New Global Design System set to enhance accessibility, digital experiences across U of T

A new initiative from U of T’s Information Technology Services is creating a foundation for how digital experiences are designed and delivered across the university. The goal of the Global Design System, a set of design guidelines, standards and reusable components, is to streamline the creation of web applications, ensuring consistency, accessibility and an improved user experience.

“By leveraging the Global Design System, we’re making web application design and development more efficient,” says Amanda Werkhaizer, manager, User Experience & Process Design at Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI). “The system’s robust, reusable components align with U of T’s branding guidelines and AODA requirements, offer built-in accessibility features and ensure consistency across applications.”

Two pieces of the user experience puzzle

The Global Design System is composed of two key pieces: the ITS EASI Design System and the ITS EASI UI Library. Together, they serve as a shared language for designers and developers, offering a foundation for building applications.

The ITS EASI Design System originated as an internal initiative to standardize design patterns across enterprise applications. It provides designers with pre-made, reusable components that can be pulled into prototypes, reducing the need to recreate elements for each new project.

The ITS EASI UI Library, its companion site, is tailored for developers. It offers sample code, examples and usage notes for each component. Developers can easily integrate these components into their applications, reducing duplication of effort and accelerating implementation timelines.

“We were interested in building a flexible and comprehensive system with components that can be developed once and used in multiple applications,” says Andre Kalamandeen, manager, Data, Architecture & Integration at EASI, and the lead of the ITS EASI UI Library. “Designers and developers can easily see how the components will work in the real world, and we’re interested in constantly evolving the system to meet users’ needs.”

Focus on accessibility

A focus of the system, as highlighted in the recently launched IT@UofT Strategic Plan, is enhancing inclusive design and accessibility across university IT systems, services and resources, and ensuring equitable access and usability for all community members.

“Everything has been built from the ground up with accessibility in mind – it’s important that everyone can interact with the applications we create,” says James Lahey, JavaScript developer at EASI. “There are so many ways that people interact with our applications, including those using different devices and assistive technologies.”

To create accessible components, the team references the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, as well as other design systems, for maximum accessibility.

a screenshot from Figma showing specifications for accordion accessibility and a screenshot of the UI Library

In the ITS EASI Design System (left), each component contains accessibility recommendations. The component code in the ITS EASI UI Library (right) has accessible markup and attributes built in.

A collaborative approach

The development of the system has been a cross-functional effort, involving members from EASI’s User Experience & Process Design team, and Data, Architecture & Integration team.

“An integral part of our process is collaborating with the Student Information Systems team, especially Hossein Aliabadi who has given extensive feedback and guidance on code quality and consistency,” says Kalamandeen.

Progress to date

To date, the team has completed the design of nine components, including footers, buttons, icons, popovers, tabs and error messages. These components are already being used in the Accommodated Testing Services application, and ACORN is beginning to adopt the design principles.

“We’re putting a lot of effort into creating patterns and components to give designers and developers a starting point so they can take these tools and run with them,” says Laura Klamot, senior user experience designer, User Experience & Process Design Team, EASI. “The goal is to enable creators to focus more on solving big-picture design decisions and create more meaningful, accessible and consistent user experiences.”

Looking ahead

The team is actively gathering feedback and plans to expand the UI Library to support additional technologies and needs. The long-term goal is to make the system widely available across U of T, empowering others to build accessible, consistent and user-friendly applications.

“The system is already demonstrating its value by reducing the time required in the design and development phases, enabling teams to focus on delivering core functionality and improving user experience,” says Werkhaizer. “We look forward to working with the community on the system’s evolution.”

If you’re interested in contributing to the future of the Global Design System, please fill out this form.

AMS SAP GUI Planned Outage for ATB Increase – July 9

Date: June 25, 2025
To: AMS GUI Users
From: Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
Re: AMS SAP GUI Planned Outage for ATB Increase – July 9

 

Dear AMS SAP GUI users,

Please note that the Administrative Management System (AMS) will not be available for SAP GUI users from Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 5 p.m. to Thursday, July 10 at 5 a.m. This outage will allow for the preparation for the across-the-board (ATB) increase for USW staff.

All other AMS web-based systems, including Administrative Academic Appointments (AAA), Expense Reimbursement Direct Deposit (ERDD), My Research, Capital Project Portal, Invoice Workflow, Employee Self-Service (ESS), Manager Self-Service (MSS), EvoSuite Applications, SAP Asset Manager Mobile, and Fiori Launchpad Reporting will remain available during this time.

See our System Availability page for ongoing information on system status.

Sincerely,
Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration

 

Follow-Up: AMS SAP GUI Access and Login Error

Date:  June 17, 2025
To:  AMS Users
From: Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
Re:  Follow-Up: AMS SAP GUI Access and Login Error 

 

Dear AMS Users,

As you may be aware, following the recent renewal of the AMS certificate, some users have been encountering the error shown below when logging into the AMS SAP GUI.

A screenshot of a computer error AI-generated content may be incorrect.

On June 9, we sent a memo providing a temporary workaround for affected users.

After further investigation, we have identified that the issue is due to some devices missing a USERTrust ECC Certification Authority root certificate issued by Sectigo, our certificate authority.

We have sent departmental IT administrators instructions on how to add this certificate to affected machines and remove the previously communicated workaround – it is important to re-enable encryption to ensure your data remains protected and secure.

