Community

The Office of Information Technology team is comprised of talented, passionate, and hard working individuals. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and being collaborative and trustworthy partners. This page offers examples of how we come together to grow as a team, celebrate as an organization, and contribute throughout the university community.

2023-2024 CMU staff excellence award winners

Congratulations to OIT team members Ben Andera (left) and Jim duPuis on being nominated for and winning a 2023-2024 CMU Staff Excellence Award. We are proud to have you on the OIT team. Thanks for being excellent!

Split screen photo of Ben wearing a black suite, white shirt, and black tie and Jim wearing a maroon and gold CMU polo shirt with the OIT logo on the chest.

Back to school Bluetooth speaker giveaway

As part of the lead up to and kickoff of the Fall 2024 semester, students who visited it.cmich.edu/orientation were given the opportunity to register to win a Bluetooth speaker. The url is shared with potential and incoming students and their parents and supporters during recruiting and orientation events throughout the year. Our communication manager also regularly posts to official CMU social media channels. Congratulations to the winners!

MainStage 2024

MainStage is an annual event hosted by the Office of Student Activities and Involvement. Thousands of students converge in the center of campus on the Sunday before classes begin to learn more about student organizations, greek life, clubs, and campus departments. OIT team members enjoy interacting with students, sharing important information about Technology at CMU, and offer an opportunity to sign up for CONNECT CMU services. Our photo booth is always a big hit.

Four OIT staff members stand behind a table under a tailgate tent. Each is wearing CMU shirts. — Nicole, Ashley, Jessie, and Miles are set up and ready to greet students at MainStage 2024.

An OIT staff member talks with a student under a tent. The student is standing next to a bike and wearing a bike helmet and a blue shirt. — Jessie shares CONNECT CMU services with a student.

Four OIT staff members converse with a student under a tent. — A student gets answers to their question from OIT team members.

Three OIT staff members encourage passersby to stop into the OIT photo booth. Staff are standing in front of the tent with booth in the background. — Ashley, Miles, and Rose welcome students into the photo booth while Brian works the camera in the background.

Two students pose in the photo booth while a staff member works the equipment. — Gary gets a couple of students set up in the photo booth.

2024 OIT summer picnic and Standing Ovation Awards

Despite Mother Nature's best attempt to thwart our fun, OIT staff gathered for an afternoon of food, drink, awards, a dessert competition, and conversation with colleagues. This annual event happens in August and is a terrific way to celebrate everyone's hard work throughout the Summer months right before the Fall semester begins.

Standing Ovation Award winners are bestowed via colleague nominations to recognize OIT staff who perform their job with excellence, serve people well, demonstrate great communication skills, are courageous and effective, speak well of CMU, and model CMU's core values of inclusiveness and respect.

Jennifer Stilwell, Troy Bongard, and Jason Kiley pose with their 2024 Standing Ovation Awards. Congratulations!

OIT staff seated at picnic tables and walking around a wooden park pavilion. — OIT staff gathered for the annual picnic at McDonald Park in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

OIT staff seated at a picnic table looking into the camera and smiling. — OIT staff gathered for the annual picnic at McDonald Park in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

An OIT staff member in a white shirt demonstrates the Apple Vision Pro device for a colleague who is earing a read shirt. — Scott demonstrates an Apple Vision Pro device for Ludhiya during the 2024 OIT Staff Picnic.

2024-2025 student employee scholarships

The Office of Information Technology is fortunate and proud to provide jobs to more than 100 student employees. They contribute in countless ways, and we appreciate their effort as much as they benefit the hands-on experience. We truly couldn't do what we do without them. Each year, OIT staff members contribute to a student employee scholarship fund. If you're interested in joining our team, check out the employment opportunities page.

Andrew (left) is presented with his scholarship award letter by Derek (right). The two are standing in front of a wall with one of the CMU logos on it. — Andrew accepts his scholarship award letter from Derek, Assistant Director of the OIT Help Desk.

Jared accepts his scholarship award letter from Ashley, Manager of CONNECT CMU.

2024 winter bowling event

What better way to beat the mid-winter blues than a day of fun with friends? Each February, our team gathers together to hear from the leadership team, celebrate accomplishments, and enjoy an activity. This year, it was bowling. While some valiant efforts were put forth, we've all chosen to keep our day jobs.

Wide angle photo of OIT staff talking and bowling at Riverwood. — OIT staff members enjoy an afternoon of bowling.

Kelly and Ben pose for a photo at Riverwood. Kelly is wearing a maroon and gold CMU polo shirt and Ben a tan dress shirt. — Longtime friends and colleagues Kelly and Ben were all smiles at the alley.

Kurt and Greg share a laugh while watching colleagues bowl at Riverwood. — Kurt and Greg share a laugh while waiting their turn to roll.

Nicole and Ashley pose for a photo at Riverwood. Both are wearing CMU apparel. — Nicole and Ashley, always smiling.

2023 OIT summer picnic and Standing Ovation Awards

As is tradition, the OIT team gathered for an afternoon in McDonald Park to enjoy time together. Staff enjoyed a great meal, ice cream, and yard and card games. Following a robust nomination and review process, the first ever OIT Standing Ovation Awards were bestowed upon three incredible colleagues. These peer to peer awards recognize OIT staff who perform their job with excellence, serve people well, demonstrate great communication skills, are courageous and effective, speak well of CMU, and model CMU's core values of inclusiveness and respect.