Update on Sheslow Auditorium improvements
ITS staff has been working on upgrading the audio and video capabilities of Sheslow Auditorium.

The improved system debuted at Iowa Private College Week, with the new high definition projection and full range sound system allowing the Office of Admission to feature the auditorium’s enhancements. Designed with both musical performances and speakers in mind, the new audio system allows for more customization of sound levels from the booth, backstage, or via a tablet from anywhere in the auditorium. More audio speakers, color-matched in order to blend in with the historic space, have been added to ensure that every person in the room has quality sound from his or her seat. The installed screen allows video projection to be used without bringing in a portable screen. After some fine tuning, Sheslow will be ready with better audio, video, and easier controls for all future campus and community events.

Wireless project update
ITS has been making significant progress on this summer’s wireless upgrade project. Contractors continue to work on the wiring needed to increase the number of access points installed across campus as well as installing new access points in both existing and additional locations. Work in the residence halls is complete and contractors have moved on to other campus buildings. ITS staff and contractors have a goal of completing installations by Aug. 12. Care is being taken to avoid impacting activities across campus while updates are being done.

Watch for more information in future issues of OnCampus as well as on the ITS Major Projects page.

 —Carla Herling, ITS Communications Manager

Information security update
This week’s Information Security article is on a slightly different theme than what I’ve talked about the past few issues. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning (BCP/DRP) is not always thought of as connected with information security, but it is an important measure to keep our information safe.

A general principle of information security is the CIA triad, which stands for confidentiality, integrity, and availability. BCP/DRP primarily affects the integrity and availability of University information. If a disaster were to strike Drake and affect our technology infrastructure, reducing the impact to our critical processes and quickly restoring service would be the two main goals after ensuring the safety of the campus community.

Business continuity planning mainly involves the different business and academic units at Drake. In 2015, departments created plans containing contact information, critical processes and systems, and plans on how to proceed during the loss of systems or physical space. These plans were tested over the winter using a hypothetical scenario and walking through actions and responsibilities.

Disaster recovery planning typically refers to the capacity to restore technology infrastructure. In Drake’s case, a portion of our servers and network equipment have been relocated to an off-site datacenter, allowing the rapid restoration of data or systems in the event of a disaster affecting our on-campus datacenter.

We also maintain a prioritized list of systems and applications, with a primary focus on student health and safety. This documentation allows staff in multiple roles to assist with system recovery, if needed, and is updated periodically as Drake’s infrastructure changes.

ITS will be conducting additional BCP/DRP testing this winter to ensure our plans are current and that technologies are working as intended.

While a rare occurrence, disasters do occur, and their impact on a campus is only increased without plans in place. For more information about how crisis management and BCP/DRP might fit into a large-scale disaster, see this Educause bulletin. In 2009, Notre Dame had a fire inside a tunnel containing communications wiring. Using plans developed several years in advance, they were able to quickly establish control of the incident and recover operations efficiently.

Have questions or want to know more about BCP/DRP? Contact me at informationsecurity@drake.edu.

—Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager

As Drake begins a new academic year, we wanted to remind you of the resources available for contracts and legal services. There is an informational contracting link on the Office of Finance and Administration website. The site provides the following resources:

• Contracting policy
• Contract overview
• Contract process—approval and retention
• Checklists
• Independent contractor determination
• Templates

A contract review session is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Olmsted, Conference Rooms 310-311. This informational session will include a review of the changes that occurred last year regarding the contracting process and will answer any questions you may have. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Kelly Foster at kelly.foster@drake.edu.

—Kelly Foster, Administrative Services Specialist

Drake’s Facility Planning and Management Department will be working on several projects across campus in the next few months. A few weeks ago we listed the projects and the projects’ tentative schedule.  Below is update of the projects and the projected  schedules. These projects are from the high-priority list of the University’s deferred maintenance lists. Below is the list of the projects and tentative schedule for the work to be completed.

—Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations and Support Services

Significant progress on the two new STEM@DRAKE buildings is occurring this summer. The steel beams for the Science Connector Building are nearly all in place as work on electrical and plumbing begins. Underground utility installation continues on Collier-Scripps Hall, and the building footprint is now evident as construction advances to the next phase. This is an exciting time as we start to see real progress on the project. Be sure to check out the Building STEM@DRAKE website for this month’s update with photos.

