News for Pitt Faculty & Staff (January 2026)
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Introducing Claude, Your New AI Assistant
Claude for Education — an advanced AI assistant for writing, research, document analysis, and complex problem-solving with enhanced privacy protections — is available to Pitt faculty and staff. If you haven't tried it yet, Claude is a new addition to GenAI @ Pitt tools approved for conducting University business. As of Jan. 22, students also have access. Get started at claude.ai using your Pitt email and select Continue with SSO.
Attend the Faculty AI Literacy Seminar
Join the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., for the Faculty AI Literacy Seminar: Exploring AI in Teaching and Research. Featuring keynote presentations from Duolingo, Pitt Digital, and the Academic Integrity Officer, learn how AI is shaping higher education — from cutting-edge tools to everyday applications. This event will be held via Zoom. Register here.
Meet EVA: Your 24/7 HR Assistant
Collaborating with Pitt Digital and skillbuilder.io, the Office of Human Resources has launched EVA (Employee Virtual Assistant), an AI-powered chat agent available around the clock to answer your HR and payroll questions. While you can still connect with HR team members, EVA provides instant responses to common inquiries and will direct you to additional support when needed.
Share Securely with Sensitivity Labels
Starting Feb. 4, you can encrypt and control access to sensitive emails and documents directly in Microsoft 365. Sensitivity labels help prevent unauthorized forwarding, modification, or duplication — useful when sharing research data, personnel information, or other sensitive content. Full instructions are available in the Data Sensitivity Labels Security Guide.
Longer, Stronger Passwords Are Coming
The next time you change your University Computing Account password after Feb. 11, it must be 15 to 30 characters long and include at least one uppercase letter, lowercase letter, number, and special character. Think of your new password as a passphrase: a memorable sequence of words that's easier to recall. These changes are part of a broader strategy leading to more seamless authentication options.
Keep Your Duo Mobile App Up to Date
With phishing scams on the rise, it's never been more important to make sure your accounts are protected. Keeping your Duo Mobile app up to date is crucial to protecting yourself and your work. Check your app store to see if your Duo Mobile app requires an update and be sure to enable push notifications as your preferred authentication method.
Complete Your Required Cybersecurity Training
More than 50% of Pitt faculty and staff have completed their cybersecurity training. Go to myPitt to make sure you're included in the next count! By completing this security awareness training, you will better understand the cyber threats facing the University community so you can protect yourself, your colleagues, and the University.
Pitt Earns Federal Cybersecurity Certification
The University has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 with a perfect score. Now, Pitt is one of the first universities in the nation cleared to handle Controlled Unclassified Information for Department of Defense (DoD) research giving Pitt a competitive edge in pursuing DoD-sponsored projects unavailable to non-certified institutions.
Is Your Operating System Holding You Back?
Both macOS and Windows are pushing big system upgrades that are leaving old operating systems out of the loop. If your device is running Windows 10 or macOS X 13 (Ventura), or anything older, you may not receive critical security updates. Pitt Digital restricts out-of-date devices from accessing University resources, so be sure to upgrade to stay connected.
Interfolio Is Streamlining the Tenure and Promotion Process
With Interfolio, faculty can now track their case's progress through each review level, upload supporting materials directly, and stay informed every step of the way. School of Medicine and School of Computing and Information are the first schools to pilot this new system. Read more about the process before Interfolio expands to all schools in 2026.
Connect with
Pitt Digital on LinkedIn!
Want the latest updates on digital innovation, AI tools, and tech resources at Pitt? Follow Pitt Digital on LinkedIn for insights, success stories, and announcements that keep you informed and connected.
Panther Bytes to Nibble On
Check out these bite-sized blogs about tech topics you should know.
- This Is Your Sign to Clean Up Your Digital Space
- Need a New Year's Resolution? Reclaim Your Time With GenAI
- Stay Cybersafe While You Celebrate the Holidays
- Our Best Kept GenAI Secret? CREATE Powerful Prompts
- Debunking 5 GenAI Data Privacy Myths
- Stress Less, Enjoy More with GenAI Holiday Helpers
- How to Spot and Avoid GenAI Hallucinations
- Microsoft Planner Helps You To-Do Everything
- Ask Them Anything, Anywhere: Your Built-In GenAI Assistants
- Chat Responsibly: How to Avoid Common GenAI Mistakes
LinkedIn Learning: Bite-Sized Courses with a Big Impact
All Pitt faculty and staff have access to the full range of LinkedIn Learning courses at no cost. Here are some of the newest and most popular courses on the platform.
