Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. It helps users work smarter by generating content, summarizing information, analyzing data, and automating repetitive tasks.
You should use it because...
- University Approved: Copilot is the only AI tool officially approved for academic and administrative use.
- Secure & Private: Your data stays within the university’s Microsoft ecosystem—no third-party exposure.
- Integrated Experience: No need to switch platforms—Copilot works directly inside the Microsoft 365 apps you already use.
- Time-Saving: Draft emails, summarize documents, and brainstorm ideas in seconds.
- Accessible: Available across devices—desktop, mobile, and web.
Whether you're replying to emails or collaborating with your team, Copilot helps you do it faster, better, and with less stress.
What is ChatGPT, and why don’t we use it?
ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. It is designed to generate responses to a wide range of prompts, including writing assistance, coding support, and general knowledge queries. However, we do not use it due to the following reasons:
- ChatGPT operates outside the University’s secure infrastructure, which may pose risks to sensitive or confidential information.
- It does not integrate with Microsoft 365 tools, which are the standard across university systems.
- Use of external AI tools may conflict with institutional policies on data governance and academic integrity.
Ways to Access Copilot
- Via Web
-
Copilot App within Microsoft Teams
- Or click the Copilot icon within any Microsoft application (ex. Teams, Word)
How can I use Copilot?
-
Organize Research Sources
Prompt: “Sort these articles into themes and show me which ones I’ve already cited.”
→ AI helps categorize references, tracks duplicates, and flags which sources were used. -
Data Analysis
Prompt: “Analyze this spreadsheet of lab results and highlight any outliers.”
→ AI scans data, finds trends, and surfaces unusual entries for review. -
Accessibility Support
Prompt: “Transcribe this recorded lecture and timestamp key concepts.”
→ AI produces a searchable transcript with markers where major topics are discussed.