2026 Texas Tech CIO Town Hall Recap
On February 11, 2026, Dr. Lin Zhou hosted his first CIO Town Hall in the SUB Matador Room, bringing together students, faculty, and staff for an open conversation about the future of campus technology.
The event was more than a presentation of updates. It marked a clear shift in how IT operates — emphasizing measurable progress, open communication, and deeper collaboration across the Texas Tech community.
A Year of Real Progress
Over the past year, Texas Tech IT has remained focused on one central priority: strengthening how technology supports the university’s mission of teaching, research, and service. That effort is already producing results.
Across campus, IT has worked to improve reliability, enhance communication, and ensure that our processes better support students, faculty, and staff. Texas Tech IT continues to measure customer satisfaction using the Net Promoter Score (NPS), a widely recognized industry standard benchmark. Over the past 12 months, satisfaction increased by 11 points. While there is still work to do, this improvement indicates that the campus community is recognizing the progress being made.
Equally important is how we operate. Transparency has become a guiding principle. Rather than working behind the scenes, IT has embraced a transparency philosophy, engaging regularly with Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government, and governance councils to share updates, discuss priorities, and gather feedback.
Customer satisfaction increased by 11 points over the past 12 months — the campus community is recognizing the progress being made.
Students Leading the Future of Quantum Innovation
One of the most powerful moments of the Town Hall came when Dr. Zhou recognized student-driven research in emerging technology. A graduate research team in the Department of Computer Science — known as Quantum Cure — was highlighted for its work on a quantum-enhanced artificial intelligence model for breast cancer detection.
The team is exploring how quantum computing principles can strengthen deep learning models used in medical imaging. In a field where even small gains in detection accuracy can significantly impact patient outcomes, their early results demonstrate promising improvements over traditional methods.
TTU students are not just studying advanced technologies — they are actively applying them to real-world challenges.
Tejaswini ThirumalarajuGraduate Researcher — Quantum Cure Team
Krishna Reddy KalavalaGraduate Researcher — Quantum Cure Team
Transparency in Action
A recurring theme throughout the event was accountability — IT leaders emphasized collaboration and open communication at every turn.
Real-Time Classroom Visibility
IT introduced tools to provide real-time visibility into classroom technology and room status across campus, helping reduce downtime and improve response times. By increasing transparency around technology performance, issues can be identified and resolved more efficiently.
BitLocker Recovery Improvements
Even challenges were addressed openly. Improvements to BitLocker recovery processes reflect the commitment to operating with openness and trust rather than working through issues behind the scenes.
Microsoft 365 Storage Management
Usage has reached nearly 90% of the university’s quota. IT leaders addressed this challenge openly, inviting campus input and emphasizing collaboration in finding a path forward.
Transparency Philosophy
IT regularly engages Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Government, and governance councils — sharing updates, discussing priorities, and actively gathering feedback from across the Texas Tech community.
Preparing for What’s Next
Looking ahead, Texas Tech IT reinforced its commitment to emerging technologies.
Student Voice & Campus Collaboration
“Responsiveness and clear communication make a tangible difference — dependable Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication tools, and smooth learning platform transitions are critical to the student experience.”
— Faith Geistweidt, Student Body PresidentThe second half of the Town Hall featured a customer experience panel moderated by Ashley Stokes, Associate Managing Director of IT Customer Relationships.
Panelists included Jennifer Hughes, Assistant Vice Provost of the Office of Planning and Assessment; Faith Geistweidt, Student Body President; and Dr. Yong Chen, Department Chair and Professor of Computer Science.
From reliable Wi-Fi and improved Mac support to faster resolution of technical issues and enhanced research software access, panelists shared firsthand experiences of positive change.
Faith Geistweidt emphasized how critical dependable Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication tools, and smooth learning platform transitions are to the student experience — noting that responsiveness and clear communication make a tangible difference.
- Jennifer HughesAssistant Vice Provost, Office of Planning & Assessment
- Faith GeistweidtStudent Body President
- Dr. Yong ChenDepartment Chair & Professor of Computer Science
Your Voice Still Matters
Have feedback about IT services at Texas Tech? Reach out to IT Help Central or connect with us through Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, or Student Government channels.