Technology Bulletin January 2026

Welcome to the Spring 2026 ETS Technology Bulletin—a roundup of timely updates, helpful reminders, and tools designed to support the Fulton Schools of Engineering community.

Red Hat Linux Licensing Update

Effective April 20, Red Hat Linux will no longer be centrally funded as an enterprise solution by the university. Existing systems will continue to function, but licensing and official Red Hat support will end.

ETS recommends transitioning to Rocky Linux, Ubuntu, or Apporto (FSE Cloud Classroom) for instructional use. Apporto remains available for coursework that requires Red Hat in a virtual environment. If continued use of Red Hat Linux is required, funding will need to be identified, and ETS can assist with negotiating client or server licensing options.

If you are impacted and not already working with your IT team, please submit a ServiceNow ticket by March 1 to indicate your preferred path forward.

GitHub for Academic Courses

An academic GitHub instance has been provisioned, and ETS is currently running active pilots to support instructional use. Building on a pilot completed last fall, additional pilots are underway as we work toward Canvas integration and validate the process for enabling courses, which is currently handled manually. The long-term goal is a simplified, cost-free GitHub integration for any course that needs it. ETS plans to fully launch this service in Summer, with broader availability expected for Fall 2026 courses, and is seeking faculty interested in participating in current pilots. If you’d like to add GitHub to your course, please sign up here.

Password-less Sign-In with Passkeys

ASU now supports passkeys, a password-less sign-in option that uses built-in device security such as biometrics or a device PIN. Passkeys can be used to access select ASU systems without entering a traditional password. Learn more about passkeys and supported platforms on the ASU Passkeys page. For assistance beyond the documentation, contact your local IT team through the ETS support page.

ChatGPT EDU Now Available at ASU

ChatGPT EDU is now available at no cost for all ASU students, staff, and faculty when signed in with ASURITE credentials. This enterprise version of ChatGPT can be used to brainstorm ideas, clarify communications, generate content, and create visuals. Through ASU’s agreement with OpenAI, ChatGPT EDU is approved for use with ASU data, including FERPA-covered student information. ASU data-handling requirements do not permit the use of HIPAA-protected data with hosted AI services. Learn more at ASU’s AI website.

Elevate Admin: Temporary Administrative Access

Elevate Admin is a self-service tool that allows users to request short-term administrative access on Windows computers and on macOS using the Privileges app. Temporary admin access requires a valid use case and aligns with the least privilege access model outlined in ASU’s Effective Practices on GetProtected. Justifications submitted through Elevate Admin may be reviewed by your local IT team to ensure access is appropriate and sufficient for your needs. When requesting elevated access, please provide a clear and specific justification. For more information, visit the Elevate Admin page.

Security Reminder: Remove Read.AI from Meetings

Read.AI has increasingly appeared in Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings as an automated participant linked to individual user accounts. This platform does not meet ASU data security standards and should not be used for university business. Do not admit Read.AI into meetings if prompted, and disable the service if it has been associated with your account. ASU provides approved alternatives, including Zoom AI Companion and Microsoft Teams recording and transcription, which support AI-generated summaries. Unapproved tools such as Read.AI, Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, and MeetGeek should not be used. If you need help removing Read.AI or have concerns about your account, please contact your IT team for support.

What would you like to see in the next bulletin?

If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see covered in the next bulletin or in any of our technology communications channels, please let us know through our feedback survey. You can also find information, share tips, or ask questions in the #fse-technology Slack channel.