Announcing Atomic Learning

Dear Adelphi Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration,

Adelphi University has taken a big step in integrating technology into our classrooms. Atomic Learning is a key partner in our dedication to providing the highest quality technology training resources available. 
In addition to being a resource for our staff, our subscription to Atomic Learning is also available to all Adelphi students.

What is Atomic Learning?
Adelphi’s subscription to Atomic Learning includes nearly 50,000 step-by-step video tutorials on common software and online applications such as MS Office, Adobe products, and Moodle, and workshops and tech integration projects on emerging technology topics, such as blogging and Internet Safety.

How do I find it and log in?

1. Go to http://ecampus.adelphi.edu
2. Log in with your username and password
3. Click on the Services tab
4. Select the Atomic Learning icon

Once you are on the Atomic Learning site, use the dropdowns in the center of the screen to find help on the topics that interest you.

View a short preview of the Atomic Learning service.

The University is dedicated to providing the highest quality technology resources available in order to prepare Adelphi students for their futures. That is why we are making Atomic Learning available to you—on campus and at home. We encourage you to check out the available resources.

Faculty: Atomic Learning access includes:

• Project-based training on:
• 21st century concepts and content
• Tech Integration Projects: Lesson Accelerators
• Workshops on emerging tech topics
• Applying 21st century skills in the classroom
• 50,000 step-by-step technology tutorials
• Tech Skills Assessment for students based on ISTE NETS-S 2007
• 21st Century Skills Assessment for teachers based on ISTE NETS-T 2008 — a 40-question assessment from a rotating bank provides an indication of 21st century skills knowledge.
• Access for faculty, staff, students and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

We encourage you to use it as a resource for yourself, integrate it into your classroom, and invite your students to use it at home or on Adelphi’s public computers.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk.

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Faculty Software Needs for the 2010 Spring Semester

Dear Adelphi Faculty,

The Office of Information and Technology is preparing our software images for the next semester. The software deployment is for all lab computers across our four campuses. Your requests are needed by Wednesday, December 2, 2009 to be processed for the spring 2010 semester.

Please review your software requirements. If you require specific software not presently installed in a teaching lab, please advise IT by contacting the Help Desk via email at helpdesk@adelphi.edu .

View a list of the software currently installed in each of the teaching labs

Read our comprehensive purchasing guide.

To expedite your email request, please include the following information:

• Software title and version number
• Compatibility with our current lab OS and associated devices
• Teaching lab location for installation
• Vendor or manufacturer's name (if available)
• Number of licenses required for purchase (site or specific number)
• Account number to be charged for the software procurement
• Additional or special billing or installation instructions (if applicable).

The Help Desk will generate a work order with a reference number that you can use to track the status of your request. Please allow up to four weeks for the purchase, testing, and installation of the new software.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk.

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Welcome Back

The Office of Information Technology would like to welcome all students and faculty back to campus for the Fall 2009 semester! Over the summer, IT has completed a number of projects that are designed to enhance your learning and campus experience and create a more interactive and collaborative learning environment.

Click the apropriatiate link below to read how IT improvements affect you:

- Faculty updates
- Student updates

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Alert: Increasing Number of Phishing Messages

With the arrival of a new school year, we expect to see a noticeable increase in phishing messages. Phishing is an activity by which someone who appears legitimate will attempt to convince you to give up personal information, such as usernames, passwords, etc.

Adelphi University will never ask for your username and/or password and we will never ask you to visit a website that is not clearly an adelphi.edu web address.

For example, a common approach used by phishers is to send out emails which claim that you need to provide your email address and password in order to be able to continue using your email account. In all cases, this is false.

Adelphi's Office of Information Technology has technical controls in place that will prevent most phishing messages from reaching your inbox, but some emails will still get through.

Do not respond to phishing emails. Instead, simply delete them.

If you are unsure, or if you have any questions, comments, or remarks, please contact the IT HelpDesk at helpdesk@adelphi.edu, ext. 3340, or by visiting our desk in the Information Commons of Swirbul Library.

For more information about information security, go to: http://infotech.adelphi.edu/security.php.

Thank you for your cooperation.

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Email Phishing Scam Reported by Adelphi Users

Over the weekend, many users received a phishing email asking for usernames and passwords to their Adelphi email account.

Important Note: Adelphi's IT staff will never ask for your username or password by email, or in any other form of communication.

Phishing is conducted by criminals who are attempting to steal identities. In order to protect your personal identity information, as well as University's information, discard such requests without answering.

If you did inadvertently respond to the message, please contact the HelpDesk as soon as possible by dialing ext. 3340. Do not open any attachments or respond to the sender.

Find out more about how to protect yourself from scams at http://infotech.adelphi.edu/security.php.

Thank you,

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Blackboard Retired

As of June 9, 2009, Moodle is Adelphi's only course management system. Blackboard is no longer in use.

For help documentation, visit http://fcpe.adelphi.edu/moodle/.

