Fall 2026 Newsletter
Welcome
Information Services and Technology (IS&T) is excited to kick off another year supporting the university community. Whether you're stepping onto campus for the first time or returning for another chapter, we're here to keep your technology running smoothly so you can focus on what matters most.
This newsletter is your go-to resource for IT updates, helpful reminders, and best practices to keep you connected and productive all year long.
What to Know Today
Faculty
Activate Your Course
As a reminder, students cannot see your courses in D2L unless you both activate your course and the course start date passes. Course start dates correspond to the beginning of the semester, and you have the ability to edit or remove them. Please refer to the D2L: Activate Course & Set Availability Dates KB article for more information and instructions.
Course Combine Self-Service
In addition to combining courses through the Course Combine Request Form, faculty can also now merge their own courses together through D2L's SIS Course Merge tool. Please note this process only works for courses where you are the sole faculty member.
All Employees
How Can I Connect My Laptop to Presentation Systems?
For more information on connecting your laptop to a classroom projector, please refer to the Classroom Technology: Connect a Laptop to a Projector KB article. If you need further assistance, please call the IS&T Help Desk at (610) 436-3340 or submit a ServiceNow ticket.
Consider Using Bookings for Office Hours
Employees can use Bookings to provide their availability for office hours and allow others – including students to book appointments. Please refer to the Microsoft Bookings: Introduction KB article for more information and instructions.
How Can I Access Adobe Acrobat?
Need access to the full version of Adobe Acrobat? Faculty and staff can request access to Adobe Acrobat Pro through the WCU-Provided Software request form.
Students
Why Aren't Your Courses Visible in D2L?
You likely can't see your courses in D2L for one of two reasons: your professor hasn't made it visible to students yet or the course start date has not passed. The course start date corresponds to the beginning of each semester. D2L courses must be activated, and the start date must pass or be removed in order for you to see your courses.
Stay Connected to Your Courses
There are two ways for you to keep up with what's going on in your D2L courses: sign up for email notifications and download the D2L Pulse app. These tools keep you in the loop on new course announcements, upcoming due dates, and much more!
Use Inclusive Access to View Your Textbooks in D2L
Inclusive Access/VitalSource allows you to access your course textbooks right within D2L at the lowest cost to you. Please refer to the Inclusive Access FAQs on the Campus Store website for more information.
Need to Borrow a Laptop?
IS&T offers a variety of lending options for students as part of the Moonshot for Equity mission with the goal of providing equitable access to technology resources for students demonstrating need for the equipment. Students can visit the Student Computing Resources website to learn more about each of these programs, available computer labs, and educational discounts on equipment from retailers.
IS&T Webinars for Further Learning
IS&T offers students some learning opportunities through interactive webinars. Sessions include WCU IT Tech Overview, LinkedIn Learning, and Office 365. Registration is available through the Faculty and Staff Training (FAST) website.
IS&T Announcement
Welcome Andreas Welsch, Director, AI Strategy and Enablement
Andreas Welsch is an internationally recognized leader in Artificial Intelligence, ranked among the world's top thought leaders in Agentic AI, Generative AI, and AI strategy. A LinkedIn Top Voice and leading AI influencer, Andreas is known for helping organizations navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape with clarity, purpose, and measurable impact. He brings more than 25 years of global technology and business experience, including 23 years at SAP, where he held senior AI leadership roles.
Andreas is a familiar face within the West Chester University community, serving as an Adjunct Professor and contributing to conversations around AI innovation, teaching, and learning. His connection to WCU, combined with his global experience, provides a unique perspective on preparing students, faculty, and organizations for an AI-enabled future.
As a keynote speaker, consultant, author, and educator, Andreas has advised business and technology leaders around the world on AI strategy, responsible AI adoption, and emerging technologies. As Founder and Chief Human Agentic AI Officer of Intelligence Briefing and a two-time best-selling author, he is a recognized thought leader whose work has been featured in Forbes, CNBC, CIO.com, VentureBeat, and InformationWeek.
We are excited to welcome Andreas and look forward to the expertise, vision, and leadership he will bring as we continue advancing AI literacy, innovation, and responsible AI adoption across the campus community.
Adobe Licensing Changes
As part of PASSHE's new Adobe licensing agreement, which took effect in July 2026, free Shared Device Licenses will no longer be available. In previous semesters, students could access Adobe applications in WCU computer labs because each lab computer included a shared license. Beginning this fall, Adobe products will no longer be automatically available when users sign in to lab computers.
