignment
Preparing training guidance
Encouraging professional development integration
These platforms support workforce readiness, creative learning, and professional growth for students and staff alike.
7. What This Means for York
Technology at York is not simply about systems running. It is about:
Enabling institutional agility
Supporting enrollment and retention efforts
Protecting data and infrastructure
Improving the student journey
Positioning the College for future innovation
Our work continues to evolve from operational execution toward strategic enablement.
8. Strengthening Campus Connectivity & Communications Resilience
Reliable connectivity is foundational to every academic and administrative function at York. In February, IT expanded its focus from reactive support to proactive infrastructure resilience planning.
Wireless Network Expansion
Following continued analysis of usage patterns, signal density, and student feedback, IT has prioritized 25 additional campus locations on top of the 15 that were completed in January for immediate and ongoing wireless antenna (access point) deployment.
This next phase reflects a strategic shift from incremental improvements to a more comprehensive coverage model designed to:
Improve signal strength in high-density student areas
Reduce service interruptions
Support hybrid and technology-enabled instruction
Anticipate future bandwidth growth
Our goal is not only to respond to current needs but to build a wireless environment that scales with enrollment growth and evolving digital expectations.
Telecommunications Modernization: Resilience & Continuity
In parallel, IT has initiated the replacement of aging PRI-based telecommunication circuits with modern VoIP SIP architecture.
This transition strengthens the College’s communications backbone by:
Increasing system redundancy and failover capabilities
Reducing dependency on legacy infrastructure
Enhancing disaster recovery posture
Improving call quality and scalability
Aligning York with modern unified communications standards
Protecting and modernizing the College’s voice infrastructure ensures operational continuity during emergencies and positions York for future integration with advanced communication tools.
9. Admin Connect: Intentional Partnership with Departments
Technology effectiveness is not defined solely by systems — it is defined by how well IT understands and supports the operational realities of departments.
In February, IT formally launched "York Admin Connect", a collaborative network of departmental administrators and key contacts across campus.
The purpose of this group is strategic:
Establish a direct communication bridge between IT and departmental leadership
Strengthen identity management and directory accuracy
Improve onboarding and offboarding coordination
Create feedback loops that inform service design
Ensure departments are aware of available tools and resources
As part of this initiative, IT distributed a structured survey to better understand:
This intentional listening phase will inform future service enhancements and allow IT to shift from reactive response to proactive partnership.
Admin Connect represents a cultural evolution — from transactional support to integrated collaboration.
Why This Matters
Connectivity, communications resilience, and intentional partnership are foundational pillars of institutional stability.
By strengthening infrastructure while deepening relationships with departmental administrators, York IT continues to evolve from service provider to strategic enabler.
We thank the campus community for its continued partnership and engagement as we move into the next phase of modernization and innovation at York College.
Interim AVP/CIO
York College Information Technology