As part of a cost-saving initiative and a broader effort to streamline communication across our organization, CIT will transition from Slack to Microsoft Teams by January 23, 2026.

This change aligns with the modernization theme, “as common as possible, as different as absolutely necessary,” and reflects the realities of an austerity budget. CIT joins University Relations, the Cornell University Library, and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business in moving away from external messaging platforms like Slack in favor of Microsoft Teams for individual and group communications.

Microsoft Teams offers a unified experience for chat, meetings, and file sharing, and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 tools such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and OneDrive. From collaborating with a team and managing projects to hosting virtual meetings, Teams provides a secure and scalable solution for Cornell's professional communication.

Currently Using Slack with CIT colleagues and partners?

If you currently use CIT’s Slack workspace, please note the following changes effective January 23, 2026.

The workspace will transition to the free version of Slack, which includes:

• SSO deactivation – you’ll need to set a custom password.
• Message and file history limited to 90 days.
• Older content may be hidden or permanently deleted.
• High-volume messaging may be restricted.
• Data retention capped at 90 days or one year.

Due to these limitations, the free version of Slack is no longer appropriate for business communications. Cornell IT staff and collaborators are strongly encouraged to use Microsoft Teams for work-related communication going forward.

Cornell community members who want to preserve their content in Slack can review and save it to another medium before Slack is decommissioned by January 23. CIT can export all public channels and is evaluating whether to make an extract available. Any Slack participant with concerns about preserving content or about the transition can reach out to the Slack service management team via the public #slack_to_teams channel in the CIT workspace.

Support Resources for Transitioning to Teams

To support and help make the experience positive for everyone transitioning from Slack, the Collaboration Services Team has provided the following resources:

• Microsoft Teams Q&A – Join this collaborative channel where Cornell Teams users ask and share answers to common questions.
• Microsoft Support | Create a link or code for joining a team – Share the link or code for a new Teams group in Slack to direct members to the new space.
• Microsoft Support | Teams Quick Reference Guide – Get started with Teams using these handy tips.
• IT@Cornell | Manage Notifications in Microsoft Teams – Customize notifications to suit individual preferences.
• IT@Cornell | Apps for Microsoft Teams – View available apps and submit requests for new ones.
• IT@Cornell | Sync Microsoft Teams Membership with an AD Group – Use existing AD groups to manage access.
• IT@Cornell | Join and Create Channels and Teams – Learn about channel types and when to use them.
• IT@Cornell | Microsoft Teams – Explore additional resources in this general info page.

If you have questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out to the Collaboration Services Team via the Microsoft Teams Q&A channel.