Author: l.gamble-at@mail.ufl.edu

Fake Emails from “UF Faculty” Targeting Students

Posted on

Students are reporting suspicious emails in their Gmail or other non-UF inboxes, claiming to be from instructors. These phishing scams enable cybercriminals posing as faculty to convince students to deposit fake checks or send gift cards. Because students often handle email on their phones–where full email addresses are obscured–it isn’t immediately apparent that the email is a phish.

Impostor emails attempt to lure students with high-paying job opportunities and often come from faculty members the student doesn’t know. Cybercriminals can find enough information online to impersonate faculty without having to hack into their UF account. The proliferation of these scams is a great reminder to always be cautious when clicking on any email, no matter who they seem to come from.

Remember:
1. Even if a phishing email doesn’t include a malicious link or attachment, it’s still just as dangerous if you respond.
2. The [External Email] tag will appear in the body of emails originating from outside the university, alerting you that it may well be malicious.

If you think an email in your Gmail or non-UF inbox is a phish, forward the message as an attachment to abuse@ufl.edu.

Helpful e-Learning Tips for Students

Posted on

The university’s online and in-person teaching and learning environment is once again in full swing. To help students make the most of their time learning online, UFIT created several short videos highlighting features in Canvas e-Learning in one minute or less:

1. Do’s and Don’ts for Using the Canvas e-Learning App
→ Know when to use the app or the web version.

2. Connecting Your Canvas e-Learning Calendar to Your Phone/Desktop Calendar
→ Never miss a deadline by syncing your Canvas calendar to a desktop/mobile calendar.

3. Viewing Grades in Canvas e-Learning
→ See all grades in one place instead of opening each course.

4. Using the Calendar Feature in Canvas e-Learning
→ Add personal to-do items and keep track of assignment deadlines by course.

We have a great team of e-Learning support specialists who can answer your questions about Canvas e-Learning. Call them at 352-392-HELP/4357 or email helpdesk@ufl.edu.

Supporting Faculty Video Needs

Posted on

Faculty can now record course videos or professional work on their own time. UFIT recently opened its On-Demand Studio, offering a quick and easy alternative to filming lectures, trainings, or presentations.

UFIT produces instructional videos related to an official UF course at no cost to the instructor or department. The On-Demand Studio enables faculty to create professional-quality videos through a self-serve process for courses, research, or pre-recorded conference presentations. The studio is professionally set up with lights, a camera, and a green screen. Follow the instructions labelled in the room to start recording. The studio is located in the HUB room 225 and is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Faculty can book time in the studio by using the calendar link on the On-Demand Studio webpage. A complete list of instructions, what to bring, and FAQs are also available. Please contact the academic media productions team with any questions
or to schedule a consultation.

Cybercriminals Target UF International Community

Posted on

UF’s 5,712 international students, along with our international faculty and staff population, are prime targets for criminals who want to leverage their immigration status to steal money and sensitive data.

The UF International Center (UFIC) reported several cases of phishing emails and phone calls from cybercriminals posing as representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Scams include threats of deportation, visa revocation, or phony visa lottery acceptances. The fake messages are schemes to solicit money or sensitive information (e.g. Social Security numbers, credit card information, etc.).

“We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for our international students to be aware of scams and phishing attempts that can impact their legal status, identity, and financial future,” said Debra Anderson, director of International Student Support Services for UFIC.

Everyone, regardless of visa status, should think twice before automatically clicking on an email attachment. U.S. government agencies never demand immediate payment over the phone or via email. In fact, contact with U.S. agencies involved in immigration issues always starts with a letter, not a phone call or an email. If you think an email in your GatorMail is suspicious, report it with the Phish Alert Button so UF’s Information Security Office can investigate further.

Supporting Academic Accessibility Efforts

Posted on

UFIT is hosting Fix Your Content Day sessions as part of UF’s support of of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. These sessions will empower instructors, TAs, and academic support staff to maximize use of Ally and make courses accessible for all learners. Ally is an easy-to-use tool that generates accessibility reports, providing a score that correlates to the accessibility of the content, and offers suggestions for quickly fixing content. Two sessions will be offered on May 20. Participants may drop-in for all or part of either session:

• 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fix Your Content Day is free. Pre-registration is not required. To participate, log in to the Canvas event page, select a session, and enter the Zoom lobby. Attendees will be paired with an e-Learning specialist or instructional designer who will discuss their course’s Ally report and identify ways to make content more accessible. UFIT’s Center for Instructional Technology and Training (CITT) offers several options for creating inclusive courses, including Ally in Canvas, Designing an Inclusive Course, and Accessibility Fundamentals. For more information, please contact the CITT.