In addition, the Steering Team has selected a furniture vendor to work with on the project. Pigott Inc. was selected after a comprehensive RFP process involving interviews with several highly qualified furniture vendors. Pigott Inc. offers over 200 different ancillary furnishing lines including Herman Miller. The Steering Team will be working with Pigott to engage many key stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students, in key decisions about furniture configurations and options.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Drake University has established a “preferred vendor” relationship with Competitive Edge—a local company that is hosting Drake’s online merchandise storefront. This storefront offers promotional/giveaway items available for purchase.

The relationship with Competitive Edge is not exclusive—you are welcome to collect multiple bids from a variety of vendors—but as part of the preferred status, we ask that you give Competitive Edge the chance to match or better another vendor’s pricing. Other benefits of working with our preferred vendor include the inclusion of your promotional item on the store for future repurchasing, and the opportunity for other Drake business units to piggyback on bulk orders with general Drake branding for reduced pricing. The final decision on who to use is ultimately yours. Micki Nelson or Brenda Kay Rodriguez would be happy to introduce you to contacts at Competitive Edge to help you create and/or order your item.

Follow the directions below to use the merchandise website or purchase items not yet on the store:

• Check the existing items on the Competitive Edge e-store located at http://drake.compet.com/. Your budget manager can place an order for you, or can request that an account be created for you by completing this form:  http://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJ6BOe0UvqkWxJb
• If you don’t find what you want on the e-store, you can work with Competitive Edge directly or reach out to another vendor of your choosing. Again, please allow Competitive Edge to also bid once you decide on the item, style, and quantity that fits your needs and budget.

Another resource to find items that can be laser engraved at Competitive Edge in small quantities is at http://advantageindustries.com/. If you see an item of interest, contact Competitive Edge directly for substantial savings off the listed price.

Art and product approval
Regardless of the vendor selected, you do need to have the art and final product selection approved by the Office of University Communications. (Reminder: Drake trademarks should not be used on consumables such as food, body products like lotion, or items such as shot glasses and whiskey flasks, etc.)

—University Communications

Throughout the summer, I’ve been providing details about our new Information Security initiatives. These initiatives are designed to improve the security of our confidential information and keep us in compliance with an ever-growing list of legislation and industry regulations. This week I’m discussing Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance.

The PCI Security Standards Council maintains and periodically updates requirements that businesses like Drake must adhere to when processing credit or debit cards as payment. The main requirement is compliance with the Data Security Standard (DSS). This document contains approximately 250 unique requirements for processing payment cards—everything from the way the technology environment is built to how each card is scanned or typed. These requirements are designed to protect consumers from identity theft and financial fraud.

Drake must submit an Attestation of Compliance (AoC) at regular intervals to prove that we are following DSS. The major payment card companies and banks regularly review these AoCs to ensure every organization is compliant. In a process similar to academic accreditation, organizations that are not fully compliant can be sanctioned or have card processing privileges revoked.

The responsibility of PCI compliance is on all of us. Whenever we interact with financial or payment information, we influence that information’s security. Processing payment cards is, and will continue to be, a crucial service we provide to our community, students, alumni, and their families.

Have any questions or thoughts about PCI compliance? Feel free to contact me at informationsecurity@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager

The Drake University Social Media Directory displays the URLs for every official Drake-affiliated social media page. Take a look around to see which departments have pages, follow them, and invite your friends to follow along. While you’re looking around, let us know if your department page has changed. Maybe you have a department name change, want a new cover photo, or don’t see your URL on the directory at all. Either way, let us know by emailing Niki Smith at niki.smith@drake.edu.

If you want to learn more about creating an official presence on social media for your department, reach out to Niki Smith.

—Niki Smith, Digital Media Strategist

Beginning on July 5 and continuing through the end of the month, ITS will be making updates to Sheslow Auditorium. ITS staff will upgrade the sound system and add an installed video projector, room control, and monitoring system. These upgrades will provide high level theater quality sound and projection in Sheslow and allow greater audio and video control from the booth as well as throughout the auditorium.

Currently, ITS staff is upgrading Olin 101 with a new control system, teaching console, additional video monitors, lecture capture capabilities, and an improved sound system.

—Carla Herling, ITS Communications Manager