Microsoft solutions for a growing campus
In 2010, the University Committee on Information Systems and Technology (UCIST) agreed to proceed with a Microsoft Campus Agreement for the entire University. This decision helped to standardize the implementation of Microsoft Office for Windows across campus, simplify software licensing and management processes, streamline training and support, and reduce costs associated with numerous individually licensed products.
In 2016, the University awarded the request for proposal (RFP) for undergraduate student email to Microsoft. With the move to Office 365, students received anywhere access to a robust set of productivity and collaboration tools, including OneDrive, and a more secure and reliable email experience. The current A3 licensing of Office 365, necessary to make this transition, is available to the University at no additional cost by virtue of the existing Campus Agreement. While we only offer Office 365 email to undergraduate students today, the full suite of online applications is available to all other students, and employees.
Beyond email, SharePoint, and other familiar Microsoft tools, the University leverages Microsoft solutions for other services and initiatives, including:
- Azure data and Power BI analytics platforms to improve the ability to store and report on data across systems
- The Centre’s new Chatbot, an AI bot built on Microsoft’s Azure “QnAMaker” platform with custom code and reporting around the core Azure platform.
- Microsoft's .NET programming platform for both major software development (e.g. Portal, Housing HOME system), as well as smaller systems
Three decades of partnership and support
For over three decades, Microsoft has been one of the largest supporters and partners of the University of Waterloo. With over 5 million invested to date, Microsoft has contributed in a myriad of ways by supporting student scholarships, cutting-edge research like Artificial Intelligence (AI), building funds, resources, and programming.
Thanks to a well-established matching giving program at Microsoft, many Waterloo alumni are thoughtfully directing their philanthropic giving back to this university, which further helps to expand the opportunities for our students, and to deepen the connection with our alumni.
Microsoft has also remained a consistent employer of both co-op students and alumni from the University of Waterloo, with an average of 140 co-op students hired per year (since 2015), and over 800 alumni employed at Microsoft. Their dedication to the students and graduates is extraordinary and exemplifies what it means for an organization to invest in both ideas and in people.
As one of this University’s longest-standing and strongest allies, Microsoft has been a core driver in keeping Waterloo at the forefront of technological advances, both in Canada and on the world stage.
