Overview
Copilot is a generative AI tool that can help boost productivity and streamline your day-to-day workflows. There are two levels of Copilot access available at Columbia College: Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot. This article explains the key differences between the two options and how to get started with each.
Applies to: Faculty Staff Students
Before You Begin (Prerequisites)
- You must have an active Columbia College Microsoft 365 account to access Copilot Chat.
- Copilot Chat is available at no additional cost to all active Students, Faculty, and Staff through Columbia College's current Microsoft agreement.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) is a paid add-on available to Faculty and Staff only. See the access section below for details.
⚠ Important: Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) — Student Access
Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) is not currently available to Students. This premium add-on is available to Faculty and Staff only and requires a purchase request through the IT Service Portal. See the Getting Access section below for details.
What's Included
Key Features
Copilot Chat ✓ Available to All
- What it is: A general-purpose AI assistant based on GPT-4, designed to help with a wide range of tasks — writing, coding, brainstorming, learning, and more.
- Where it's used: Available in platforms like Bing, Windows, Edge, and other Microsoft Copilot experiences.
- Capabilities:
- Conversational and flexible.
- Can answer questions, generate content, summarize, translate, and more.
- Not tied to your Microsoft 365 documents unless explicitly connected.
- Can use tools like Python, image generation, and web search.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium — Faculty & Staff Only Not Available to Students
- What it is: An AI assistant embedded directly into Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Where it's used: Inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- Capabilities:
- Works with your organization's data (emails, documents, meetings, etc.) securely.
- Can draft emails in Outlook, summarize meetings in Teams, generate presentations in PowerPoint, and analyze data in Excel.
- Context-aware: understands your role, recent files, and organizational content.
- Integrated with Microsoft Graph for personalized and secure access to your work data.
At a Glance
Summary of Key Differences
| Feature |
Copilot Chat |
Microsoft 365 Copilot |
| Purpose |
General AI assistant |
Work-focused productivity tool |
| Integration |
Standalone or browser-based |
Embedded in Microsoft 365 apps |
| Data Access |
No access to your work files |
Accesses your Microsoft 365 data |
| Use Cases |
Broad and creative tasks |
Business productivity tasks |
| Security & Privacy |
General user-level |
Enterprise-grade, Microsoft Graph |
| Availability |
All Faculty, Staff & Students |
Faculty & Staff only (paid add-on; not available to Students) |
Getting Access
How to Request Access
Copilot Chat — All Faculty, Staff & Students
Copilot Chat is available at no additional cost to all active Columbia College users through the current Microsoft agreement. No request is required.
●Sign in at copilot.microsoft.com using your institutional email and password.
●Also accessible via the Microsoft 365 app launcher or the Edge browser sidebar.
Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) — Faculty & Staff Only
⚠ Not available to Students at this time.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a premium paid add-on available to eligible Faculty and Staff. Access requires a purchase request submitted through the IT Service Portal.
●Available to active Faculty and Staff with supervisor or departmental approval.
●Submit a request through the IT Service Portal using the link below.
Learn More
Training Resources & Related Articles
Support & Assistance
Get Help
Have questions about Copilot Chat or Microsoft 365 Copilot access?