Stronger Together In Action

A major modernization of wireless and network infrastructure is underway at Ohio Stadium to improve fan connectivity, operations and event-day performance. The project began in October 2025 and is expected to be completed by September 2026. It is designed to enhance the fan experience, support mobile ticketing and concessions, and improve public safety and event operations. From an enterprise perspective, the investment helps protect a marquee university venue, support revenue generation, increase network capacity and modernize critical infrastructure. The project includes 2,021 total access points, 367 new access points and a $5.5 million investment. 

Ohio State is also expanding its distributed antenna system and cellular infrastructure through its Verizon partnership at Ohio Stadium and across campus locations. The partnership agreement has been extended through 2038, and the Ohio Stadium DAS upgrade is expected to be completed by April 2027. This work will improve voice and data coverage for large crowds, daily campus users and emergency communications. It also generates recurring revenue that helps subsidize the university network budget, reduces the carrier infrastructure burden on the university and keeps campus connectivity current with evolving technology. The upgrade moves from a 24-sector / 24-zone DAS to a 100-sector 5G C-band / 4G LTE system, reducing the customer-per-sector ratio for a better user experience. 

Ohio State is transitioning distributed college and unit networks into shared enterprise standards and managed services between 2025 and 2027, based on unit readiness and staff capacity. The current focus is on new MITS customers and Athletics, with additional units to follow as capacity allows. This approach gives smaller colleges and units access to enterprise-grade networking, extended staffing support, Wi-Fi, monitoring and cybersecurity capabilities. It also reduces local support burdens and operating costs, improves consistency and security, and helps the university make the most of institutional buying power. 

The Shared Directory and Endpoint Services (SDES) initiative is consolidating Active Directory environments into a unified enterprise directory through a phased migration running through 2027. This creates a common authentication backbone for devices, users and enterprise services, while reducing cost duplication and shrinking the attack surface. Enterprise benefits include improved security controls, less duplicate infrastructure, streamlined endpoint management and stronger support for Zero Trust objectives. The university currently has more than 8,300 endpoints on OSUAD, MITS migrations are 87% complete, and the summer focus is on Arts and Sciences and Libraries. 

Ohio State is retiring its legacy student email environment and migrating to a unified @osu.edu identity and modern messaging platform. Communications began in April 2026, with active student migrations scheduled from June through August 2026. This change gives students a simpler, more modern Ohio State identity aligned with the broader university experience and brand. It also allows the university to retire legacy platforms, reduce support complexity, strengthen brand consistency and lower long-term operating costs. The project involves migrating more than 170,000 mailboxes and transferring 175 terabytes of data. 

Ohio State is evaluating and planning how to streamline the OSU and WMC Microsoft 365 tenants to support more seamless collaboration between campus and medical center environments. Analysis and execution planning are underway from May through July 2026. This work is intended to make collaboration easier in Teams, email, calendaring and file sharing by reducing guest-account friction. The enterprise value includes eliminating duplication, improving productivity, simplifying governance and increasing value from Microsoft investments. The presentation notes that preparatory work is already underway for a Microsoft engagement. 

Ohio State is modernizing foundational Identity and Access Management systems, processes and tools through FY27. This work will support a more modern and improved login experience for the university community while enhancing security and governance. Enterprise value includes a better Ohio State login experience, an improved guest experience and new capabilities for Identity Governance Administration. The initiative is intended to create a single, consistent login experience for all Ohio State users, eliminate the need for researchers to register for guest accounts, streamline and secure guest and non-employee access, and support social identity login capabilities for external communities. 

Ohio State is launching an AI-enabled Connection Center that will transform the contact call center into a unified, multi-channel support experience for students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders. The initiative is set to begin July 1, 2026, with an initial OTDI Service Desk pilot expected to conclude in December 2026. The goal is to make it easier to connect with Ohio State by phone, chat, web and self-service tools, while delivering faster, more accurate answers, smoother handoffs and more personalized support. Enterprise value includes reduced wait times, improved first-contact resolution, increased staff productivity, better system integration and more scalable support across the university. 

Together, these efforts support a broader vision: One Digital, AI-Ready University built on shared infrastructure, shared identity, and shared security and support. The goal is to move from many disconnected systems to one digital ecosystem — one that better serves the university’s missions of teaching, research, clinical care and service. Technology and artificial intelligence are changing everything Ohio State does in teaching, research and care. The university is building the foundation to lead in this environment, grounded in the idea that Ohio State is stronger when it operates as one institution with shared digital capabilities.