Copilot supports everyday work by helping users draft and refine documents, summarize information, and analyze data securely within the University’s Microsoft 365 (M365) environment. Copilot streamlines everyday tasks such as drafting, summarizing content, and converting notes into presentations. It not only saves time on repetitive work but also serves as a thinking partner and boosts individual productivity.
A thoughtful approach to AI adoption
The University is making central AI investment on Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 (M365).The University will allocate 1,000 M365 Copilot licenses of a paid version across faculties and services, with distribution primarily based on unit size and in support of core academic mission.
Each group can assign licenses based on strategic priorities. This limited rollout helps the University assess where Copilot if useful and inform decisions about adoption, training needs and cost effectiveness, in addition to:
- Learning before scaling: Rollout helps identify high‑value use cases, effective prompting techniques, and applications across different work types.
- Responsible and secure use of AI: Mandatory training is required before receiving a paid licence to support appropriate use and awareness of University guidelines.
- Targeted enablement and support: Licensed users have resources, guidance and support to get value from Copilot.
- Enterprise-grade security: Copilot operates within M365 security and compliance controls to maintains strong enterprise safeguards for privacy, governance, and academic integrity. Chats are not used to train AI models.
Free Copilot Chat available to community
While paid Copilot licences are limited and allocated within faculties and services, the web‑based Copilot Chatis available to anyone with an active @uOttawa.ca account. This free version can help with drafting, summarizing, researching and creative tasks.
Many early adopters have noted that after a year of using Copilot, they see a noticeable impact to their quality of work and an increase in productivity.
- “As part of the early Copilot rollout at uOttawa, I’ve developed a reflex to use it as a thinking partner, helping me structure ideas, start writing, and work through complex information. It’s still an evolving technology with limitations, but it’s becoming more reliable, more flexible, and genuinely useful in day-to-day work,” Ryan O’Connor, Intermediate specialist, Digital marketing, Faculty of Health Sciences
- “I open the chat at the beginning of each day and use the conversation history. For projects and initiatives, I go back to the same conversation to help me set up new meetings, write business cases, meeting notes, and draft communications in both languages. I also use it a lot in Word for procedures and memo writing. It saves me several hours a week,” Isabelle Bastien, Director Financial Reporting, Financial Services
Learn more: Visit the Microsoft Copilot page to explore available options and ways Copilot can start making you more productive.