All posts by Jolene Schmidt

Campus Announcements Archive

Schedule electrical outage

A planned electrical shutdown for campus is scheduled for Friday, July 5. The electrical shutdown will begin at 6 a.m. and the work will be completed by noon. FPM is working on cleaning the large electrical transformers located at the Forest Avenue Heating Plant.  This electrical shutdown will also enable Waldinger to complete a grounding project of all the equipment located in the Forest Avenue Heating Plant.
I apologize in advance about this planned electrical shutdown. FPM will also be shutting down the steam on late afternoon of July 3. The steam will be turned back on around noon of July 5. This is only chance FPM has to complete this work and work on a couple buildings were we need to replace steam valves. The next available date for this work to be completed is November 29.
Soon we will begin working with all the departments this electrical shutdown will impact.  These groups include the Dial Center, SCB animal facility, IT equipment in the Hubbell Tunnel area, Morehouse residence hall, construction projects in process on the campus, and others. Please let me know if there are other departments that will require help from FPM to prepare for the planned electrical shutdown.
Please let me know if you have any other issues or concerns.
–Jolene Schmidt, Facilities, Planning, and Management
For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Enter Drake’s faculty & staff pie baking contest

Do you enjoy baking?  Is your pie the star attraction at family dinners?  We are looking for as many pie-loving cooks as possible to enter this summer’s pie baking contest. This event will be part of the State Fair-themed faculty & staff picnic on Tuesday, July 23 from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Hubbell Dining Hall.

Contest Rules:

  • The dessert pie must be made from scratch and entered in the name of the faculty or staff member who made it.
  • One or two pie entries per person are allowed.
  • Pies may have single or double crusts. Lace/lattice and crumb toppings may also be used.
  • No pies allowed that require refrigeration (i.e. dairy or cream pies).
  • Bring the pie in a disposable 8”, 9”, or 10” pie plate/pan with a cover.
  • All pies must be brought to Hubbell Dining Hall (main cafeteria entrance) between 11:30 a.m.–noon on Tuesday, July 23.
  • A copy of the pie recipe, with the list of ingredients must be provided. Make sure your name and the name of the pie entry are on the recipe and submit it at the time you bring your pie.
  • Pies will be judged on overall appearance (crust and filling), and taste.
  • All winners will be announced during the picnic. The first, second, and third place winners will receive a certificate, a prize, and “bragging rights.”
  • At the conclusion of the event, the judged pies will be sliced for everyone to sample.

To register a pie for the contest, please send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

–Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Changes coming to [External Email] labeling 

In March 2018, ITS implemented a change within the University’s email system, placing a label at the top of the message body for all emails coming from non-Drake senders. Designed to help recipients pay attention to the source of incoming messages and reduce the likelihood of compromise, it has made a noticeable difference in our security awareness efforts.

Over time, however, the label has become increasingly inconspicuous, and we’ve received feedback that it blends in with the email body.

On July 7 we’ll be updating the look of the label with different wording and color for better prominence. Examples of the new label are shown below.

As a reminder, email labeling is an automated process that does not examine message content, only the message sender. This labeling does not indicate whether a message is malicious, it just informs recipients that message is not from a Drake sender. Every email you receive, especially those from unknown senders and/or containing links or attachments should be carefully reviewed before acting.

Please contact me with any questions, at informationsecurity@drake.edu.

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Faculty and staff affinity groups for underrepresented identities

Starting in the fall, the Office of Equity and Inclusion will be sponsoring faculty and staff affinity groups. These groups will provide opportunities for faculty and staff from underrepresented identities to get to know each other, socialize, and provide support for one another. Each affinity group will host events twice a semester both on and off campus.

If you belong to one of the affinity group identities and are interested in joining, please contact the following champions.

