This article is from the archives of the UB Reporter.
Working @ UB
Published: Nov. 29, 2012

  • UBIT changes Outlook web access

    UB’s central exchange email web access method—exchowa.buffalo.edu—has been the target of intense hacking in recent days, compromising a handful of accounts and sending huge amounts of spam emails from UB’s system.

    To prevent hackers using intrusion scripts from gaining access to UB’s email system, UBIT has implemented CAPTCHA on the web interface.

    CAPTCHA, according to IT policy and communications officer Rick Lesniak, is a challenge-response test that ensures that the response is generated by a human being. The CAPTCHA process requires users to enter an additional set of randomly generated words that are difficult for scripts to decipher.

    “This additional step will protect our email system from internet bots and provide an additional layer of security,” Lesniak says.

    He notes that this change does not affect access to UB’s central exchange email using the Outlook clients, or other direct email clients—it affects only web access to the central exchange email using exchowa.buffalo.edu.

    Similarly, this change does not affect the UBmail.buffalo.edu web interface to UBmail.

    Those with questions about using the CAPTCHA interface should contact the CIT-Helpdesk at CIT-Helpdesk@buffalo.edu or 645-3542.

    Concerns about this change should be directed to cit-feedback@buffalo.edu.

  • UB to close Dec. 25, Jan. 1

    UB will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.

    Employees required to work these days will earn a compensatory holiday that can be used at a later date.

    Vice presidents and deans may choose to close their individual units Dec. 24, Dec. 26-28 and Dec. 31 if warranted by operating needs.

    Employees who decide to take these days off must charge vacation, personal leave or compensatory time. Employees who do not have sufficient accruals may request an advance of up to five vacation days or can choose to take the days off without pay. Employees who plan to use the latter option should write a letter to their supervisor indicating the specific dates they wish to take without pay. Supervisors then will prepare a lost time letter and forward it to University Human Resources by Dec. 14. Sick-leave accruals may not be used.

    Employees who choose to work if their units are closed may do so; the University Libraries will serve as the alternate work site.

    For further information, contact Karen Senglaup at 645-5951 or lolkds@buffalo.edu.

  • Have lunch at Crossroads

    The Professional Staff Senate is sponsoring tours of the new Crossroads Culinary Center (C3), including a special lunch just for staff members, on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13.

    The events will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in C3 in Red Jacket Quad in the Ellicott Complex, North Campus.

    The cost is $8.25, cash only, and includes salad bar, a pasta dish made to order—or an already-prepared vegetarian pasta dish—beverage stations and cookie or brownie.

    C3 officially opened on Oct. 25 and serves more than 2,000 students per day. Unlike traditional dining halls, it features marché-style dining in which fresh food is prepared to order in full view of customers at a variety of internationally and nationally themed stations.

    Those interested in attending should register by emailing pssenate@buffalo.edu.

  • Help sick colleagues

    Members of United University Professions who have accrued more than the maximum-allowed 40 vacation days may donate them to a UUP colleague who is seriously ill or injured and has run out of sick-leave accruals.

    Without donated days, some of UUP members could fall off the payroll and lose their health insurance coverage—a situation that can be catastrophic to the employee and his or her family, according to UUP Buffalo Center Chapter President Tom Tucker.

    The UUP contract allows members to accrue a maximum of 40 vacation days; excess days that are not used by Dec. 31 are forfeited. Members may donate those extra days to the UUP Sick Leave Donation Pool.

    Days must be donated before Dec. 19.

    Those interested in donating days should contact Nancy Kacala in Employee Relations at 645-4440 or kacala@buffalo.edu.

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