A&M’s Technology Services Sees Record Usage to Begin Fall Semester

The start of a new semester at Texas A&M University brings more than the sound of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and the bustle of students returning to campus—it also brings a surge of demand for technology. From WiFi and cybersecurity to Help Desk calls and classroom readiness, Technology Services was at the center of it all, ensuring more than 88,000 students, faculty, and staff had the tools they needed to hit the ground running.

Between August 18 and September 4, Texas A&M’s technology infrastructure saw record levels of usage. Campus WiFi carried 94,054 simultaneous connections, and internet traffic peaked above 40 gigabits per second—all while maintaining strong reliability. At the same time, cybersecurity systems scanned 12.7 million emails in just two days, blocking 7.5 million threats and monitoring 28.6 billion security events.

“Our work touches nearly every person on campus,” said Ed Pierson, Vice President and Chief Information Officer. “When students log into Canvas, when faculty connect in classrooms, when researchers access critical systems—our teams are behind the scenes making sure it all works.”

The start of classes also meant a flood of support requests as students and instructors navigated systems like Canvas and Microsoft Teams. Technology Services staff handled more than 1,300 Canvas support tickets, resolving 550 by the second day of classes, while Help Desk Central answered 2,750 calls in the first five days alone.

But it wasn’t just digital systems that needed attention. Technology Services prepared classrooms and opened new learning spaces, including the Disability Resources West Campus Testing Center, designed to ensure accessibility and inclusion for all Aggies. Meanwhile, the Software Center and TechHub processed nearly 2,000 technology orders totaling $745,000, equipping students, faculty, and staff with essential devices and software.

“This was a true team effort,” Pierson added. “Everywhere you look—whether it’s WiFi performance, classroom readiness, or cybersecurity—you see the dedication of our staff ensuring Texas A&M can deliver on its mission of transformational education and research.”

For students, faculty, and staff, the impact was simple: reliable, secure, and accessible technology that made the first days of the semester seamless. For Technology Services, the record-setting start underscored its essential role in powering the scale of Texas A&M.