Maize & BLUEprint: How U-M Prepared Technology Resources for a Hybrid Semester

Technology empowers communities with the tools to enhance public good and brings individuals together for meaningful connections, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Ravi Pendse, University of Michigan Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer.

In this episode of Michigan Minds, Pendse explains the wide array of resources U-M prepared for students, faculty, and staff to utilize throughout the fall hybrid semester.

“Our teaching and learning team stepped up and created thousands of different types of training sessions and lectures, so that faculty members could take advantage of it and continue to enhance their pedagogy,” Pendse says. “Everyone stepped up so students could get the very best education possible.”

He discusses some of the many ways U-M listened to the community to learn what tools would help them succeed, and launched new resources to address those needs. Some of the tools they have made available include LinkedIn Learning, Zoom Live Transcription, Dropbox, a touchless printing app, and the Sites @ Home laptop loaner program.

Pendse adds that mental health and wellness are vital, so they also created tools and suggestions in the Remote Resources Guide for individuals to maintain contact with others and get a sense of being a member of a community.

In response to COVID-19, the information and technology services team has been working with university leadership to develop the COVID-19 metrics dashboard to track the amount of testing and number of cases. They also created the ResponsiBLUE health screening app, which everyone on campus is required to use, to monitor health, track any symptoms, and connect with the proper health care resources

“The bottom line is this: the idea behind all of this is, how can we keep each other safe? That culture of care is in our DNA,” Pendse says.

Hear more from Pendse in this episode of Michigan Minds.

Download the transcript.

Learn more about taking care of Maize & Blue at campusblueprint.umich.edu.