In a September OnCampus article, I introduced an upcoming change designed to improve the security of Drake-owned computers. This change will remove always-on administrator access to help prevent web, email, and file-based attacks. When changes that require administrator access are needed, the Make Me Admin tool can be used to receive temporary administrator access for 30 minutes. If you prefer, you can also submit a request for ITS assistance with installing programs or making configuration changes. 

Beginning Nov. 19, and continuing gradually throughout that week, ITS will be removing the always-on administrator access.  

As a reminder, there are guides available in the IT service portal on how to use the Make Me Admin tool: 

How-to guide for Macs
How-to guide for Windows 

For questions about these changes, please contact Peter Lundstedt, director, information security & compliance, at peter.lundstedt@drake.edu.  

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS  

Drake University’s Learning Management System (LMS) review task force has held six out of their proposed eight meetings during the fall semester and has hosted vendor demonstrations of Blackboard Learn Ultra and Instructure’s Canvas solutions.

The demonstrations were conducted to inform the task force about what a modern LMS can do in support of our institution. During the demonstrations and pilot experiences, data was collected based on previously defined criteria that the task force will review in the upcoming weeks. Additional information about institutional impact, including costs, student success rates, and technological integrations, will be considered while drafting our final recommendation.

For further information, please visit www.drake.edu/its/lmsreview and/or reach out to your area’s representative on the task force.

— Karly Good, ITS

The next Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lunch is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22, at noon in TMR 133. These discussions are opportunities for those engaged in SoTL projects at any level—from those just thinking about starting one, to almost complete, or simply curious about SoTL—to share ideas, seek advice, or ask questions of colleagues engaged in this process. If you would like to order a lunch, please go to: https://sotl-lunch-learn-nov2019.eventbrite.com by Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m.

— Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Thanks to support from the Slay Fund for Social Justice (http://www.drake.edu/slay) and the Olson Endowment for Global Service-Learning, the office of Community Engaged Learning (OCEL) is hiring two faculty fellows to work with the Director of Community Engaged Learning on programming and initiatives that support faculty and staff in implementing community engagement and service-learning pedagogy. The faculty fellow positions are a two-year opportunity for Drake full-time faculty members (non-tenure-track, tenure-track, or tenured) to expand, deepen, and disseminate their mastery of community engaged learning to others. Fellows will begin their term in spring 2020 and receive a $3,000 stipend ($1,500 in June and $1,500 in December). In addition to the stipend, there is funding to support participation in scholarly activities such as conferences in support of strengthening or promoting community engagement at Drake.

For specific details about each position please visit: https://www.drake.edu/community/learningservice/facultyopportunities/awardsfellowships/.

Faculty interested in serving in either role should send a letter of interest and CV to renee.sedlacek@drake.edu by Dec. 2. The statement of interest should address why you want to serve as a faculty fellow and how this position contributes to your personal, professional, and scholarly development.

— Renee Sedlacek, Director of Community Engaged Learning

In an OnCampus article in September, I introduced two methods you should use when sharing confidential electronic information outside Drake. Since then, we’ve seen wide adoption, greatly improving the security of sensitive information. If you haven’t started using these methods yet, here’s a reminder of your options.  

Secure Email 
Drake’s email service has secure functionality built in. If you have a Drake.edu email address, you can send secure emails simply by adding the phrase encrypted message: as part of the subject. The contents of the message and any attachments will by encrypted, and the email recipient will be required to verify their identity when they open the message. Read more about this service in the article Sending and Receiving Encrypted Email Messages (How-to) in the IT Service Portal. 

While sending an unencrypted email containing confidential information is still possible today, new features will be introduced over the next year to prevent unencrypted emails containing social security numbers, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information from being sent outside of Drake. 

Secure File Sharing 
We can also share files securely using OneDrive. Rather than sending the data outside of Drake, OneDrive allows us to bring others into the data, giving us greater control. The best way to do this securely is by sharing files or folders with specific contacts, rather than creating an anonymous link. This requires the contacts to sign in with their organization’s account, or with a one-time passcode. When the data no longer needs to be shared, you can remove the access. Read more about this service under the “How do I temporarily share my files to others?” section of the article Getting Started with OneDrive (FAQ). 

As an additional measure to help protect confidential information, ITS will continue to provide phishing education in November using simulations of common attack methods. 

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS 

Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value of Generosity of Spirit will be recognized at the next Provost’s Drake Social, Thursday, Nov. 21, from 4–5:30 p.m. at Cowles Library Reading Room.

To nominate a colleague, please use the Qualtrics form. You can nominate up to five colleagues on each form. Feel free to fill out multiple forms. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display.

How do we define Generosity of Spirit at Drake? We look for colleagues who trust, empower, and presume the best of each other; who practice civility, caring, and respect; and who commit to equity and inclusion.

When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets these descriptions. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children and partner.

The November Drake Social will be preceded by a Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. in celebration of International Education Week.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost