OIT Technology News:
February 2026 Edition



Starting this morning, February 11, 2026, members of the SMU community, including alumni, authorized users (e.g., parents), and retirees, who have not already registered with Microsoft Entra Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be prompted during their next sign-in to register. To minimize disruptions to your work and operations, we recommend taking a few minutes to enroll and set up Microsoft Authenticator today.


In January, OIT Academic Technology Services introduced a new kind of experience: the AI Learning Lab. The hands-on workshop was designed to help faculty explore generative AI tools in practical ways, with a focus on teaching and research applications.


Partnering with Engaged Learning's First Year Research Experience (FYRE) program, OIT's Dr. Eric Godat mentored two FYRE students to work on a data science project from initial concept to presenting their findings, all within their first semester at SMU.


What began in 2017 with one professor integrating the MOS certification into their course has grown into a program supported by 17 faculty members and has certified thousands of students. We are on our way to reaching over 10K students being Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certified at SMU. To celebrate this next significant milestone, we are announcing the MOS10K award!


Our Faculty Technology Workshops were a resounding success once again! We extend our gratitude to everyone who hosted and participated in these vital sessions to gear up for the upcoming semester. As promised, we have recorded versions available for those who missed them or need a refresher.


SMU is upgrading how Windows devices are managed, making computers more secure, easier to support, and simpler to update—so faculty and staff spend less time troubleshooting and more time getting work done.


SMU introduces a centralized software evaluation and purchasing resource that simplifies decisions with clear guidelines, security checks, procurement steps, and helpful links—saving time and reducing confusion for departments planning new tools or renewals.


Last semester, OIT partnered with the Registrar's Office to roll out improvements that streamline academic workflows for campus users with the Undergraduate Withdrawal Form.


In this edition of Canvas Plus, we highlight Canvas’ new AI-powered translation tool and New Quiz surveys, along with some hefty updates for some of our Copyleaks, Macmillan, PlayPosit, and Cidi Labs integrations.