Affinity Group Champion Email
LGBTQ Tony Tyler tony.tyler@drake.edu
Black/African American Brandi Miller brandi.miller@drake.edu
Jewish Lilianna Bernstein lilianna.bernstein@drake.edu
Asian Michi Matsukura michi.matsukura@drake.edu
Latino/a/x Marina Verlingia marina.verlengia@drake.edu

Additionally, if you would like to start an affinity group for an underrepresented identity, please contact Erin Lain at erin.lain@drake.edu.

–Erin Lain, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

We are all targets for cyber-attacks

Many people mistakenly believe they are not a target for cyber attackers: that their data or accounts are not valuable. This could not be further from the truth. If you use technology, at work or at home, you are a worthwhile target. But you also have the best defense there is against these attacks–you. 

Why they target us 

Attackers have different motivations and believe that by hacking you they can achieve their goals. Here are two common examples of types of attackers and why they target us: 

Cyber Criminals: They are motivated by money, and the internet ensures they can easily target a broad audience. There are MANY ways they can make money from you including:  

    • stealing money from your bank or retirement accounts 
    • creating a credit card in your name and billing you  
    • using your computer to hack other people 
    • hacking your social media or gaming accounts and selling them  

Targeted Attackers: These are highly trained cyber attackers, often working for governments or criminal syndicates. You may feel your job would not attract much attention, but you would be very surprised. 

    • The information you handle at Drake has tremendous value.  
    • You may be targeted to get to a colleague or system you access. 
    • They may target you because of organizations Drake works or partners with. 

The myth: I use an antivirus tool, I’m safe 

Our suite of security tools prevents these attacks from being successful, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Cyber attackers constantly improve their methods to bypass detection and protection technology. If they create new malware, it can spread undetected. Customized phishing attacks bypass email filters, and phone calls can trick you out of your credentials or money. Technology plays an important role in protection, but YOU are the best defense. 

Slow down and take a close look at emails that are particularly urgent, odd, or suspicious. Use a strong, unique passphrase for each of your accounts. Staying cyber-aware is ultimately your best defense.  

I invite you to email informationsecurity@drake.edu to continue this conversation or to report any suspected attacks. ITS will continue to provide phishing education in July using simulations of common attack methods. 

—Peter Lundstedt, ITS 

 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Retirement open house honoring Kathy Jefferson

The finance office will be hosting a retirement open house to celebrate the retirement of Kathy Jefferson, payroll coordinator on Thursday, June 27 from 1–3 p.m in Levitt Hall. Kathy Jefferson will be retiring from Drake on June 30 after 41 years of serving faculty, staff, and students as the University’s payroll coordinator. Please join us in thanking KJ for her dedicated service and commitment to Drake’s mission, and congratulating her on this well-deserved retirement.

Korrine Jackson will be joining the finance team as our new payroll coordinator on Monday, June 10. Korrine brings a wealth of knowledge to Drake with over 13 years of accounting and payroll experience, including six years of experience in payroll for higher education. Korrine’s office will be located in the human resources office. Join us in extending a warm welcome to Korrine.

–Heather Travis, Office of Finance & Administration

Campus Announcements Archive

New Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website

Check out the new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website! Over the past six months various stakeholders around campus have worked to update our equity and inclusion website to include more data, more stories, and more resources for our community. You can find the new page under the about tab at Drake.edu, in the footer of the Drake.edu homepage, or under campus links. The new site features a comprehensive timeline of equity and inclusion milestones at Drake and data about our community. You can also visit the site to see how you can get involved or check on updates around strategic initiatives.

–Erin Lain, Office of the Provost

For Students Archive

Temporary job available selling tickets to USATF Outdoor Championships

The athletics department is currently accepting applications for employment in the athletics ticket office for the USATF Outdoor Championships, July 25–28. This temporary position will provide hands-on experience for one of the premier track and field events in the nation. The athletics ticket office sales associate will assist with providing exceptional customer service to fans during the event.

To apply or for more information, please email tickets@drake.edu.

–Ryan Harris, Athletic Ticket Office