This year, attackers will target Drake, and you, in an attempt to steal information. The actions that each of us take on a daily basis make the difference in stopping these attacks from succeeding.

Each of us have the ability—and the responsibility—to protect information at work, on campus, and at home. Beginning this October during National Cyber Security Awareness Month and continuing through the coming year, ITS will be emphasizing how to protect confidential information through OnCampus, Twitter, new campus initiatives, and the ITS website.

Here are a few of the upcoming cyber security educational opportunities:

• Attend a Tech Tuesday Session. Learn about how and why attackers are targeting you, and what you can to do to keep your information protected. Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. in Olmsted TMR132. Sign up at drake.edu/its/techtuesdays.

• Follow @DrakeITServices on Twitter. You’ll get tips on keeping yourself safe online and learn about our upcoming events and other ITS news.

• Participate in phishing education. ITS sends out simulated phishing emails to faculty and staff members each month as a risk-free way to learn about the dangers of phishing. Watch OnCampus for additional information.

ITS is working on several extensive information security initiatives, with the broad goals of reducing account compromises and preventing data theft. One of the smaller changes within these initiatives is moving individual online contact information into myDrake. On Oct. 22, the directory at drake.edu/directory will only contain main departmental contact information. The new directory will be accessible from the Campus Directory link under the Commonly Used Apps section in myDrake.

I look forward to working with many of you on the upcoming initiatives and changes. Please reach out with any questions or inquiries related to the protection of information.

ITS typically allows campus users to update their Drake-owned computer after the first or second point release of a new operating system (OS). This allows the company, in this case, Apple, to fix the bugs and security issues in the operating system. It also allows ITS to thoroughly test the new OS to ensure compatibility with Drake systems. Since there is no way to rollback an operating system, we must be careful when authorizing system updates. If you would like to upgrade to OS Mojave we can make exceptions, but it should be understood that IT support is best effort only. To request an exception, please submit a request for an Operating System Upgrade.

Jerome Hilscher, ITS

Short’s Airline Travel Program will officially launch Tuesday, Oct. 2. From that date forward, all Drake Air Travel not previously booked will need to be booked through Short’s Travel.

On Oct. 1, Short’s will present two live informational sessions in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310–312. Sessions will be held from 10–11:30 a.m. and 1–2:30 P.M.

During the sessions, Short’s will demonstrate their online portal and how to log in and book your own tickets, or when to contact an agent if your travel is more complex. Please plan to attend one of these sessions if you travel or manage travel within your department. Although electronic materials will be available after the sessions, it will be more effective to attend one of these in person to understand how to book travel beginning Oct. 2.

There is no need to RSVP and light refreshments will be provided by Short’s. If it would help, once you choose your session, send an email to caron.findlay@drake.edu to be sent an Outlook Appointment for your calendar.

Caron Findlay, Purchasing and Business Services

The first in our monthly Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lunches is this Friday, Sept. 28, at noon in TMR 133. These discussions are opportunities for those engaged in SoTL projects at any level—from just thinking about starting one, to almost complete, or those simply curious about SoTL—to share ideas, seek advice, or ask questions of colleagues engaged in the process. Members of the IT Support Services staff will be present to provide advice/information about SoTL projects that might involve technology usage. While it is too late to order a lunch, you are still welcome to come.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

In order for ITS campus technicians to better assist faculty and staff who use Drake-owned Windows computers, we are making a small change to our remote access capabilities. This change will align our Windows and Mac remote support processes.

Currently, you must be signed into your PC and present to accept and acknowledge the on-screen prompt to allow ITS to perform remote support. Beginning tomorrow, Sept. 26, your area’s campus technician will be able to access your computer while you are away if you have provided consent, either written or verbal. Please note that depending on the specific issue, your campus technician still may need you to sign into your computer using your account. However, you should never share your Drake password with your campus technician or anyone else.

Jerome Hilscher, ITS

These 50 minute professional development sessions for faculty and staff are designed to provide you with resources to help you use technology more efficiently in your job (and possibly your life). All sessions will include time for Q&A.

Collaborative Instruction in the Classroom
Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m.
Collaborative learning involves students working in peer groups or with an instructor. Leveraging technology can remove the need for physical proximity and time. This session will cover different resources available to facilitate this type of instruction. This session will focus Office 365 tools as well as other available resources across the web.

Project Management I
Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m.
Have a project idea? Come learn when and how to submit your idea for review. We’ll share the technology project request review process, timing for reviews, and how to create required documentation. We’ll end by sharing basic project management processes which will serve as the foundation for the follow up session coming this spring. Participants will receive 1 hour of BUILD credit for attending this session.

How Do I Keep My Information Safe?
Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m.
Have you been impacted by a breach or identity theft, or just want to know how to keep your own and your family’s information safe? Join a conversation about the latest trends in cybercrime and some easy ways to protect your identity and information at home and at Drake. Participants will receive 1 hour of BUILD credit for attending this session.

Register for these sessions and learn about future sessions by going to drake.edu/its/techtuesdays.

Carla Herling, ITS

Facilities Planning and Management will host a retirement reception for Venetta Hammond, office manager, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 12:30 p.m. in the Courtside Club in Shivers. Venetta is retiring at the end of October after 30 years at Drake. Please join us to celebrate and to extend well wishes to Venetta.

Manny Toribio, Facilities Planning and Management

Alumni want to stay connected to Drake by contributing to today’s student experience. Have you recently scheduled an alumnus to speak in your classroom, participate in a career fair, serve on a panel, or mentor a student?

If your answer is yes, there is an easy way to let Alumni Relations know so we can measure engagement, track interests, and communicate opportunities with our alumni. Please use the online form on the University Advancement Web page, or the link on myDrake under Employee Quick Links to submit your alumni engagement.

This past year we received over 150 submissions from faculty and staff regarding alumni who volunteered in Drake classes. Please help us again this year by using the submission form and helping us track this important alumni engagement.

 Andy Verlengia, Director of Alumni Relations

Online Programs will be available to meet and answer any questions regarding online teaching or online programs every third Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. on the first floor of Cowles Library, in the coffee shop area. Christina Trombley, executive director for Online Programs, will be there on Thursday, Sept. 20, and is happy to have a general discussion regarding programs, teaching in the online format, or the process for moving a class to online.

Christina Trombley, Online Programs