elmsnews

SEPTEMBER 2023

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety has been conducting Active Threat Training sessions with individual campus departments and their teams throughout the campus this summer. As we begin the fall semester approximately 85% of campus Staff has completed the training. We are in the process of scheduling the remaining departments as well as coordinating with Faculty representatives to schedule their members for training this Fall.

Active threat training will be delivered directly to Residential Students this Fall, and open sessions will be conducted for commuter students as well. 

Public Safety also completed anual City Code & Fire Inspections in early August, along with Sprinkler, Fire Alarm, and Fire Extinguisher recertifications. We are in the final phases of the review process and expect to meet all compliance requirements. 

A key takeaway from the City inspections this year was the use of extension cords on campus. City codes prohibit the use of extension cords to permanently power large appliances. All appliances are to be plugged directly into a wall outlet. The use of a power bar is restricted to small appliances, and should never be linked together to connect an appliance that is too far away from a wall outlet. Extension cords must be monitored when in use and removed once the task is completed. 

Public Safety has provided direct assistance and guidance to Staff and Faculty on the proper use of power bars in the office environment, working with facilities and Collins Electric (Elms Contractor) to add additional wall outlets where required.  

In conclusion , Public Safety would like to thank the campus community for their patience and cooperation in helping to make the Elms Safe for all. 

In our ever-connected world, phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, and it’s more crucial than ever to be vigilant. The Elms IT Department wants to provide you with tips to help you spot phishing emails and protect yourself and our organization’s data. 

Tip #1: Check the sender’s email address. Frequently, a scammer will try to send a fake email under a fictitious email that appears similar to that of the college’s. As a reminder, Elms College emails always end with either an @elms.edu or @student.elms.edu. An example of a fake email may be something like: elmscollege@gmail.com. 

Tip #2: Be Wary of Ugent or Threatening Language. Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency or fear to manipulate you into taking action. If an email pressures you to act immediately or threatens consequences, take a step back and scrutinize it carefully.

Tip #3: Hover Over Links. Before clicking on any links in an email, hover your mouse pointer over them (on a computer) or press and hold (on a mobile device). This action will reveal the true destination of the link in the status bar. If it doesn’t match the expected URL, it’s a red flag. 

Tip #4: Be Cautious of Attachments. Never click on or download a file, picture, or any attachment unless you are 100% certain that you know what it is and that it is from a reliable, trusted source.

Tip #5: Verify Requests for Sensitive Information. Legitimate organizations won’t ask you to provide sensitive data (example: password, credit card number, etc. ) via email. If you receive such a request, confirm it’s authenticity through a trusted channel, such as a phone call or an official website. 

By staying vigilant and following these tips, you can help protect yourself and Elms College from falling victim to phishing attacks.

The IT Department has created resources that are available on Elms College about email security and phishing that can be found here, or by going to the Elms Connect website and looking under the Information Technology section with the heading “Security Alerts”. 

Remember, it is always better to be cautious than sorry! If you ever have any questions about a suspicious email, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@elms.edu.