In an effort to better align with our mission and focus, University of Houston Libraries will soon decommission a virtual software service following a careful review of cost, usage, and maintenance factors.

By the end of May 2024, VMWare Horizon will be removed, resulting in cost savings. VMWare Horizon gave UH students, faculty, and staff access to a range of virtual desktop applications while on campus or via UH VPN, including Affinity Suite, SolidWorks, and SPSS to name a few, but usage has been low over the past year at 1.77%. Additionally, the virtual software infrastructure requires dedicated, continual technical maintenance and user support at a level which UH Libraries cannot sustain with current resources.

UH Libraries recognizes the potential effects this decommission may have on UH users, and conversations with identified stakeholders have been initiated to empower them in finding alternative solutions for their respective communities. UH Libraries will continue to engage in thoughtful assessment to improve processes, services, and programs for the benefit of the UH community.