ITS, along with our vendor, Cisco, is performing a complete refresh of the campus wireless infrastructure, including removing obsolete and/or inadequate equipment from the campus network and replacing it with new, more reliable, higher capacity equipment. Technicians from Tesdell Electric will be working in buildings across campus, installing access points and wiring until the end of August.

The goals of the project are:

• Improve wifi coverage gaps indoors
• Improve overall network performance and reliability
• Upgrade to the latest wireless technologies to future proof our investment

Over the next few weeks, we will focus on work in the residence halls (except for those being used for Orientation and other summer events) along with a few other academic buildings.

Watch for ongoing updates about this project in future issues of OnCampus and on the ITS Major Projects page.

—Carla Herling, ITS Communications Manager

ITS recently implemented new protections into Drake’s email system, designed to guard against phishing attacks that have targeted faculty, staff, and students. This tool scans incoming external emails and detects malicious links and attachments, blocking them before they can reach our mailboxes. What’s your experience with it so far? Do you have any questions or concerns? Contact informationsecurity@drake.edu and let us know.

—Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager

The installation of the GeoPier foundation system for Collier-Scripps Hall will begin on June 20, weather permitting. Those buildings and occupants in the immediate surrounding areas will experience noise and possibly minimal vibration as a result of the compaction of the foundation material. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Drake Public Safety (515-271-222) to report the issue.

In an effort to enhance Drake’s capacity for data informed decision making, the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment is posting a data analyst position. The data analyst will help to develop and implement data systems required to support continuous improvement and operational planning. This position will also develop capacity for accurate, accessible, and efficient reporting solutions that transform data into actionable information. For more information about the position, please review the job posting online.

—Kevin Saunders, Director of Institutional Research and Academic Assessment

ITS is adopting a new tool to expand security protections for Drake’s email system in order to decrease the potential of phishing attacks against faculty, staff, and students.

This tool protects your online identity and Drake’s electronic assets by:

• Scanning incoming emails from external (non-Drake.edu) addresses to identify potentially malicious emails and alerting administrators to possible incoming attacks
• Blocking access to known malicious links and attachments from incoming emails

Past attacks directed at Drake have led to destructive software being installed and email accounts being placed at risk. This tool is designed to significantly decrease risk, and we anticipate the number of suspicious or potentially malicious emails reaching Drake inboxes to significantly decrease.

To learn more about phishing visit: http://its.drake.edu/internet-safety/phishing-and-spam/

Please contact the ITS Support Center at ext. 3001 with any questions or concerns.

—Carla Herling, ITS Communications Manager

New printers and copiers will be installed across campus between June 14 and July 29. All departments have now received information on the devices being ordered for their area, including technical specifications and an expected delivery time. Due to the large scope of this project, we’ve created a Managed Printing channel on the blueView home tab, to serve as an information hub. As new materials are created, they will be linked there. Additionally, there continue to be regular updates about managed printing on the ITS Major Projects page.

—Carla Herling, IT Communications Manager

• As we near the end of the fiscal year, please abide by the following deadlines for ordering promotional items, stationery, and name tags:
• Woolverton Mfg.—Fiscal Year 2016 orders should be placed by Friday, June 10. The website will not be available June 11–30.
• Competitive Edge—FY16 orders should be placed by Wednesday, June 15. The website will remain open, but orders placed after June 15 will be delivered after June 30 and invoiced in the new fiscal year.
• Name Tags—FY16 orders should be emailed to marketing@drake.edu by Wednesday, June 15. (Please use marketing@drake.edu instead of the Woolverton Mfg. order form.)

If an exception to these dates becomes evident, the vendor or University Communications will contact the purchaser.

—Sara Sommerlot, Office Manager

Construction noise will be increasing next week as crews will be installing sheet piling near Medbury Hall. This noise will last for approximately two to three days depending on the weather. The geo piers installation for Collier-Scripps Hall will begin the last week in May and the first week of June. The noise will be similar to when geo piers were installed for the Science Connector Building.

—Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations & Support Services

As Office Max and Office Depot have merged, the Office Max platform will be retired and customers will convert to the Office Depot online ordering platform. Drake’s conversion will occur by June 1, exact date to be determined. Office Depot will provide webinars prior to the conversion so users can become comfortable with the new ordering site. Users will not change their login or password, enabling a smooth transition. More information will be forthcoming. Thank you!

—Caron Findlay, Director, Purchasing and Business Services