Indiana University of Pennsylvania was selected for the “Top COVID Pivot” award from the Pittsburgh Technology Council during the Nov. 12 Pittsburgh Technology Council's 2020 Tech 50 Awards event.

“This is very well-deserved recognition for IUP, and particularly for our Information Technology Services team, IUP's Chief Information Officer Bill Balint, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Timothy Moerland,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said.

“Dr. Moerland and Mr. Balint have provided outstanding leadership during the transition to distance and hybrid course delivery, and I want to recognize them, the IT Services team, and all the members of the university community who continue to go above and beyond to keep our students on course and engaged with the university. Thank you for your outstanding work.”

The Pivot award was created by the event organizers in recognition of stories of local companies' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

IUP joined Top COVID Pivot award finalists that included BirdBrain Technologies; Cognistx; Ethical Intruder; Locomation; Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. – Diamond Vision Division; Piper Creative; PittMoss; and Sentact.

IUP was also the sole higher education finalist for the Pittsburgh Technology Council's 2020 Tech 50 Awards in the Non-Profit-Education-Community category.

IUP migrated more than 1,500 courses taught by nearly 650 different faculty members in 10 days in March when State System of Higher Education universities were required to switch all coursework to remote delivery. The university was able to deliver 3,300 synchronous sessions in the first week of online learning.

In addition to coursework, the university held a highly successful virtual orientation for the first time in university history, with some 1,750 students and families being oriented and tested in a fully online modality.

IUP's information technology program and team has a strong reputation for excellence.

In 2019, Paul Grieggs, executive director of information technology security at IUP, was selected as a finalist for the 2019 Pittsburgh Chief IT Security Officer (CISO) of the Year award, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Grieggs was one of only five professionals in the region selected as a nominee for this recognition and joined individuals from both academia and private industry as a finalist for this award.

Bill Balint, IUP's Chief Information Officer with more than a quarter-century of service to his alma mater, was the winner of the 2016 Pittsburgh Chief Information Officer of the Year Award (education division) sponsored by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

Five IUP graduates, including Balint, have won the CIO of the Year award: Ron Beckman of Black Box (2018); Steven Agnoli, Reed Smith LLP (2017 and 2005); Scott Angelo of Fragoman, formerly of K&L Gates, (2015); and John Miller, American Textile Company (2011).