On February 16, 2026, visitors to SJSU websites will notice a new pop-up banner giving information about tracking cookies and providing the ability to opt-out of non-necessary cookies. Driven by the California State University Chancellor’s Office, this update is part of our ongoing commitment to privacy, transparency, and user choice. Cookie banners are now common and recognized as best practice across higher education, government, and private-sector websites. They help ensure that users receive options, where applicable, about how their cookie data is handled.

When visiting SJSU’s website, you will see a banner that:

• Explains how CSU uses cookies.
• Allows you to opt out of non-necessary cookies (such as analytics and personalization cookies).
• Provides you the option to accept all, reject all, or manage your preferences individually per category of cookie.

Key points to know:

• Once per year per browser: You will typically only see the banner once every 12 months per device and browser, unless you clear your cookies or use a different browser.
• Closing the banner without making a selection opts you in: If you dismiss the banner by clicking the “X” without making a selection, it will close and you will be opted in to all cookies (both necessary and non-necessary) for US visitors. For EU/UK visitors, closing the banner (by clicking the “X”) will opt you out of non-necessary cookies.
• Adjusting preferences later: You can change your selection at any time by scrolling to the bottom of any participating CSU website and clicking the “Cookie Settings” link to update your cookie preferences.
• Shared devices: On shared or public computers (for example, labs or kiosks), we encourage users to review and set preferences each time to make sure their individual privacy choices are respected.

Opting out of non-necessary cookies gives you more control over your information. At the same time, opting in helps SJSU and California State University better understand how our websites are used, so we can improve navigation, accessibility, and online services for the benefit of the entire CSU community.

Thank you for your support in this important privacy initiative. If you have any additional questions about the upcoming cookie banner, please contact webservices@sjsu.edu. 

Sincerely,
Chris Wessells
Interim VP-IT & CIO
SJSU

Dear Campus Community,

I want to provide an update on the Zoom Phone migration project.

To date, SJSU has successfully transitioned over 2,000 individuals to Zoom Phone. In addition to users, the migration of other critical communication infrastructure is underway, including call centers, shared lines, Bluelight phones, wall phones, and analog devices.

We will be hosting another training session, conducted by a Zoom Trainer, on Tuesday, December 9, at 10am. This will be the same material presented in mid September, but another opportunity to hear it live, and ask questions. The trainer will walk us through features and options, and how to get the most out of your phone. If interested in attending, add this Zoom Meeting Link to your calendar. You can view a recording from September’s training session here.

Please refer to our Zoom resources website to learn about Zoom Phone features and functionality. If any department has any specific questions, and would like to set up a meeting to cover your questions, please reach out to zoom-phone-support-group@sjsu.edu, and we will schedule a meeting.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Zoom project team at zoom-phone-support-group@sjsu.edu.

Thank you,
Atul Pala
Interim AVP, IT Infrastructure & Operations
& Interim Sr. Director, Customer Service
SJSU IT

Matt Lord,
Director, IT Network Services
SJSU IT

Spartans,

University Advancement’s Special Event Department and SJSU IT are pleased to announce the introduction of a Commencement AI Agent, SJSUGrad. This collaborative effort, aligning with SJSU’s AI Everywhere strategy, will help our campus community navigate commencement while reducing workload for University Advancement. 

Commencement brings a surge of questions about parking, seating, ceremony times, and more. SJSUGrad is available 24/7, either by text or on the web, to provide immediate, appropriate answers, ensuring students, families, and guests have the information they need. 

Accessing SJSUGrad is easy for both graduates and guests. To begin, simply text “commencement” to 23108. SJSUGrad is also available at sjsu.edu/commencement. 

SJSUGrad is specifically trained to handle event-related inquiries, including parking guidance, ceremony location directions, dining options, and ticketing assistance. It relies primarily on pre-approved, university-vetted answers, making it the most reliable, up-to-the-minute FAQ resource available.

Beyond answering questions, the new agent is a critical component of our real-time communication strategy. Event staff or university police can use the SJSUGrad to instantly push time-sensitive notifications to everyone who has interacted with it. This ensures that in the event of any unforeseen changes or necessary updates on the day of the ceremony, our community will receive real-time alerts directly to their phone. 

SJSUGrad will be a critical tool for our graduates, their guests, and commencement staff. As we continue to build on our AI strategy, we look forward to implementing similar impactful agents in high-volume areas across campus.

Thank you,
Doug Hupke
Associate Vice President, Alumni and Community Engagement
University Advancement

Kara Li
Associate Vice President, Strategic Planning and Portfolio Management
Interim Associate CIO
SJSU IT

Dear Campus Community,

I want to thank everyone who attended the Zoom Phone webinar last month. In case you were unable to attend, you can view a recording of the webinar posted on our website. Please note that you must be logged in with your @sjsu.edu account to access the recording. 

To date, SJSU has successfully transitioned over 500 individuals to Zoom Phone. In addition to users, the migration of other critical communication infrastructure is underway, including call centers, shared lines, Bluelight phones, wall phones, and analog devices. 

Please refer to our Zoom resources website to learn about Zoom Phone features and functionality. Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Zoom project team at zoom-phone-support-group@sjsu.edu. 

Thank you,
Atul Pala
Interim AVP, IT Infrastructure & Operations
& Interim Sr. Director, Customer Service
SJSU IT

Matt Lord,
Director, IT Network Services
SJSU IT