To log in to Moodle, go to https://moodle.adelphi.edu.

Faculty: Please do not hesitate to contact the FCPE if you have questions about Moodle.

Faculty Center for Professional Excellence
Alumnae Hall 01
p - 516.877.4220
e - fcpe@adelphi.edu

Overview
AU Gmail is now the only student email system at Adelphi. GroupWise for students has officially ceased and is inaccessible. Accounts and any old files and messages have been deleted.

Whenever you want to log in to your AU Gmail account, you simply need to log in to eCampus and click on the EMAIL tab. Your username and password are the same as for your eCampus account.

If you have not already activated your AU Gmail account, you should do so right now (using the same method as above). If this is your first time accessing AU Gmail, you will be asked to agree to Google's terms of service.

Your Adelphi AU Gmail address is slightly different than the one you had on the GroupWise system. Your username is the same, but the portion after the @ sign now includes the word mail: For example: username@mail.adelphi.edu

IMPORTANT: Be sure to rack your brain for any web accounts you may have registered to your old username@adelphi.edu GroupWise address (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, your cell phone provider, electric company, cable company, online banking, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc).

Utilizing your AU Gmail account ensures that you will receive official notices and messages from the University, including Adelphi's online services such as C.L.A.S.S., Moodle, and Blackboard.

We strongly encourage you to access AU Gmail directly to avoid any complications with other third-party Internet Service Providers.

From November 5, 2008 until April 13, 2009, students were sent notifications regarding the switch and were given this time period to retrieve old messages.

Timeline
November 5, 2008: Students were able to begin using Gmail for AU.
January 12, 2009: Official University communications were switched to students' Adelphi Gmail accounts.
April 13, 2009: GroupWise for students was retired at 11:59 p.m.

For more information and FAQs, visit our Gmail Support Site. Please contact us if you have any further questions:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

With the recent scare surrounding the Conficker worm behind us, the Office of Information Technology would like to bring the following to your attention.

Spyware is a software that gets installed on your computer to collect personal information, such as your Web browsing behavior, confidential data, or personal information. This information is subsequently used to build a profile of the computer's user so he or she can be targeted more effectively with spam and phishing messages.

Much of the spyware will promote itself as browser toolbars or add-ons, coupon printers, Internet accelerators, download managers, etc. Installing such software will slow down your computer instead of speeding it up, disclose personal information, and may result into more spam or phishing messages being sent to your email address.

Please use restraint when installing additional software on your Adelphi-owned computer-we also recommend the same protocol for your personal computer. When you do decide to install software, make sure that it is properly licensed.

To prevent trouble, follow these guidelines:

• Always apply Windows Updates when prompted via the Windows systray (bottom-right of your screen). For Macs, a Software Update window will prompt you when new updates are available for applications you have installed.
  
• Once a week, check if your antivirus is up-to-date. You can do this by right-clicking on the Symantec icon in the systray and checking the date. If your virus definitions are more than a week old, please contact Customer Services for assistance (see below).

The media has been reporting on a new Internet worm called Conficker. Coverage of this worm (even featured on 60 Minutes) has radiated a sense of fear and destruction. While much of the information that has been featured is correct, there is no reason for you to be excessively worried.

Please read below for more information about this worm and visit our website for our recommended Best Practices to ensure that your personal computer stays protected against this and other malware: http://infotech.adelphi.edu/security.php.

The simple truth regarding this worm is that no one knows what it was designed to do. It has been programmed to wait for new instructions starting April 1, but nobody knows what those instructions will entail or if they will even be sent. Internet security teams all over the world are closely monitoring networks and are ready to act, if and when, instructions are sent.  

The worm is able to spread over networks via computers running Microsoft Windows that have not been patched. Apple Macs are not affected. Anyone who has a Windows-based computer with up-to-date antivirus and Microsoft Windows set to automatically update once a month will not be affected by this threat.

Adelphi's Office of Information Technology (Adelphi IT) has been monitoring the developments surrounding this malware and are actively tracking potential outbreaks on our network. We feel confident that we have done as much as possible to prevent disruptions or negative side effects. We are in contact with global Internet security teams to track ongoing developments, and if we detect any outbreaks, we will be ready to respond quickly in order to prevent problems from spreading.

Many vendors are distributing free detection and removal tools. A list of tools is maintained by the Internet Storm Center at http://isc.sans.org/conficker.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

If you have questions or need help, visit our Gmail for AU Support Site: http://infotech.adelphi.edu/gmail/

Please note: Notifications from the C.L.A.S.S., Moodle, and Blackboard systems, as well as official communications from Adelphi administration and faculty are already being sent to your AU Gmail account instead of your GroupWise account.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Figuring out what a scam looks like and knowing what to do when you see one will be your best protection against criminals attempting to steal your information.

Adelphi's Office of Information Technology (Adelphi IT) is working diligently to keep our network free of viruses, spam and phishing scams. They deter approximately 150,000 email threats per day (about 80%-90% of the daily messages that come through our servers).

