Please read this interesting article from the Washington Post. Our phones are very busy, even when we are not.

Information Technology Services will force a systemwide reset of employee passwords in October. Why? Research on password security indicates that the old rules for creating passwords (which were based on faulty assumptions) are terribly insecure. Research also indicates that password length leads to security. A long password or passphrase that is meaningful to the user is proving to be the most secure. Read the IT Knowledge Base Article on creating secure passphrases. IT will remind users before forcing the password reset in October.

You can avoid the forced reset in October by doing these two things now:

1. If you haven’t done so already, please follow the steps to register for self-service password reset. Set up your security questions and a backup e-mail address or phone number so that you can reset your password on your own at any time, any day, anywhere.

2. After completing step 1, please review the Knowledge Base article on how to create a secure passphrase. Once you understand how to create a 15-character passphrase, reset your password with no fewer than 15 characters. The only requirement for creating your new password: you must use at least 15 characters.

Once you have completed these steps, your name will automatically be removed from the list of account holders who will be forced to reset their passwords in October.

If you choose not to complete both of the above steps before October, you will be forced to reset your password at that time. If you have not set up self-service password reset functionality (step 1) and forget your password, your only option will be to contact the IT Help Desk during business hours to have your access restored. So, don’t delay; perform the steps above today.

Do Users’ Perceptions of Password Security Match Reality? (PDF, 507 KB)

Measuring Real-World Accuracies and Biases in Modeling Password Guessability (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Information Technology Services will force a systemwide reset of employee passwords in October. Why? Research on password security indicates that the old rules for creating passwords (which were based on faulty assumptions) are terribly insecure. Research also indicates that password length leads to security. A long password or passphrase that is meaningful to the user is proving to be the most secure. Read the IT Knowledge Base Article on creating secure passphrases. IT will remind users before forcing the password reset in October.

You can avoid the forced reset in October by doing these two things now:

1. If you haven’t done so already, please follow the steps to register for self-service password reset. Set up your security questions and a backup e-mail address or phone number so that you can reset your password on your own at any time, any day, anywhere.

2. After completing step 1, please review the Knowledge Base article on how to create a secure passphrase. Once you understand how to create a 15-character passphrase, reset your password with no fewer than 15 characters. The only requirement for creating your new password: you must use at least 15 characters.

Once you have completed these steps, your name will automatically be removed from the list of account holders who will be forced to reset their passwords in October.

If you choose not to complete both of the above steps before October, you will be forced to reset your password at that time. If you have not set up self-service password reset functionality (step 1) and forget your password, your only option will be to contact the IT Help Desk during business hours to have your access restored. So, don’t delay; perform the steps above today.

Do Users’ Perceptions of Password Security Match Reality? (PDF, 507 KB)

Measuring Real-World Accuracies and Biases in Modeling Password Guessability (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Information Technology Services will force a systemwide reset of employee passwords in October. Why? Research on password security indicates that the old rules for creating passwords (which were based on faulty assumptions) are terribly insecure. Research also indicates that password length leads to security. A long password or passphrase that is meaningful to the user is proving to be the most secure. Read the IT Knowledge Base Article on creating secure passphrases. IT will remind users before forcing the password reset in October.

You can avoid the forced reset in October by doing these two things now:

1. If you haven’t done so already, please follow the steps to register for self-service password reset. Set up your security questions and a backup e-mail address or phone number so that you can reset your password on your own at any time, any day, anywhere.

2. After completing step 1, please review the Knowledge Base article on how to create a secure passphrase. Once you understand how to create a 15-character passphrase, reset your password with no fewer than 15 characters. The only requirement for creating your new password: you must use at least 15 characters.

Once you have completed these steps, your name will automatically be removed from the list of account holders who will be forced to reset their passwords in October.

If you choose not to complete both of the above steps before October, you will be forced to reset your password at that time. If you have not set up self-service password reset functionality (step 1) and forget your password, your only option will be to contact the IT Help Desk during business hours to have your access restored. So, don’t delay; perform the steps above today.