Infusing AI Into the Undergraduate Experience

Posted on

According to a study by Gartner, artificial intelligence (AI) job creation will reach two million net-new jobs in 2025. To prepare graduates for an AI-enabled workforce, UF has begun integrating AI across the curriculum. Every student now has the opportunity to develop a competency in AI regardless of their field of study.

Several new and existing courses include AI in their syllabi. The UF AI website provides a list of all AI-related majors, minors, and courses. Students can also complete a certificate in AI Fundamentals and Applications. The program is available for undergraduates of all majors, and requires a fundamentals course, an ethics course, and one college-specific course.

To learn about applications of AI across the university, students can attend seminars, workshops, and other events. The Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) is hosting a virtual Artificial Intelligence in Research workshop on April 14, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Denisse Ventura, one of the CUR ambassadors organizing the event, said that all current undergraduates could benefit from understanding AI:

“Not only would students be equipped with skills that can make them more competitive in the job market, but they would also bring unique perspectives that can better diversify the growing research area.”

Securely Disposing of UF Records and Media

Posted on

The secure destruction of paper, electronic records, and media containing restricted data is required at the University of Florida. Failure to properly dispose of documents and media, such as hard drives, USBs, and CDs, that hold restricted data can cause significant risk to UF and its faculty, students, and staff.

UF’s process for disposal of records is clearly articulated to ensure compliance. Faculty and staff should know that different media types (e.g., paper, CD, files stored on encrypted hard drives, etc.) have different destruction methods. The Securely Deleting Electronic and Paper Records webpage includes a chart with a complete list of media types and disposal methods. If your department is moving or has a need to dispose of a significant volume of paper files, UF Procurement Services offers bulk-shredding services for university records as well as media that is required to be destroyed.

Anyone with questions about working with, or the process for deleting electronic and paper records that contain restricted data, may email the UF Information Security Office.

Sharing UF’s AI Journey with the World

Posted on

Enhancements to UF’s https://ai.ufl.edu/ website (AI) debuted on January 26. The site now more fully showcases UF’s commitment to integrate AI across academic, research, and outreach efforts. The Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing partnered with UFIT’s Web Services to bring about the site enhancements.

“The story we want to share digitally is one that encompasses all aspects of AI at UF,” notes Melanie Schramm, assistant vice president for strategic communications. “UF’s AI Initiative touches on every aspect of the university. Working with UFIT, this site will help us share information and discoveries with stakeholders around the world.”

The new design features a restructured homepage with content blocks dedicated to university-wide research and announcements. Two new tabs have been added: the Industry tab details UF’s investments in solidifying its role as the first “AI University,” while the News tab lists updates and events from departments and units. Students can also check out the chart on the Academics tab that lists all new and enhanced undergraduate and graduate courses that include AI components. The popular Calendar link lists the symposia, trainings, webinars, and other events focusing on AI across the enterprise. UF Human Resources also has a Jobs page dedicated solely to the AI-focused faculty and staff positions available with the university.

Free Storage and Collaboration Tools

Posted on

Access to cloud-based collaboration tools has been essential for UF’s successful transition to hybrid campus life. In case you didn’t know, all students, faculty, and staff with active GatorLink credentials can get UF-Dropbox, G-Suite, and OneDrive from the GatorCloud. The advantage to using the versions UFIT provides is that you get an additional layer of security with your UF account and unlimited Dropbox and Google Drive storage! There is a very helpful chart on the GatorCloud homepage outlining what you get with each service. UFIT also recently published a new video overview of GatorCloud services.

In addition to UF-Dropbox, G-Suite, and OneDrive, GatorCloud also includes Office 365 and GatorMail. Want to learn how to make the most of these apps? Take advantage of your free LinkedIn Learning account to watch just in time training, like “Google Apps: Tips, Tricks and Techniques“, and “Team Collaboration in Office 365.”

Anyone in the UF community with questions about using GatorCloud applications or help accessing LinkedIn Learning for free may contact the UF Computing Help Desk (352-392-HELP/4357, helpdesk@ufl.edu).

Research Computing Support Available Remotely

Posted on

Research computing consulting support is now available through remote channels. Based on the precautions taken by the university regarding the COVID-19 virus, facilitators who normally hold walk-in hours on campus are available via Zoom. The online support options for UF’s research community include:

  • Visiting the Research Computing website for information on services and the current status of HiPerGator.
  • Posting questions in the Slack #support channel. Research Computing staff monitor the channel and reply as quickly as possible. Use this link to join.
  • Attending a Zoom meeting during the listed walk-in hours. Please allow at least 5-10 minutes for your request to be acknowledged. If a facilitator is in another meeting, your Zoom call will be placed in a waiting room and answered as quickly as possible. Personal Zoom links are available here.

Researchers are welcome to contact Erik Deumens, director of Research Computing, about their consulting support needs.