Please contact your administrator if you have been affected by this issue

Sincerely
Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI)

Update: Instructions for Fixing AMS GUI Login Error 

Date:  June 16, 2025
To: Infotech Listserv
From:
Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration 
Re: Update: Instructions for Fixing AMS GUI Login Error 

 

Dear Divisional IT Administrators,

As you may be aware, we sent a memo on June 10 regarding an error some AMS SAP GUI users were receiving when logging in.

After further investigation, we identified that the issue is due to some devices missing a USERTrust ECC Certification Authority root certificate issued by Sectigo, our certificate authority.

Please use the instructions below, provided by Information Security, to add the root certificate to affected users’ machines, which will help to prevent similar issues.

Instructions:

If there are questions about AMS SAP GUI, please contact us through the Divisional SAP GUI Support Teams Channel.

We will also be communicating with end users via the AMS listserv tomorrow morning, instructing them to contact their departmental IT administrators for assistance.

Thank you for your assistance in helping to resolve this issue.

Sincerely,
Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI) and
Information Security

Update on Fall/Winter Enrolment Days  

Date: June 16, 2025
To:
ROSI Users; Registrar’s Offices
From:
Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
Re: Update on Fall/Winter Enrolment Days

 

To all ROSI / ROSI Express / Degree Explorer Users:

This year, fall/winter course enrolment will run from June 24 to August 6, 2025, with our heaviest enrolment day happening on July 25. View the full schedule on the SIS SharePoint site.

If students contact you about slower than usual processing times during enrolment, please inform them that this is due to high system traffic. Advise them to only use one device to access ACORN and to avoid refreshing unnecessarily, as this can increase the load on the system. During heavier enrolment days, access to non-enrolment functions may be temporarily restricted to help manage system performance.

To check for ongoing system updates, students can visit the ITS System Status website and course-related questions should be directed to their registrar.

We will be working directly with divisions that have active course enrolment to monitor the system and to communicate any issues.

We also ask staff to limit use of ROSI-related processes that may place additional burden on the system during enrolment days. Please view the critical dates calendar.

Thank you for your support during this year’s fall/winter enrolment.

Sincerely,
Student Information Systems

This email has been sent from a service account and does not accept replies. Please direct any follow up questions to the Enterprise Service Centre http://www.uoft.me/esc

Navigating Student Invoices and Financial Arrangements

Please join us for an exclusive Connect+Learn session featuring insights from Student Accounts within the University Registrar’s Office, and Student Revenue & General Accounting Office within Financial Services. The session will delve into essential topics such as guidance on interpreting official U of T Student Financial Invoices and explore the diverse options for establishing and maintaining Financial Arrangements (e.g., fee deferrals).

Topics will include:

    • Exploring invoice views in ROSI; highlighting key features and crucial line items.
    • Guidance on where and how students can access instructions for making payments or self-initiating a fee deferral.
    • How staff can effectively maintain Financial Arrangements in ROSI (e.g., major award).

 

Resources

Monthly SIS Training Resources & Support Session

Join us on the first Thursday of each month for an informative Connect+Learn session on SIS Training Resources & Support, tailored primarily for new ROSI users. The Student Information Systems (SIS) group manages enterprise student and curriculum applications, and processes for the University.

SIS provides reporting tools, enhancement and production request forms, and support for the SIS applications. In the session, we will discuss:

    • Student Information Systems (SIS): What we do
    • SIS Training Materials & Resources
    • How to Get Help
    • SIS: What We Support and What We Don’t
    • Using ESC Effectively: When to use ESC, how to write a ticket, and best practices for utilizing ESC services

 

Resources

LISTSERV Service Restored : Successful Migration and Upgrade Completed

Date: June 12, 2025
To:  EITU, MTAC, InfoTech-L & Broader Channels
From: Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
Re: LISTSERV Service Restored : Successful Migration and Upgrade Completed

 

Dear colleagues,

The LISTSERV service is now back up and running. The migration is complete and service is restored.

The LISTSERV server has been successfully migrated from AlmaLinux OS to Windows Server 2022 and upgraded from version 16.0 to 17.5.

Refer to these knowledge base articles for changes to list creation and the new web interface:

Should you have any concerns or questions, please contact help.desk@utoronto.ca.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Kind regards,

Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI)
Information Technology Services, University of Toronto
215 Huron Street, Toronto
Ontario M5S 1A2

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 purchasing options

Date: June 13, 2025
To:  ACE-IT, InfoTech, EASI Site Announcements
From: Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration
Re: Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 purchasing options

Dear colleagues, 

Please see the information below regarding Extended Security Updates (ESU) purchasing options for Windows 10 users at U of T shared by the U of T License Software Office (LSO). 

Below is the current cost per year per device with a start date in November 2025. 

Year  Cost Per Device 
Year 1  $1.90 
Year 2  $3.70 
Year 3  $7.40 

Please note that ESUs are cumulative and purchasing a new license in year two requires purchase of a year one license. Purchasing a new license in year three requires purchase of a year two and year one licenses. 

Several departments within the university have already expressed interest in participating in the ESU program, and LSO will be canvassing others shortly to determine additional demand. 

The LSO is coordinating a bulk purchase. Please contact them at lic.software@utoronto.ca to let them know how many licenses your department is interested in purchasing.   

For further details and device prerequisites, please visit:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the License Sofware Office (lic.software@utoronto.ca).  

Kind regards,  

Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI)
Information Technology Services, University of Toronto
215 Huron Street, Toronto
Ontario M5S 1A2