Town Hall Updates - March 2026
I hope everyone is doing well. Spring Break marks the middle of the semester, but for IT, it means we start to ramp up our planning for summer work and fall readiness. As we gear up for the busy months ahead, I’d like to share important updates on IT activities for Spring Break, preparations for the Summer and Fall Semesters, and plans for lifecycle computer replacements for FY27 and computer security updates. This information will also be posted in the service portal under the Knowledge Base article heading Town Hall Updates.
Spring Break Updates
First, Spring Break presents a valuable opportunity for us to run necessary updates on all lab computers, wipe down student-facing computers and instructor stations, and verify that all devices are running optimally for the remainder of the semester. Given the short duration of the break, we won’t be able to implement major changes at this time, but we’ll schedule those for the summer.
Patch Tuesday and Updates
Windows Updates are also a priority. The second Tuesday of each month is “Patch Tuesday,” when Microsoft releases Windows 11 updates. We’re pairing these patches with the security build update 25H2. Most student-facing computers already have this update, and now it’s time to update employee computers. The 25H2 update was assigned to employee computers on Tuesday and began being delivered on Wednesday. The build update may add 3–5 minutes to your computer reboot, but it will come after the regular security patches. When you see the Ivanti window pop up, you can choose to extend the reboot time up to 3 times. However, we do recommend that at the end of the day, you select "I'm ready; restart now".
FY27 Lifecycle Updates
It feels like we just finished replacing out-of-date or out-of-warranty computers, but another review and replacement round is beginning. Our objective is to identify any devices slated for replacement in the upcoming fiscal year. Supervisors will receive their team members’ computer information for review by the end of the day on Friday, March 13. We’ve also identified a few computer labs and open areas that may need replacement. We plan to replace devices “like-for-like”…desktops for desktops, laptops for laptops. If you wish to make any changes to this logic, supervisors will work with their team members.
Specialized Software Changes
Each semester, we review where specialized software is installed in the lab(s) and prepare for any changes to room/classroom teaching assignments. Please refer to and review the Specialized Software list, and complete the form in the KB if there are any planned changes to where the courses are being taught and if software needs to be reinstalled. Additionally, please let us know if there are changes to the software versions.
- If there are any changes to software needs for the SUMMER semester, please submit them by May 1.
- We will send another reminder for the FALL semester. If you are aware of any changes, please submit them no later than June 12.
Thank you for your attention and collaboration. Please reach out if you have any questions or require clarification. Sharing this information with your teams will help us ensure a smooth transition and optimal performance for everyone.