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In This Issue
Official News/General Announcements
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As part of our educational mission at Alfred University, we are expanding our cybersecurity awareness efforts to include a weekly simulated phishing campaign for students. This program mirrors the initiative already in place for employees and is designed to help you recognize and respond to social engineering attacks that you may encounter both here and in your future workplaces.
Throughout the semester, you will receive simulated phishing emails created through KnowBe4, a leading cybersecurity education platform. These simulations are based on real-world tactics used by malicious actors. Your role is to become familiar with how phishing attempts look and to develop the habit of reporting suspicious messages promptly.
When you receive an email that appears suspicious, please use the Phish Alert Button in Outlook on your phone or computer. Selecting this button will report the message to ITS.
* If the email is part of the simulation, your report will be recorded as a successful identification.
* If the email is an actual phishing attempt that made it through our defenses, it will be quarantined, and ITS systems will automatically search for similar messages across campus to protect others.
Your vigilance strengthens our "human firewall," which helps safeguard not only your own information but also the broader university community.
To make this program more engaging, students who accurately report two or more simulated phishing emails during the semester will receive a small packet of Swedish Fish gummies. In addition, all successful reporters will be entered into a drawing for a used laptop computer at the end of the semester.
The provided link describes how to identify and report suspicious emails the Phish Alert Button on different platforms. If you have questions, please contact the ITS Help Desk at [email protected] or 607-871-2222.
Thank you for your attention and willingness to help protect our campus community.
Link: How to detect and report phishing emails
Submitted by: Gary Roberts
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An AI Open Mic Conversation will be held over Zoom on Wednesday, October 21, from 12:30 to 1 pm. This is an opportunity for faculty and staff to share their experiences with AI in a collaborative, informal setting. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask each other questions. The conversation will be guided by ITS staff and members of the AI Faculty Development Working Group, but there will be no formal presentation; the goal is to foster discourse on the topic of AI and learn from each other. The Zoom link is provided below (meeting ID: 943 9399 0944, passcode: 554192).
Link: AI Open Mic Conversation - October 21
Submitted by: Meghanne Freivald
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Spring semester will be here soon. Prepare by meeting with your advisor during advising week which starts Monday, Oct. 26. Web registration begins on date noted for each class standing:
* Graduate Students & Seniors (90+ credits) -- Monday, Nov. 2
* Juniors (60-89 credits) -- Wednesday, Nov. 4
* Sophomores (30-59 credits) -- Friday, Nov. 7
* First Years (0-29 credits) -- Tuesday, Nov. 10
Remember all undergraduates need an alternate pin number to register and those are received from your advisor.
Submitted by: Alex Holbrook
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TEDxAlfred University is returning this spring, and our 2027 speaker interest form is officially live!
The theme for this year, "Uncharted Territory," explores what happens when we venture beyond the familiar, push past boundaries, and step boldly into the unknown. True discovery begins with deep curiosity, resilience, and the courage to ask "what if?" These moments of exploration spark transformative innovation, challenge long-held perspectives, and redefine what is possible for people and communities alike.
Our goal is to create a platform where thinkers, researchers, and innovators - from students to faculty and staff - can step beyond the familiar, share new perspectives, and spark conversations that drive real impact in our community. We know how much passion, creativity, and incredible work live here on campus.
Every TEDx talk simply needs a clear, well-focused core idea worth spreading. We invite applicant speakers to share the breakthroughs, ideas, and journeys that will inspire our audience to discover theirs!
Application Deadline: Oct. 14
Link: Apply Here
Submitted by: Vladyslava Makarenko
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I want to make you aware of an important change that will take effect in February 2027.
All members of our campus community currently use two-factor authentication (2FA) through either the Microsoft Authenticator app or text message verification.
As part of Microsoft's authentication roadmap, support for text message-based authentication will be discontinued.
Beginning in February 2027, all Alfred University users will be required to use the Microsoft Authenticator app as their second factor when accessing university systems.
To prepare for this change, please download and configure the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone if you have not already done so. The app provides a simple and secure authentication experience and is already in use by many members of the campus community.
You may switch to the Authenticator app at any time. However, migration will be mandatory before February 2027. I encourage you to make the change well in advance of the deadline.
I have included information from Microsoft below regarding the Authenticator app and the enrollment process. If you need assistance with installation or configuration, please contact the ITS Help Desk.
The ITS team will be available throughout the coming months to support users as we complete this transition.
If you feel that you cannot install the application on your phone, please reach out to the helpdesk so they can assess your situation and explore other options if necessary.
Thank you for your attention to this important security update.
All my best and Fiat Lux!
Gary Roberts
Chief Information Officer
Alfred University
Link: About Microsoft Authenticator App
Submitted by: Gary Roberts
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