In preparation for the launch of the new myDrake portal later this month, we’re rolling out a new login screen for Office 365. The current screen will continue to be used for other applications including TeamDynamix and Slate. Here’s the current screen:

This new screen, shown below, will replace the current Office 365 login screen coming this June.

Office 365 is the first system to use this new login screen, but we will be converting other applications to using this same login screen. The new login will allow for single sign-on (SSO) access. With SSO, you only have to sign in once, and your authentication is passed on to other applications without having to enter your username and password again. ITS is working toward connecting many applications, including Blackboard and the IT service portal, through SSO access.

One important change with this new system is that you have to be sure to bookmark the application that uses the login screen rather than the login screen itself. This ensures that your credentials will be passed correctly between systems.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Drake Online Programs has successfully completed its first semester with 27 new students enrolled in classes. We have more students starting this summer, including in four new online classes, which started this month. We are well above our projected enrollment numbers and are excited to see what summer and fall bring.

Continuing our growth and momentum, two more graduate degrees—The Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration—launched earlier this month. Digital marketing campaigns and social media ads to promote the programs were also rolled out. You can find more information on these two programs on our website under the programs tab. Many thanks to the faculty and staff of the College of Business and Public Administration for their efforts at getting these programs ready for students.

Remember that you can visit with Online Programs to discuss and ask questions regarding the programs at the Olmsted coffee shop on the third Thursday of every month between 1 and 2 p.m. If that time doesn’t work, please contact Christina Trombley at christina.trombley@drake.edu or extension 2506.

— Christina Trombley, Online Programs

Someone leaves, and credentials are passed on. A student worker uses their supervisor’s login. A staff member goes on vacation and asks a colleague to check their emails. It seems inconsequential enough, but it’s not.

Sharing login credentials (whether you are the person doing the sharing or the person receiving the access) is specifically prohibited by Drake’s Responsible Use of IT Resources policy.

Given the steadily rising threat of security breaches and the sensitive nature of campus information, we can no longer use inconvenience or past history as a reason to practice poor information security habits.

Sharing passwords has two major implications:

1. It’s an internal breach of confidential information that opens the University to significant financial and legal liability, and increases the risk of an external data breach.
2. When a password is shared, we have no way of knowing who is actually performing actions using the account. If the account is hacked or if unauthorized activity takes place, the account owner is responsible.

Better enforcement of this policy is one of many steps we are taking to continuously improve campus information protection. Going forward, ITS staff members will be resetting shared passwords they encounter and I encourage you to pre-emptively change any of your passwords that may be known to others.

I’m happy to discuss this issue further, or any information security related questions or concerns you may have.

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS

OnCampus will move to a biweekly distribution schedule through the summer months. The newsletter will be delivered to faculty, staff, and student inboxes every other Tuesday starting May 15. It will resume to a  weekly distribution schedule Aug. 21.

Summer distribution dates:
Tuesday, May 15
Wednesday, May 30 (Publication moved to Wednesday due to holiday)
Tuesday, June 12
Tuesday, June 26
Tuesday, July 10
Tuesday, July 24
Tuesday, Aug. 7
Tuesday, Aug. 21

Ashton Hockman, University Communications

Drake will host the Iowa State High School Track Meet, one of the largest state high school track events in the United States, from May 17-19. Please be mindful of the following information as we plan for the overlap of this event with other year-end activities on campus, including commencement and move-out time.

The safety and convenience of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority, and we’ve taken additional steps to help ensure general safety and a smooth move-out process for students living in the residence halls.

Traffic and road closure information

• Forest Avenue will be closed between 27th Street and 29th Street (east of Herriott Hall, in front of Drake Stadium) from Wednesday, May 16, at noon to Saturday, May 19, at 6 p.m. This is designed to increase public safety and to help parents move out of the residence halls in a timely manner.
• Parents helping move their student out of their residence hall will have access to Forest Avenue from the west (30th Street), and will be able to park along both sides of Forest Avenue (except between 27th and 29th Streets), and have vehicle access to the entire driveway to Herriott Hall.
• 27th Street will be shut down for bus traffic from Forest Avenue to Clark Street from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19.

Planning your move-out

• The first-year residence halls (Herriott, Carpenter, Crawford, Stalnaker) and Morehouse Hall will close for the semester at 5 p.m. Friday, May 18.
• Vehicular traffic in the Drake neighborhood is likely to increase as the week progresses, so students may want to check out as soon as possible upon completion of their exams. Students can schedule a check-out time with any resident assistant (RA) in their residence hall. During this appointment the RA will verify all personal property has been removed from the room, complete a room check, and collect the student’s room key.

Plan for parking challenges

• Plan for extra time to find parking as well as to travel to campus.
• Commuters, faculty, and staff can avoid parking challenges by using alternative forms of transportation or carpooling. Remember, Drake provides no-cost DART rides to faculty, staff, and students. All you have to do is show your Drake ID upon boarding the bus.

Access to parking lots

• Only Lot 2 (south side of 25^thStreet and Forest Avenue) & Lot 4 (Tennis Center) will be dedicated to the state track meet from May 17-19. All other commuter parking lots will be available for faculty, students, and staff to use.
• Lot 13 (Wifvat Plaza) will be open on both Thursday, May 17, and Friday, May 18.
• All residential parking lots will be under 24-hour residential permit-only restrictions throughout the state track meet. Any car parked in a residential lot from May 17-19 without a Drake permit will be towed. Additional signage will be posted at all residential lots as a reminder.
• On Saturday, May 19, both Lot 13 (Wifvat Plaza) and Lot 10 (directly across from The Knapp Center) will be reserved for families attending the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduation ceremony. The lots will open at 1 p.m. for these guests.

Contact us ahead of time with questions or concerns

If you have specific concerns or questions regarding parking from May 17-19, contact Scott Law at scott.law@drake.edu. While there is limited room for exceptions to these parking rules and restrictions, I am happy to listen and discuss any concerns. It is easier to be proactive, prior to events beginning, rather than reactive, once the meet has begun. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

The University Bookstore is extending its hours this week (May 14-20) to accommodate for finals. Spring rental books are due by Friday, May 18.

Monday – Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Your Drake ID is required for book buyback.

— Katie Wilz, University Bookstore

Two planned power outages will affect Harmon Fine Arts Center, Howard Hall, and the Dial Computer Center in the coming weeks.

The outages will occur on Thursday, May 24, from approximately 6 to 11 a.m. and Saturday, June 2, from approximately 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The power outages are necessary to complete work to strengthen Drake’s electrical infrastructure.

— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management

As the semester ends, Facilities Planning and Management begins another season of construction, renovation, and maintenance. The department plans to work on multiple projects this summer to improve campus. One of the largest is the completion of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Promenade, which is scheduled to open to students, faculty, and staff by July 1.

Other key summer projects include:

• Adding a private study or meeting space known as a zip space near Aliber Hall, Room 101.
• Beginning construction of the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Club—scheduled to begin May 21.
• Renovating Cartwright Hall, which includes adding windows on the south side of the building.
• Renovating the main floor of Cowles Library.
• Arranging furniture in the Dial Computer Center and moving team members to other spaces.
• Completing a ventilation project in the Quads—slated to begin May 21.
• Installing new floor in The Knapp Center in early July.
• Replacing The Knapp Center gym lighting with LED fixtures.
• Upgrading the lettering and lighting of the Drake entrance signs.
• Installing fire sprinklers in Harvey Ingham, Olin, and Fitch halls.
• Finishing the basement in the University Communications office.
• Upgrading the basement in Meredith Hall.
• Installing sand volleyball courts.
• Upgrading the south entrance of Harvey Ingham Hall.

Construction updates and further details will be provided throughout the summer. For more information, contact Jolene Schmidt, director of capital projects, at jolene.schmidt@drake.edu.

— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management