Student Administration
New Schedule Builder Coming Soon
Attention Advisors: Did you know that the Registrar’s Office, ITS, and Academic Innovation are partnering to build a new Schedule Builder tool within Atlas? Look for details coming in spring 2021!
Safe Computing
Privacy Webinars January 28 and February 2
Hear acclaimed author Sarah Igo (The Known Citizen) discuss her ongoing work on information privacy, and engage with a panel on student privacy by participating in the ITS Information Assurance webinars listed below. Please share this information with colleagues in your unit.
The Privacy@Michigan webinars will be held using Zoom. There is no charge, and you don't need to register.
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Nine Digits: A Brief History of Data, Privacy, and the SSN: A Privacy Day Discussion with Guest Speaker Sarah Igo
- Thursday, January 28 (Data Privacy Day), 4:00–5:00 p.m. Join the event via Zoom.
- Add this event to your Google calendar.
- Sarah Igo, Andrew Jackson professor of history and director of the Program in American Studies at Vanderbilt University, will discuss her ongoing work on information privacy. Igo is the author of The Known Citizen: A History of Privacy in Modern America. The book uncovers the surprising ways that debates over what should be kept out of the public eye have shaped U.S. politics and society.
- Tuesday, February 2, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Zoom details coming soon
- Co-hosted by the student group Tech for Social Good.
- This interactive student panel will focus on student privacy at U-M and will introduce ViziBLUE, a first of its kind in higher-ed tool that provides information about student data collection and use.
Tax Fraud Prevention Tips
Beware! It's that time of the year again! As you read this, criminals, fraudsters, and identity thieves could be working to file fraudulent tax returns in your name and steal your tax refund. ITS Information Assurance (IA) offers the following tips to help you protect yourself from identity theft and tax fraud:
- File your taxes as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of criminals filing under your name.
- Beware of phishing emails and phone scams. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media channels, nor do they call to demand immediate payment. And they never demand payment via gift card.
- Be suspicious of ads for tax filing services that promise you large or expedited tax refunds. These are often scams to steal your personal information.
Extra protection from the IRS: The IRS has expanded the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program to all taxpayers who can properly verify their identities. An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number. The IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS and helps verify your identity when you file your electronic or paper tax return. Visit the IRS website to get an IP PIN.
Check out Beware of Tax Fraud—where there are more details and links to helpful information from the IRS—and share the info with your colleagues, family, and friends.
Protect your U-M VPN Connection with Duo
When working from home or elsewhere, you can use Duo two-factor protection for additional security with the U-M Virtual Private Network (VPN). While use of Duo with the VPN is not currently required, ITS Information Assurance highly encourages it. It provides added security not just for you, but for U-M networks, too.
Use it on your personal computer
Visit ITS: Getting Started With VPN and choose your operating system to get VPN profiles—plus the Cisco AnyConnect client—that prompt for Duo at login. Profiles incorporating Duo are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The Duo "Remember me" feature does not currently work with AnyConnect on Mac or Linux; it does work with AnyConnect on Windows.
MiWorkspace and other managed computers updated for you
- Mac. If you have a MiWorkspace Mac or a Mac managed via ITS’s Managed Software Center (that is, those managed via Izzy), the Cisco AnyConnect client app with the VPN profile using Duo is available on your computer for your use at Applications --> Cisco.
- Windows. MiWorkspace Windows computers are equipped with an "always on" VPN-like client called DirectAccess that does not require separate client software. Typically, the Cisco AnyConnect client is not necessary on a MiWorkspace Windows computer. However, those using it for special access needs will receive updated connection profiles with Duo.
Duo to be required for VPN later
- ITS anticipates Duo for VPN will be required at some point in the future.
- ITS will work with U-M units and communicate extensively before making use of Duo for VPN access required.
- Retirees and alumni—who use a different, designated connection profile—will not be required to use Duo for VPN.