Do Users’ Perceptions of Password Security Match Reality? (PDF, 507 KB)

Measuring Real-World Accuracies and Biases in Modeling Password Guessability (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Please join the Newman Center as we celebrate Mass for the Feast of the Ascension on Thursday, May 30, at 12:05 p.m. in the Newman Center Chapel, 1219 Elmwood Avenue. All are welcome!

The New York State Teachers’ Retirement System will hold its summer 2019 Pension and Retirement Education Program (PREP) seminars on Tuesday, July 16, and Monday, July 29, at the Holiday Inn Buffalo International Airport, 4600 Genesee Street, in Cheektowaga.

The seminars will include information on NYSTRS benefits; financial planning; Social Security; estate planning; retirement: a new beginning; and the retirement process.

The seminars will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. PREP seminars are free, and spouses and partners may also attend, but advance registration is required. Seminars fill up quickly, so book early. Visit NYSTRS.org using your My NYSTRS account ("my tools" tab) or call (800) 348-7298, ext. 6180, to register. When calling, you must provide your Employee ID or Social Security number, e-mail address, and phone number.

Please note: Seminars are not designed for one-on-one retirement counseling. Individual benefits consultations may be scheduled year-round online or by phone through NYSTRS.

The NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training has announced the summer 2019 webinar series.

Webinars offer CSEA-represented employees the opportunity to learn from the convenience of their office or home. Webinar classes fill quickly, so please register as soon as possible. For further information, please download the promotional flier (PDF, 2 MB), call the partnership at (800) 253-4332, or e-mail learning@nyscseapartnership.org.

The Student Conduct and Community Standards Office is seeking faculty and staff volunteers to serve as student advisers and board members of the Student Conduct Board for the 2019–2020 academic year.

Conduct advisers are trained members of the college community who are available to assist students through the conduct process. Advisers are provided by the college free of charge. Students have the right to a conduct adviser from the college should they choose. Advisers are meant to be a support and guidance system for students in the conduct process.

The Student Conduct Board consists of volunteer members of the campus community who are current faculty, staff, or students. Board members hear cases on a rotating basis.

If you are interested in serving as a conduct adviser or board member, please complete the Conduct Board Application form on the Student Conduct website.

Please call the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office at 878-3051 with questions.

Listed below are construction projects that will temporarily affect traffic, parking, or pedestrian wayfinding during summer 2019. These projects are part of the ongoing effort to upgrade campus facilities and perform critical maintenance and repairs.

Coyer Field: About 100 student parking spaces in the southern portion of Lot I-39 will be offline through Friday, August 23, while the Coyer Field turf is being replaced.

Iroquois Drive Reconstruction, Phase 1: Iroquois Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic between parking lots I-35 and I-39 though Friday, August 23. A two-way traffic detour through Tower Drive and Lot I-39 will be posted. About 200 student parking spaces will be offline in the northern portion of Lot I-39 while this project is underway. Iroquois Drive reconstruction will replace the deteriorated roadway and drainage system and provide additional sidewalks for pedestrian use. High-visibility crosswalks and LED site lighting will also be added. 

Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall: Ten parking spaces in Lot I-30 will be unavailable until Monday, September 30, to facilitate renovations to the Performing Arts Center and other spaces in Rockwell Hall.  

Porter Hall: The Porter Hall south loading dock will be closed and four adjacent parking spaces in Lot R-1 will be offline until Friday, August 9, while asbestos-containing materials are removed from the building.

Various Buildings: Slate roofs will be repaired on six campus buildings this summer: Rockwell Hall, Bacon Hall, Ketchum Hall, Savage Theater and Communication Building, Campus House, and the Carriage House at the president’s residence. A portion of the sidewalk around each building will be temporarily closed to allow the contractors to lift materials to and from the roof. Work will progress sequentially from one building to another. Four parking spaces in the northeast portion of Lot R-2 will be unavailable until Friday, August 2.

Thank you for your patience as these summer projects proceed. Questions may be e-mailed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.

Water service to Butler Library will be interrupted from Tuesday, May 28, through Friday, May 31, to accommodate critical plumbing work related to building renovations. All restrooms in the library will be closed; temporary restroom facilities will be provided outside the StudyQuad (south) entrance.

Your patience is appreciated as this important renovation project continues. Questions may be e-mailed to vpfm@buffalostate.edu.