Please note: Adelphi's Customer Services representatives and network administrators will NEVER contact you by email or phone, asking you to reply with your username, password or other sensitive information. If you are in any way suspicious of an email you receive, please contact Customer Services at ext. 3340 about the message or forward it to abuse@adelphi.edu.

Best Practices to avoid becoming a victim:

• Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests to reset your username/password. Never send your username/password or other confidential data in an email to anyone, not even to us! When in doubt, call us directly and do not respond to the suspicious email.
  
  
• Adelphi policy does not allow the sharing of passwords with anyone, for any reason. Convenience should not override policy. Part-time employees and student workers must get accounts of their own.

• Adelphi IT currently supports Firefox v 3 and Internet Explorer v 7 browsers. Ensure that your browser is up to date and that you regularly apply security patches. We also recommend using Symantec Antivirus protection.
  
  
• If you receive a link in an email or an instant message, only use it to get to a web page if you trust the person who sent it to you and if you know the message is authentic.
  
  
• Always ensure that you're using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information via your web browser. Look for "https" in the browser address bar and the security lock in the bottom right corner.
  
  
• Regularly check your bank, credit, and debit card statements to ensure that all transactions are legitimate.
  
  
• Report "phishing" or "spoofed" emails to the email service through which you received the malicious email (i.e., if you received the message on your Adelphi email account, report it to us; if you received it on your Yahoo! account, report it to Yahoo!).
  
  
• If you accidentally responded to a phishing message, please inform us as soon as possible.

Glossary of Terms:

Spam: Unsolicited, usually commercial or objectionable form of communication (e.g. using email, instant messaging, etc.) sent to a large number of recipients. These are usually harmless, yet annoying.

Phishing: Emails that are made to appear as though they are from a recognized source and are designed to trick you into submitting your vital information (e.g. bank account, social security, credit card numbers, and passwords to accounts).

Virus: Emails with attachments which, when clicked on, launch harmful attacks against your computer.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

In the past year, Adelphi;s Office of Information Technology has worked to increase wireless coverage to a total of more than 180 access radius points throughout Adelphi?s buildings, sports fields, outdoor gathering places, and Center locations, making this a wireless campus for Adelphi students, faculty, administration, and staff.

In all residence halls, coverage has recently expanded from lounges to include hallways and individual rooms. Wireless improvements were also made to the University Center, academic and administrative buildings, and were an integral part of the construction of the new Performing Arts Center and the Center for Recreation and Sports.

Wireless coverage was also extended in the Hauppauge, Manhattan, and Hudson Valley Centers.

Indoor/Outdoor Hot Spots
Maps of specific coverage areas and instructions for connecting to the wireless network are available at http://infotech.adelphi.edu/services/wireless.php

If you have any further questions, please contact:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Ruckus Music shut down its service permanently on Friday, February 6, 2009. Adelphi students, along with students at more than 80 other universities, were affected by this closure.

We regret any inconvenience this may have caused Adelphi students. At this time, no other vendor is offering a comparable service. Therefore, the University has no plans to pursue a similar service.

We advise you to purchase music from media outlets that many students are already familiar with, such as iTunes, Amazon, Zune, and other legal sites, or listen to free Internet radio sites such as Pandora. Please note: Adelphi does not endorse any one particular company.

We also strongly encourage you to visit AU's own PAWS Web Radio site.

For information about copyright law and music downloads, please read Adelphi’s File Sharing/Download Policy.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu

Please be advised that as of January 12, 2009, AU Gmail is the primary student email system for Adelphi. Official communications from Adelphi University faculty and administration will be sent to AU Gmail accounts instead of GroupWise accounts. Notifications from C.L.A.S.S., Moodle, Blackboard, and other Adelphi online services will also be sent to AU Gmail accounts.

Therefore, if you are an Adelphi student, it is essential that you activate your AU Gmail account now if you have not already done so. For activation instructions and more, go to our FAQ page.

Messages and files from student GroupWise accounts can still be retrieved until April 2009. Please note: Adelphi will not automatically forward messages to your Gmail account. For old messages, we recommend forwarding the ones you want to save individually. For new incoming message to GroupWise, we recommend setting up a Forwarding Rule. Please use the information found on our Gmail Resources page to set up a forwarding rule, transfer your contacts, and more.

We hope you have been enjoying using the AU Gmail service and all its features, including the easy navigation, message filtering, chat, calendar, Google Docs for collaboration and more. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions and Resources pages to make the most of your new Adelphi Gmail.

We recommend that you check your AU Gmail inbox frequently to make sure that you are staying up-to-date on announcements regarding AU deadlines, events, and other necessary information that will assist you as you continue your studies at Adelphi.

If you have questions that are not answered by the FAQ or by the Gmail Help Center, please contact:

IT HelpDesk
Office of Information Technology
Swirbul Library, 2nd Floor
p - 516.877.3340
e - helpdesk@adelphi.edu