UB 2020University at Buffalo’s strategic plan

Student Services Transformation Planning

Documents

SST Project Sponsors VPN Memo - January 2011

UB Users

Introduction to PeopleSoft's "Campus Solutions"

Fit-Gap Reports

Strategy Documents

Project Charter

Project Charter (814 KB)

VPN and Two-Factor Login Memo

Colleagues,

The University at Buffalo (UB) houses over 1 million private information records that are considered regulated and protected data under FERPA and other mandated policy guidelines.

When equipment that has access to those records is compromised, and even if unauthorized access can not be proven, it places the university at a huge financial risk (often exceeding a million dollars) to conduct mandated investigations and manage subsequent information and notification campaigns. The risk is real - Cornell University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Ohio State University have had recent experiences with data breaches of a significant magnitude.

In order to mitigate this substantial risk, UB is adopting a new type of virtual private network (VPN) access called “two-factor authentication” to protect all critical systems. The HUB (formerly UBSIS) will be the first of several administrative systems to make use of this tool, which upon logging into the system, creates a single use password that is available only for a very short duration. Two-factor authentication guards against unauthorized access to the HUB and reduces the risk that a stolen password from a compromised computer or network can be used to gain access.

Currently, the VPN project manager is working closely with departmental IT staff to adopt this new software and ensure that all staff accessing the HUB are appropriately trained in its use. Your IT support staff have begun the installation of this software, if they have not reached you as yet, you will be contacted by them soon to install this software on your UB desktop/laptop.

More information regarding security policies and practices is available at:

http://computersecurity.buffalo.edu/ and specific security concerns may be directed to the UBIT Security Office at sec-office@buffalo.edu.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation in adopting these critical new security procedures.

Thomas R. Furlani
Interim Chief Information Officer, Director of the Center for Computational Research, and SST Project Director

John T. Ho
Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Dean of the Graduate School and SST Project Sponsor

A. Scott Weber
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and SST Project Sponsor

The Student Services Transformation is a university-wide initiative and continued support from the campus community is a necessary element to this project. We welcome your feedback at ub-sst@buffalo.edu.

SST: Areas of Focus

Portal

10/25/12

Enabling students to navigate services through the MyUB Web environment and conduct transactions in a click-easy manner.
Student Records

10/25/12

Registering for classes, accessing grades, receiving mid-semester assessments and tracking progress toward degree completion.
Academic Advising

10/25/12

Assisting students with understanding how their course work meets degree requirements for a timely and successful graduation.
Transfer Credit

10/25/12

Evaluating coursework completed at institutions outside of UB and determining how previously earned credits may transfer and be applied to a UB degree requirement.
Data Access

10/25/12

Enabling efficient collection and reporting of campus statistics for a variety of internal and external university decision-making needs.
Campus Community

10/25/12

Providing students a single place to input and update basic biographical information, such as name, address and emergency contact information so it can be shared interdepartmentally.
Admissions

10/25/12

Processing UB student applications and transitioning accepted students toward enrollment.
Student Financials

10/25/12

Calculating tuition, fees and other charges—providing parents and students an interface similar to online banking.
Financial Aid

10/25/12

Working with students to assess eligibility for tuition assistance based on need and merit and awarding scholarships that promote access to higher education.

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