To access Adobe applications, users must have an Adobe license assigned to their WCU ID. Students enrolled in courses that require Adobe products will continue to receive semester-long access.
Instructors or departmental staff may request licenses by submitting a Catalog Task with a list of students requiring access. Licenses will be assigned for the duration of the semester.
Zoom Web Portal Update
On August 26, 2026, Zoom will launch a new web experience for all users. The updated Zoom Web Portal has a redesigned layout that makes it easier to find key features and manage your settings.
Before the semester begins, take a few minutes to explore the new layout and become familiar with the changes. You can preview the new experience now by signing in at wcupa.zoom.us and selecting, “Try new experience” at the top of the page.
Please note: This update only affects the Zoom Web Portal. The Zoom Workplace desktop application and mobile app are not changing.
Digital Accessibility Resources & Training
The Web Accessibility Task Force (WATF) led by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance and made up of staff from TLC, OEA, Web, and IS&T are continuing their work to provide guidance, training, and resources to help our campus become more digitally accessible. These resources can be found on the Website and Digital Accessibility resource page.
Accessibility checkers help identify accessibility issues with digital content, but they're not perfect. Start with Microsoft's Accessibility Checker. Then utilize YuJa Panorama but know that it may flag additional items because it runs a deeper, file-level review. Look for the blue thumbs up. This means you're on the right track and your content is meeting most accessibility standards. Aim for a 100% rating in YuJa on your documents. Also, refer to the Zoom: Manage Captions and Transcription Meetings KB article for more information and detailed instructions for enabling captions and transcripts.
Training on digital accessibility, YuJa Panorama, document remediation, and making accessible documents are scheduled regularly and can be found on the FAST Website. For a general overview of Yuja, review the Introduction to YuJa Panorama Article.
Additional Updates & Reminders
Proofpoint
With increased risks of email phishing and social engineering scams, it's more important than ever to protect your personal and professional emails. West Chester University utilizes Proofpoint, a tool that filters, protects, and tags emails sent to WCU email accounts. The software quarantines possible spam or bulk messages in a user's Spam Digest. It also automatically scans URLs and determines if it's a known malicious link. Users can also report suspicious messages. For more information on Proofpoint, please refer to the Proofpoint: Overview, User Guide, & FAQ KB article.
Cybersecurity Awareness
WCU prioritizes annual cybersecurity awareness training to help you better understand potential threats and learn how to handle them effectively. As a result, WCU will launch mandatory cybersecurity training in January alongside conducting regular email phishing simulations throughout the year. Our annual cybersecurity awareness campaign will take place in October with tips and tricks for keeping yourself safe in a digital environment. Visit the Information Security website for more information.
Stay Up-to-Date on New Features in D2L, Zoom, & Panopto
D2L, Zoom, and Panopto regularly release new features and update their tools. Stay in the know with the Instructional Technologies: 2026-2027 Monthly Updates KB article. This article outlines monthly release notes and highlights key updates that will benefit you. The list will be updated monthly as new features are developed and released.
Share & Collaborate with Files Through OneDrive
OneDrive is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files. It lets you store and protect your files, share them with others, and get to them from anywhere on all your devices. WCU provides OneDrive to all students, faculty, and staff with 1TB of storage as part of the Office 365 suite of applications. Please refer to the IS&T OneDrive website for more information and tutorials.
Personal & Professional Development
FAST
The Faculty and Staff Training (FAST) unit supports WCU faculty and staff in becoming proficient in various applications and providing best practices in trending platforms. We offer training in classroom technology, Microsoft 365, D2L, Panopto, Zoom, and more. Sessions are designed to accommodate all levels of learning and allow users to build on acquired skills. Refer to the FAST website for more information and to sign up for training.
Linkedin Learning
LinkedIn Learning is an online video training library with thousands of expert-created video tutorials covering a wide range of technical, business, software, and creative topics. LinkedIn Learning is designed for all levels of learners and is available to all WCU students, faculty, and staff. The Training: LinkedIn Learning Overview & FAQs KB article provides more information on logging into LinkedIn Learning and other features.
Additionally, faculty can integrate LinkedIn Learning video tutorials within their D2L courses to supplement course content. For more information on this process, please refer to the D2L: Create a Link in Content KB article.
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